My father is 86 years old. For a number of months he has been complaining of severe constipation, he says he has to get up 6 or 7 times every night to visit the bathroom. He says his stool is so hard that he has to strain enormously but often with no result. He has been examined a number of times by different doctors who have carried out tests as well and reassured us that he has no constipation. It seems that he has an obsession that he has not emptied his bowels and repeatedly feels the need to sit on the toilet seat. A number of medications treating his constipation have been tried. We have finally concurred with the doctors that there is really no constipation. we have tried explaining this to him but he is convinced otherwise. we are looking for any helpful suggestions to deal with this situation, thank you.
Before you rule out constipation, I assume he's had a colonoscopy or a virtual one? And then I'd ask if you've observed his stool. Is it, in fact, hard? Is he on stool softeners? If he's not, ask your pharmacist for a suggested dose and run it past your doctor. Is it normally shaped? Ribbon-like stools can be an indication of a tumor blocking the road.
If all is really normal, then ignore it unless he complains of pain.
My parents are in their early 90's, and they eat prunes when they think things of this nature need help. When you are in a hospital and prepping for a colonoscopy, they have you drink about a gallon or so of this stuff, to help clean you out before th procedure. The nurse came rushing into my room and took away half of that drink, saying the doctor said I didnt need to drink it all because I hadn't been eating solids for days. I had already happily chugged down 50% of the solution though, and it still had no affect on my bowels (nothing there to pass). Anyways someone here mentioned an oatmeal mix that sounds like it'd do the trick, if he really is constipated, if he is still eating solids. Hope this helps, its an all encompassing,dire state of being, when you feel you have to try over and over and over again to have a bm and nothing works.
She DOES take chemical intervention because her muscles are no longer working properly. That said I make sure she also drinks enough water - essential for a softer stool. I record her stools daily and describe then - normal soft hard (and you should note any change in colour too) Then when she says she is constipated I check ....most times she has just forgotten she has been. She often tells me it is loose when it is normal. So a whole host of little things that might be an indicator - Mum did have a scope done but it was very very painful for her - in the UK they usually do it under local anaesthesia to minimise risk.
Mum takes movicol daily and I have to say if she refuses it we are in for a bumpy ride - it almost ALWAYS results in constipation followed by an explosion so I do urge her to take it every day to avoid the above issue
Carol
The hospital has Mom on all kinds of stuff because she didn't go everyday. When I was given the discharge papers I questioned it. Later found out her med was causing the constipation so was taken off. Stopped the Senna and when she went the other way, the colace. Dr. said Phillips if haven't gone in two days. There muscles are not the same anymore. If they have a hemroid that could be what they r feeling.
Rectal Dyssynergia- The rectal muscles are "confused" from too much straining and don't work. There is pelvic physical therapy for this.
Hernia - A nerve, piece of fat, or intestine is trapped by a weakness in the abdominal wall. Send scans to Dr. Shirin Towfigh in Beverly Hills. She's the only one who gets it.
Pseudo-Obstruction - Kinks or muscle weakness in the large or small intestine prevent proper flow. (Mayo Clinic)
Scar Tissue - Scar tissue from prior surgery can press against or wrap around intestines and restrict flow.
Chocolate Tumors - Dark tumors that do not show up on Scans.
Parasites - Clusters of worms that block flow; particularly if traveled out of country to poor countries.
SIBO- Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth
Food Allergies - Dairy, Soy and Gluten are common. There are many more.
Note: I personally think Irritable Bowel Syndrome is code for "We don't know what's wrong with you and we wont keep looking." Symptoms are always the result of an underlying problem. You just need to find it.