Dad’s bowel movements are difficult to manage. He goes 2-3 days without a bowel movement, then I have to give him a laxative. I feed him fruits/fiber and plenty of water. Any natural way/food/products to make him regular?
If you do a site search for constipation (using the magnifying glass beside your avatar at the top of the page) you will see this is a very popular topic, everyone has their favourite remedies but none of them are effective for every person. Beyond the more common prunes and prune juice one simple natural product that you might try is a probiotic, as well including prebiotics in his diet. First though you need to be aware that having a BM every other day or even every third day can be absolutely normal for some people, as long as his stool is not hard, dry and difficult to pass it's not a crisis.
There is a tea called Smooth Move. It is Senna based. I pureed Papaya and Pineapple and portioned it in 1/2 cup servings for my Husband. These 2 ingredients were listed in every "cleanse" that I saw when I was looking for something that would help. And getting him to eat a puree of fruit was easier than getting him to take a pill. Prunes or prune juice. Miralax works well and I used it daily. The caution about that is if your dad has to have liquids thickened you can not use Miralax with a thickened liquid as the Miralax will thin out the liquid again. So Miralax has to be put in a food. It go to the point that the Dr. ordered Lactulose that my Husband was given daily. I also resorted once to Magnesium Citrate.
I would not stress if he did not have a BM daily. He was on Hospice and the Nurse would check for any sounds, rigidity and I would watch for discomfort. I did find that often he would have a BM while he was in the Hoyer Sling after a shower. And looking at the position it was almost like the "squatty potty" position where the knees are higher. (thankfully the sling I used was a split leg one or the shower sling with the commode hole)
I would have his magnesium checked. Low M can cause constipation, milk of magnesia is not going to be anything but a laxative. A true supplement is what you would want.
Senna tea or capsules seem to work quite well. Avoid laxatives. Senna will help you do that. If his diet needs fiber, add psyllium to make him regular. And of course have a balanced diet with lots of fruits & veggies and water/liquids. Dehydration can cause constipation. My Mom had constipation problems. We tried fruit but really Senna was the great equalizer. And not too much. Test it out first to see how much it tskes to regulate him. You want to try and avoid over compensating because then you have diarrhea, dehydration, need for electrolytes, that whole snowball. Prebiotics and probiotics should be incorporated as well.
How often do you have your mom take Senna? Is it bad to rely on it? Myself: I eat fruit, vegetables, drink water and exercise but still get constipated or do not evacuate completely.
As a retired geriatric nutrition counselor I provide my mom with 3 dried prunes daily and a piece of fresh fruit. Apple or orange. She lives in Assisted living. We keep a fresh bowl of fruit in her room. She also chooses a small bowl of bran cereal. She chooses fruit and salad when on her menus also. This works for her and she does not require meds for her bowels. I also encourage her to drink 50 oz fluid daily which she does. Dates {natural laxative} and figs add extra fiber also. It takes a while to straighten sluggish bowel function out. Senna is a stool softener and can be helpful also along with real fruit. P.S. not everyone has a daily BM… elderly do need to go at least everyone other day to avoid obstructions.
Is your dad on any medication, perhaps for pain? Constipation is often one of the side effects. Have you talked with your dad's doctor about how to manage his condition?
For my parents and aunt two things always worked and timely, warmed prune juice and if not that one teaspoon of olive oil daily. The prune juice only when constipated. Works great!
Prunes. My mom is on low dose morphine and it still slows her up, so she's daily on senna and colase. She only normally goes every 4 days or so and our guts (family-wise) have been known to do not much for days at a time ;) But when she was more self-mobile/active she used a prune or two a day.
The stool softeners are also good cause if the body insists on taking its time they don't turn into rocks. Normally my mom was very sparing with that kind of stuff .. developed this thought that we could somehow get 'dependent' on a stool softener, welp, she probably always needed it and at this point she's decided it is better than the alternative, and use your imagination on what my mom would have to deal with in regards to alternatives of being unable to pass a bm :D
I tell her she is lucky she forgets cause without the stool softeners and the senna it was about every week crying "oh god i cant do this i cant live like this".
To be fair im starting to eye up colase myself I mean heck :D
My mom was constipated for 4 weeks and i tried everything. My doctor recommended "Dulcolax Liquid Laxative, Stimulant Free Laxative for Comfortable Relief, Mint Flavor, 12 oz. "
Natural products are all that I have used for my mother since getting her off of the brain shredding PEG in MiraLax.
Natural Softener: The days when my mother does not have a bowel movement, I have her drink some liquid Milk of Magnesia and that's usually all it takes. Or you could give your Dad a magnesium supplement if he prefers to swallow a capsule.
Natural Stimulant: When necessary, I have her drink a cup of Senna tea called "Smooth Move" that you can buy at any grocery store.
Natural Fiber: I give my mother good old Sunsweet Prunes.
All of the responses I've read are good although I feel the bottom line is to Know Your Body. Medications and age play a big role in bowel movement (Iron turns my stool into rabbit size poop). Exercise if and whenever possible. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. If a person is alive, there are things that can be done-- even if bedridden) This is what work for me: 1. Crackling Oat Brand (right out of the box) as an anytime snack especially late night. 2. Apple juice 8oz (once a day) with breakfast 3. Coffee (put coffee in 8oz cup with 2% milk, add hot water). Add a little Honey and Consume while still warm. 4. Exercise (this include the mind) 5. Drink four 16oz bottles of water per day (8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm. This is where I fall short--sorry. Remember that our bodies react to what it is given --physically or mentally.
