As weird as this sounds......my mother is constantly constipated.......all the time....she could be a laxative addict if I let her. She argues with me all the time over this.....like it's my fault. She always begs me to take her to the emergency room......cause she can't poop. It seems to be the topic of the day.....all the time.....let's talk about poop! It's an everyday thing with her....it's killing me....she can't poop.....she can't poop. The only thing she likes is when she had a big shot of milk of mag.....and the poop run's out of her all day long......yes, very gross. HELP ME!.......the curse continues!
...about four months ago I happened to mention to Dad that I was surprised he no longer drinks decaf coffee at breakfast and lunch anymore, since he used to enjoy that so much in the old days. To my surprise he asked for a cup of coffee and started drinking decaf coffee on a regular basis again with breakfast and lunch. During this same time I also started asking him, about an hour before lunch, which he would like-- a glass of orange juice, cranberry juice, or a low sodium V8. Often he would drink a small glass of one or another before lunch. I also tried to offer more water-based snacks, such as an apple with some peanut butter or a slice of watermelon. We found his favorite root beer, Stewarts, in a local grocery store and he would occasionally have this or a 7-Up or Sprite in the afternoon.
In short time we had to discontinue the Senna because his bowel movements had become loose and diarrhea-like. It dawned on me that it might be due to his increased fluid intake (I had noticed that his overnight cath bag output had gone from 200-300 mL to more like 600-1000.) We completely stopped the Senna and substituted a few prunes with breakfast, fine tuning the number of prunes based on his previous day's bowel movements.
Four months later, still without any laxatives, stool softeners, or suppositories, Dad is still having a bowel movement approximately once a day, usually shortly after his breakfast--which includes prunes and about 8 ounces of apple juice in addition to his cereal, eggs, toast and sometimes canteloupe or a banana. (He typically urinates 3 or 4 times during the day, and as mentioned his catheter bag's overnight urinary output is usually at least 600 mL and often more like 1000).
(Note that in spite of this apparent resolution to Dad's constipation, he (smile) is still not entirely happy with his bowel movements....even though he's continuing to have a regular BM almost every day and without the straining that he used to have. Maybe we'd have to be elderly ourselves to understand their frustration with their bowel habits.)
Constipation is no joke. Dr. Richard Schulze is a holistic doctor - he's got an MD and he sells only herbs. I personally take Formula 1 for digestion and regular bowel movements. However, its got cayenne in it and that could be way too harsh for the elderly. There is a Formula 3 - which is the link above that kids use and it's easier for adults. It's worth a look. There was a time when I was so stoved up it was miserable when I was on vacation. I actually fed-exed the Formula 1 to my friends house and only after taking that was I able to "go". Again, use Formula 3 for adults - it's easier on their system as Formula 1 can be tough to digest. Make sure they have food when taking and you can call the company and ask questions. The customer reps are pretty knowledgeable. I 've used this product for years. It's truly amazing company with a lot of good products. Also, my mom uses Mirlax every morning that she got from her Geriatric doctor. It seems to work.
Nothing is worse than a empacted patient needing to be cleaned out by hand. So painful for them.
Sometimes we MUST be inventive with these issues.
Also, kambucha at natural markets has stuff in it that might help as well when needing to drink more. Dilute everything a bit so there is more water and less flavoring.
She had been taking Milk of Mag, but the kidney doctor doesn't want her taking it any more. Prune juice makes her cramp really bad. Miralax also makes her stomach cramp all day like she has to poop even if she just did. When she was at the ER she was dehydrated and that is part of her problem. I encourage her to drink more water, that it will help with her bowel movements. She just gets mad at me and says "I know it". She is so stubborn and won't listen to me or the doctor.
I guess this is just an ongoing thing Good luck to all the other caregivers! After reading these postings I realize I'm not alone in dealing with this.
I've really laughed at some of the poop discussion on this thread (poop prognostication) and yes, caregiving makes poop talk funny. Glad we're laughing and not crying over this issue!
BM movements is a constant topic among the elderly. You could do a whole comedy skit on them giving a @#$%!
I have seen this combo produce a regular soft bowel movement in a 96 year-old for years now. Miralax in the morning. 1 Colace at breakfast and another Colace at night. Of course, consult your physician before giving anything. This 96 year-old has a quart of water per day plus liquid like Boost, milk and tea.
One thing that works with the elderly and demented is saying, "Here is your water that you need to have a nice "movement." Instead of asking them if they would like some water. Ditto with a shower. It's best to say something like, "It's Tuesday morning time for your shower." Often if you ask the elderly if they want to do something the answer will be, "NO!"
I know some nursing homes give the "bomb" when it's day 3 of no bowel movement. Warm prune juice with a dose of Milk of Mag. Stay very close to the toilet until bowels move or you may have a mess to clean up. Again, speak with your physician before doing anything.
Sometimes young doctors miss impacted bowel if you take a senior in about it.
This happened to someone I know. Please let the young doctor know if they do miss it because everyone can't know everything.
This is a constant topic in our household also.
