Per the dr., I gave her a stool softener and two hours later had her go to the bathroom, but.....still no bowel movement. I'm concerned. Next move??? cadams
What is normal for your mother? Is she uncomfortable?
Unless she's opened her bowels once a day regular as clockwork for ever and is complaining of feeling bunged up or colicky, you're getting waaaaaay ahead of yourself.
Just keep an eye on her, and she isn't fine today or tomorrow give her some lactulose. Or an extra handful of raisins.
I've never been sooo happy to see a BM as I was this morning! Finally.....mom had a bowel movement......very, very messy but I was sooo happy, I didn't care. This was exactly what she needed. The color in her face is back and I feel like I got my mom back. She is much more like her old self after a week of very off behavior. One thing about mom----she never complains and always says she is "fine", so I can't go by any of that. I have to do lots of observation of her nonverbal actions, reactions. I'm sorry if this is "silly" to some or "over the top" to others, but this is a new spot for me, dealing with something I haven't and I reached out to you all for some advice, comfort, compassion as it appeared to me that it had the potential of being very serious. I thought that is what this site was for....... Sometimes I just need feedback or someone to listen. Thanks. cadams
Unfortunately, we had this problem way too many times. First off, push fluids, some people react better with hot coffee, tea, cocoa. Liquids can include popsicles, watermelon or other drinks. It doesn't have to be only water.
You can use glycerin suppositories, stewed prunes or prune juice, a clear liquid called magnesium citrate, or there is a "prune juice cocktail" that I used to make, I got the recipe from Parkinson.org. "- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce - 4 tablespoons wheat bran - 6 ounces prune juice Mix well, and store in refrigerator. Take a tablespoonful a day at first, gradually adding more if needed, till you find the amount that works well for you. The bran helps keep the stool bulky and soft, the prune juice contains a natural laxative, and the applesauce gives a palatable taste and texture. Aim for 25 - 40 grams of fiber in the daily diet, and drink 6-8 glasses of fluid daily. It may be helpful to also have a serving of 4-6 stewed prunes 2-4 times per week, for added fiber and additional natural laxative."
In addition, if she can walk then she needs to as much as possible. If she is non-ambulatory, you can massage the gut area. In addition, artificial sugars usually have a diarrheal effect.
To head this off, a lot of people use a daily dose of Miralax mixed in with a drink, I used to use Mom's morning orange juice.
If your mother is to the point doesn't eat much, she may not have a movement every day. but it is good to keep up with it. I used to write it down so as not to forget. What you want to avoid if she doesn't drink a large amount of water each day, is fiber supplements such as benefiber. It can be very uncomfortable if you don't drink enough fluid.
I hope something I have suggested works. I know it is difficult to maintain regularity. Good luck!
I find that a gentle laxative, e.g. Miralax, and a big meal work best. Older people often don't want a big meal. Maybe you can think of something she really likes and will eat a lot of. This can stimulate the bowels to move.
I'm with CM. I've gone as long as a week without a bowel movement. My Mom used to say you should have a bm in the pm and a bm in the am. I think if you ate an ideal diet every day and drank the tank of water that they recommend maybe that might happen. But honestly, unless you are in a lot of discomfort I think as long as you are having one most of the time I wouldn't worry. Try the raisins. I snack on them occasionally and they do help.
When you took her to urgent care, they did an abdominal examination and asked her how she was feeling, yes? And they didn't find any problems at all? I'm not quite sure what you'll want the ER to do with her, or what you're expecting them to find. As you will know only too well, a colonoscopy is not something you wish lightly on anyone, let alone a tiny little elderly lady.
Has she taken any codeine? Has she eaten a lot of the notorious bunger-uppers recently, like eggs or white pasta or anything like that?
I just wonder if your own recent difficulties are making you fear the worst. It isn't likely that a lady of your mother's age would suddenly develop diverticulitis, is it? Stop freaking out about what might be going on in your mother's gut and concentrate on how she's feeling. As soon as *she* seems worried and/or uncomfortable, that's the time to get her seen. Have you noticed any other problems besides this?
Mind you, if she's meekly swallowed her Miralax and her magnesium citrate I hope it's not far for her to get to the bathroom... :/ Keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well, and that she'll be fine by tonight.
My Mom was always having a BM, in fact she used to complain to the Dr. that she was going too much but the Dr. told her that she should be thankful, elderly people often complain of constipation.
When she had a gallbladder attack they did a cat scan that showed that she had BM too high. I was surprised with this as she was always going. Doctor said even though she was having a bowel movement that didn't mean she was getting cleaned out.
