Report this to her doctor. It's a marked change in her normal functioning and wants checking out, whatever might be behind it (which could be almost anything).
Meanwhile, are you or is anyone able to assist her with a structured toileting routine? A set pattern of visits to the bathroom might cut down the number of accidents.
Is she on anything such as prilosec? It can cause diarrhea where the sphincter almost doesn't exist; has no feeling. More rare side effect on it, but it can happen. You might want to try one of the bulk roughage products, such a Metamucil or Citrucel as that works for both loose BM, bulking it up a bit and making it a kind of "once in the morning" thing. I would recommend the Citrucel as it ferments in the gut in a different way from Metamucil and metamucil can give people more gas, and therefore less control. Elders tend not to eat bulky foods that need chewing and add roughage to stool. Stay away from gas producing things which give less control. I am assuming this is relatively normal stool? If she has diarrhea you might consider if there could be C-Diff from antibiotics, which makes stool almost impossible to hold on to. She should see her doctor, as he may want her to see gastroenterologist for answers. Not that, if she is of an age, I would ever put her through invasive testing, but he may have some ideas with your descriptive symptoms.
3 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
Meanwhile, are you or is anyone able to assist her with a structured toileting routine? A set pattern of visits to the bathroom might cut down the number of accidents.
ADVERTISEMENT
You might want to try one of the bulk roughage products, such a Metamucil or Citrucel as that works for both loose BM, bulking it up a bit and making it a kind of "once in the morning" thing. I would recommend the Citrucel as it ferments in the gut in a different way from Metamucil and metamucil can give people more gas, and therefore less control. Elders tend not to eat bulky foods that need chewing and add roughage to stool. Stay away from gas producing things which give less control.
I am assuming this is relatively normal stool? If she has diarrhea you might consider if there could be C-Diff from antibiotics, which makes stool almost impossible to hold on to.
She should see her doctor, as he may want her to see gastroenterologist for answers. Not that, if she is of an age, I would ever put her through invasive testing, but he may have some ideas with your descriptive symptoms.