I try to start my Mom(91 yrs.)and my morning with a big glass of warm water with 1/2 squeezed fresh lemon. Wait 5min. or so. Some fresh fruit, usually 1/2 grapefruit. I cut around the edge and the sections but let her do the work with a grapefruit spoon. Slows her down a little. I ask her to walk(with her walker) while fixing breakfast. This gives me time in the kitchen, and not rushing other food after the citrus(papaya, pineapple also very good). Prunes are good and taste like a treat so good for mid-meal snacks. For breakfast I always like to include greens of some kind. Beet greens, dandelions or kale are favorites are very good along with an egg(poached or frittata-can make in advance an just heat up) for protein.
It is a constant for getting my Mom to drink water and to do some form of exercise(walking, stretches...). More smaller meals are better than 3 larger ones.
I do give her a stool softener once a day, Cascara Sagrada or Cleanse More when needed.
My Mom's issue is emotional, mental and physical. Never know what the day will bring. She is bothered when her bowels do not move as well as when they do move.
We make a number of 'poop' and 'fart' jokes or little songs around here. A sense of humour sure helps.
Lizzie-You are right-- it is good to laugh. heck- I don't really know why we humans are so weird about this human function. It is so basic and very, very important. Anyone who has had diarrhea or constipation knows that. Been to the ER for my girl twice with constipation. One time, we did not know what was going on- she was just a wee thing - and started screaming her head off and would not stop. I did not think she was constipated as she had gone (we were young and dumb- she had gone but not enough) .We took her to the ER because she was screaming so loud. Doctor did an x-ray and his official diagnosis was -" There's a lot of poop in there". So they gave her an enema and a suppository and we all were circled around her going "come on , baby , push it out, push it out" and then I heard a guy throwing up in the cubicle next to her and realized some poor guy had the stomach flu ---and could hear us telling her to push, push PUSH. I doubt that made him feel any better!!! And then when she finally went -egads---I think the poor fella up and left.
Equinox- miralax is it's own thing- I think. It is a powder that you mix with anything, I believe- we mix it with her water/OJ (she drinks 1/3 OJ 2/3 water) and if you stir it a bit it will totally dissolve. And has no taste. I guess it helps draw moisture from the intestines to help move the poop along. It really works and does not seem to be too harsh. I think it makes her poop a little , oily? maybe- but she does not complain of any pain. It does seem to have a softening effect. They give it to babies even. It can take a few days though to work. not like a suppository or even a laxative that can work over night. You have to give it to them a few times a day for a few days before it works. I would talk to the doctor first though it is OTC.
I'm having the same issue. Mom calls them golf balls. Any suggestions. ?
Mom does not tolerate milk. Some of these liquid are not milk free. Does Miralax work as a laxative or more like a stool softener?
Thanks
Equinox
Mishka - I had to chuckle at your suggestion about the calendar..it's a great idea! What made me laugh is MIL came up with a similar idea of her own, except she uses stickers....smiley face ones, cute kitties, flowers, etc. She hung a calendar on the wall just outside the bathroom door and whenever she has a BM she puts a sticker on that day. It was working great....so I thought, until one day I lifted the page up to change months and saw she had stickers plastered half way through the next month!!! Soooo, we're prognosticating our poops now? LOL!!!
Now we use ground flaxseed. We have it in a shaker - like you would see for red pepper, larger holes than a salt shaker. Mom puts it on as often as she wants/needs. You can shake it on anything from salad to vegetables to meat. If you taste it at all it will be a light nutty taste. I personally can't taste it. It works gently, without any volcanic eruptions. This is important for us as Mom doesn't get to the toilet without one of us to lift her. This is not fun when the volcano is erupting. We found the flaxseed to be an inexpensive and gentle solution.
" Pooped in the morning after breakfast. Normal size. Normal color"
Maybe even describe it. You know why?- because I think our elders are obsessed with their bowels and want us to be as well and if we show them some interest in that area maybe they will be happy. I mean their lives have gotten pretty small- sleep, eat, poop- for a lot of them. Maybe we should share this with them. Just a thought. good luck. ((((hugs))))
Foods to avoid-
Cheese
bananas
OTC cold medicines seem to be binding
white breads and pastas that have little fiber
apple sauce
There are massages that help stimulate the , er- you need to go. I still do them for my girl once in awhile. One is the paddle wheel. You just press firmly but gently on the stomach with one hand and rub down and then the other hand -rotate back and forth. I sing "paddle wheel paddle wheel make the poopy go. Paddle wheel paddle wheel, fast (and I would go fast ) and sloooooow (and go slow). I would repeat a few times. It works! If Mom says there is pain-- stop, of course and probably should get checked by a doctor. My own little ditty. :0) I don't think your Mom would like that but you never know. You can also rub in a circular pattern going to your left starting a little below the navel. ( "round and round the poopy goes where it stops nobody know, nobody nobody nobody knows"--not my finest work ;0) ).
My Mom also suffers but she used soooo many laxatives her whole life I think she screwed her system up and now cannot go without them.
Good luck.
Perhaps try encouraging fun ways to get enough for her to drink (through drinks and food that is wet... like watermelon, etc). I think it may be true for all of us... while we can try all the fiber diets, apple eating, laxatives... making sure there are enough fluids flushing through the system helps soften things up and get them moving.
Just a simple idea that may be of a little bit of help.
I am sure you have tried prunes? If she hasn't, you can always call them dried plums. They are a time honored problem solver for some of these type situations. 4 prunes in the morning - every day. I wonder if they make chocolate covered prunes?