My doctor recommends one dose of Miralax daily in any favorite drink. It is tasteless and gentle and once it gets things moving, a daily dose will keep him regular. The key is REGULAR.
The miralax used daily is also what my Mom's gastroenterologist suggested after she ruled out any problem in the colon with a colonoscopy. The Doc did not like sennakot as she said it worked differently. She said it could cause the colon to become dependent on it to pass stool. Lots of fiber and lots of water. Fiber without enough water can be constipating. Prunes and warm prune juice.
Senna tea or Senna tea capsules. Do not give miralax or any of that. It is too harsh. Senna will do the trick. Start small and give more as needed.
For prevention, activity helps. If not active....
Hydration is key, diet with plenty of fruits and veggies (or a capsule called "fruits & veggies), psyllium for fiber. My Mom suffered with constipation and this kept her regular. We had fun with it, finding things she enjoyed. Date bars, fig bars, fruit pie, fruit compote.
Bbeing regular can be life saving in our older age. Best to your Dad and you!
Yakima paste, includes prunes, Raisen’s, figs, lemon juice, brown sugar and senna leaves. Can find the recipe online. Give a tablespoon or so daily to start.
I like CVS psyllium husk fiber capsules in the white bottle with the orange lid. You can take up to four at a time. And if you're really backed up, add a docusate sodium, which is stool softener. Lots of fruits and vegetables help!
I had one bad constipation in my life and tried to eat beets and use enema. It worked effectively. Check [How to Use an Enema Safely] https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-use-an-enema-1942648
First though you need to be aware that having a BM every other day or even every third day can be absolutely normal for some people, as long as his stool is not hard, dry and difficult to pass it's not a crisis.
I pureed Papaya and Pineapple and portioned it in 1/2 cup servings for my Husband. These 2 ingredients were listed in every "cleanse" that I saw when I was looking for something that would help. And getting him to eat a puree of fruit was easier than getting him to take a pill.
Prunes or prune juice.
Miralax works well and I used it daily. The caution about that is if your dad has to have liquids thickened you can not use Miralax with a thickened liquid as the Miralax will thin out the liquid again. So Miralax has to be put in a food.
It go to the point that the Dr. ordered Lactulose that my Husband was given daily.
I also resorted once to Magnesium Citrate.
I would not stress if he did not have a BM daily. He was on Hospice and the Nurse would check for any sounds, rigidity and I would watch for discomfort.
I did find that often he would have a BM while he was in the Hoyer Sling after a shower. And looking at the position it was almost like the "squatty potty" position where the knees are higher. (thankfully the sling I used was a split leg one or the shower sling with the commode hole)
Is it bad to rely on it?
Myself: I eat fruit, vegetables, drink water and exercise but still get constipated or do not evacuate completely.
The prune juice only when constipated.
Works great!
Prunes and figs...or prune juice.
The stool softeners are also good cause if the body insists on taking its time they don't turn into rocks. Normally my mom was very sparing with that kind of stuff .. developed this thought that we could somehow get 'dependent' on a stool softener, welp, she probably always needed it and at this point she's decided it is better than the alternative, and use your imagination on what my mom would have to deal with in regards to alternatives of being unable to pass a bm :D
I tell her she is lucky she forgets cause without the stool softeners and the senna it was about every week crying "oh god i cant do this i cant live like this".
To be fair im starting to eye up colase myself I mean heck :D
I dont think the flavor matters
It worked within 12 hours.
Natural Softener: The days when my mother does not have a bowel movement, I have her drink some liquid Milk of Magnesia and that's usually all it takes. Or you could give your Dad a magnesium supplement if he prefers to swallow a capsule.
Natural Stimulant: When necessary, I have her drink a cup of Senna tea called "Smooth Move" that you can buy at any grocery store.
Natural Fiber: I give my mother good old Sunsweet Prunes.
Medications and age play a big role in bowel movement (Iron turns my stool into rabbit size poop).
Exercise if and whenever possible. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. If a person is alive, there are things that can be done-- even if bedridden)
This is what work for me:
1. Crackling Oat Brand (right out of the box) as an anytime snack especially late night.
2. Apple juice 8oz (once a day) with breakfast
3. Coffee (put coffee in 8oz cup with 2% milk, add hot water). Add a little Honey and Consume while still warm.
4. Exercise (this include the mind)
5. Drink four 16oz bottles of water per day (8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm. This is where I fall short--sorry.
Remember that our bodies react to what it is given --physically or mentally.
Lots of fiber and lots of water. Fiber without enough water can be constipating. Prunes and warm prune juice.
For prevention, activity helps. If not active....
Hydration is key, diet with plenty of fruits and veggies (or a capsule called "fruits & veggies), psyllium for fiber. My Mom suffered with constipation and this kept her regular. We had fun with it, finding things she enjoyed. Date bars, fig bars, fruit pie, fruit compote.
Bbeing regular can be life saving in our older age. Best to your Dad and you!
warm prune juice