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She never had one. Her latest complaint is constipation after her psychiatrist changed her meds to ativan. She was previously on respiradone + seroquel prior to that. I have been to the ER with her when she complained that she had a shooting pain in her back + 6 hrs + many tests later they only found a UTI. She has been to her primary dr and all the OTC meds are not working. She claims she is blocked up for weeks. She went to a gastro dr this week who gave her suprep to take now and if that didnt help to schedule a colonoscopy. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I dont know what to do.

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Take that "blocked up for weeks" report with some skepticism. Nobody can survive being blocked up for weeks. Dementia patients report some strange things, they forget when they poop. Listen to the belly, if you hear gut sounds, things are moving through.
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To take all of this a step further, what action are you willing to take should the colonoscopy show more than polyps? Would you authorize a resection of the colon? Or other major surgery? Previous suggestions for walking and more fluids and yes, perhaps a mild laxative would be my first steps --- for myself or a loved one. AND don't forget fruits and fibers or herbal pills that encourage a bowel movement (take a cramp relaxer at the same time). Bag331, is your Mom with you or do you see a lot of her? Can you monitor actual Bowel Movements? How about warm compresses on her abdomen?
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MIRALAX AND GATORADE IS THE PRE-OP. IF SHE CAN SURVIVE PRE-OP, THEN SHE CAN SURVIVE THE PROCEDURE.

PRE-OP, UP ALL NIGHT TO POOP SOME.. AND THEN MORE.....TO POOP MORE... NO FUN AT ALL.

NEED TO CLEAR OUT THE TUBES TO BE SAFE FOR PROCEDURE. NO TOXINS IN BODY.....
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Mom poos in shower in shower chair. Try another bathroom method. It's not pretty, but warm water may make her relax.... laxative which doctor gave her. Doctor is in charge, what else can you do to make her go? Have you tried a suppository? Colonoscopy can be iffy. She will need to take a huge bottle of Malox with a gallon of water, or whatever that mix is, and clear liquids 24 hours prior. If your mom is weak, and talk with doctor about this, just drinking down that dosage can be draining. If she gets back to normal, maybe you can postpoine this process for a bit. TALK WITH DOCTOR ABOUT PRE-PROCEDURE and what effects this may have on her.
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I'm very confused. Suprep is a prep kit for a colonoscopy...? You say the doctor said, "If that doesn't work, it's time for a colonoscopy." If you're right about the medication he gave her (a prep kit for a colonoscopy), I'd say that's the most powerful "laxative" on planet earth. So, yes, if that doesn't empty her bowels, I'd say there's something serious going on, and she should have a colonoscopy.

If it DOES empty her bowel, then I'd hope he suggested doubling up on stool softeners, drinking plenty of liquids and incorporating roughage into her diet...just in case she just needed "a reboot".

Did they do an ultrasound to see if she had a bowel impaction? Are her 'pushing muscles' just very weak? Are her stools hard -- which may indicate dehydration?

Let's face it -- nobody here can tell you much. You need to have a thorough conversation with her doctor. If the only "decision" you're being asked to make is whether or not she should have a colonoscopy...if she's not moving her bowels at ALL normally and she's in pain? If it was my mom, I'd suggest she have it done. What happens after the results come in is another question.
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What I am wondering about is how is a person, who has dementia, going to follow the instructions required for the prep before having the colonoscopy? But I couldn't worry about that if the medicine the gastro doctor gave her worked.

My Dad had a bad case of constipation, and good old fashioned x-lax worked for him. Turns out Dad probably was dehydrated... told him he needs to drink a lot of water, have fiber, and to start walking, even if it is around the dining room table 20 times.
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The procedure itself is not too daunting, but, oh my!, the preparation. Ain't no way my husband could have done it, nor my mother. It is hard enough when you don't have dementia.

It is normally an out-patient procedure, but I wonder if they could consider hospitalizing her the day before to help her with the prep. If she needs a colonoscopy discuss with her gastro doc how dementia patients do with that test, and what can be done to help with the preparation.

If the problem started when she went on ativan, is she still on ativan?
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