Dementia late stage, fecal impaction, forgetting how to poop?
How can I help my mother have regular bowel movements and avoid becoming impacted? She has lost the ability to take deep breaths and hold her breath to push gently but consistently to expel stool from her rectum.
Thank you for your reply. I have tried all that you have suggested in your response. Except for the pineapple and papaya yet. I am working on the laxative suppository; of course, as soon as it is in it, she has an urge to go to the bathroom. I have explained and tried to delay the feeling of the bowel movement that she feels, and she gets frustrated; she evacuates only the suppository. Indeed, I do the enema as well; I hope to find a solution softer for her.
The need for “regular bowel movements” is over-stated (particularly by Portnoy’s complaining mother). Once a week is OK if the stool comes out easily, twice a week is quite OK. Straining is not OK. Perhaps your expectations are wrong?
There are things like Smooth Move Tea, this is a Senna based tea. OTC products containing Senna can help My Husband was given a prescription for Lactulose that helped somewhat. I also found that many "cleanse" products contained Papaya and pineapple so I would buy the fruit, puree it and give him that on occasion. Magnesium Citrate also can help. (much lower dose than what is taken for a colonoscopy prep.) When all else failed I did have to employ the use of a suppository or an enema and a gloved hand. Not my favorite way to spend a day I can tell you that!
But all that aside PLEASE consult with her doctor as any of these can be effected by medications she is taking.
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I have tried all that you have suggested in your response. Except for the pineapple and papaya yet.
I am working on the laxative suppository; of course, as soon as it is in it, she has an urge to go to the bathroom. I have explained and tried to delay the feeling of the bowel movement that she feels, and she gets frustrated; she evacuates only the suppository.
Indeed, I do the enema as well; I hope to find a solution softer for her.
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Smooth Move Tea, this is a Senna based tea.
OTC products containing Senna can help
My Husband was given a prescription for Lactulose that helped somewhat.
I also found that many "cleanse" products contained Papaya and pineapple so I would buy the fruit, puree it and give him that on occasion.
Magnesium Citrate also can help. (much lower dose than what is taken for a colonoscopy prep.)
When all else failed I did have to employ the use of a suppository or an enema and a gloved hand. Not my favorite way to spend a day I can tell you that!
But all that aside PLEASE consult with her doctor as any of these can be effected by medications she is taking.
M&Ms and Oreo cookies maybe a help as well