Well, that day her digestive system went almost to a stand still. He ordered her Osmoprep which consists of 4 pills every 10 minutes with an 8 ounce glass of water for 5 doses (20 pills in an hour). Then 2 hours later give her 3 more does which was 12 more pills. It was a good thing she had dementia because she would never of taken all those pills with water that close together. : p
Ever since that gallbladder attack and trouble with her bm she won't go without her 2 glasses of Metamucil and 2 Colace tabs a day. Plus, her diet is now lots of fresh salads, fresh fruit, very little starch and zero fried foods. I have always had her to drink lots of fluid, but diet soda was out and she hates just water so I give her watered down Gatorade. Mornings I give her prune juice/orange juice in an eight ounce glass mixed with her Metamucil along with Gatorade.
Her problem was so abrupt that I thought she had a stroke in her digestive track, that was how fast things slowed down but I was told that that was not the case. Her system just decided to slow down. Things that used to work, don't work anymore or they slow down. Her body is ever changing.
It's funny sometimes when I place her on the toilet I tell her to grunt like you do a child. Not sure if she just makes the sound or she is really trying.
Excellent answers so far, but just to make something else clear, stool softeners are not designed to work immediately so taking her to the bathroom two hours after giving her one was kind of silly. Or were you referring to suppositories?
What is normal for your mother? Is she uncomfortable?
Unless she's opened her bowels once a day regular as clockwork for ever and is complaining of feeling bunged up or colicky, you're getting waaaaaay ahead of yourself.
Just keep an eye on her, and she isn't fine today or tomorrow give her some lactulose. Or an extra handful of raisins.
One thing about mom----she never complains and always says she is "fine", so I can't go by any of that. I have to do lots of observation of her nonverbal actions, reactions.
I'm sorry if this is "silly" to some or "over the top" to others, but this is a new spot for me, dealing with something I haven't and I reached out to you all for some advice, comfort, compassion as it appeared to me that it had the potential of being very serious. I thought that is what this site was for....... Sometimes I just need feedback or someone to listen. Thanks. cadams
You can use glycerin suppositories, stewed prunes or prune juice, a clear liquid called magnesium citrate, or there is a "prune juice cocktail" that I used to make, I got the recipe from Parkinson.org.
"- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 4 tablespoons wheat bran
- 6 ounces prune juice
Mix well, and store in refrigerator. Take a tablespoonful a day at first,
gradually adding more if needed, till you find the amount that works well
for you. The bran helps keep the stool bulky and soft, the prune juice
contains a natural laxative, and the applesauce gives a palatable taste
and texture. Aim for 25 - 40 grams of fiber in the daily diet, and drink
6-8 glasses of fluid daily. It may be helpful to also have a serving of
4-6 stewed prunes 2-4 times per week, for added fiber and additional
natural laxative."
In addition, if she can walk then she needs to as much as possible. If she is non-ambulatory, you can massage the gut area. In addition, artificial sugars usually have a diarrheal effect.
To head this off, a lot of people use a daily dose of Miralax mixed in with a drink, I used to use Mom's morning orange juice.
If your mother is to the point doesn't eat much, she may not have a movement every day. but it is good to keep up with it. I used to write it down so as not to forget. What you want to avoid if she doesn't drink a large amount of water each day, is fiber supplements such as benefiber. It can be very uncomfortable if you don't drink enough fluid.
I hope something I have suggested works. I know it is difficult to maintain regularity. Good luck!
Has she taken any codeine? Has she eaten a lot of the notorious bunger-uppers recently, like eggs or white pasta or anything like that?
I just wonder if your own recent difficulties are making you fear the worst. It isn't likely that a lady of your mother's age would suddenly develop diverticulitis, is it? Stop freaking out about what might be going on in your mother's gut and concentrate on how she's feeling. As soon as *she* seems worried and/or uncomfortable, that's the time to get her seen. Have you noticed any other problems besides this?
Mind you, if she's meekly swallowed her Miralax and her magnesium citrate I hope it's not far for her to get to the bathroom... :/ Keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well, and that she'll be fine by tonight.
When she had a gallbladder attack they did a cat scan that showed that she had BM too high. I was surprised with this as she was always going. Doctor said even though she was having a bowel movement that didn't mean she was getting cleaned out.
Well, that day her digestive system went almost to a stand still. He ordered her Osmoprep which consists of 4 pills every 10 minutes with an 8 ounce glass of water for 5 doses (20 pills in an hour). Then 2 hours later give her 3 more does which was 12 more pills. It was a good thing she had dementia because she would never of taken all those pills with water that close together. : p
Ever since that gallbladder attack and trouble with her bm she won't go without her 2 glasses of Metamucil and 2 Colace tabs a day. Plus, her diet is now lots of fresh salads, fresh fruit, very little starch and zero fried foods. I have always had her to drink lots of fluid, but diet soda was out and she hates just water so I give her watered down Gatorade. Mornings I give her prune juice/orange juice in an eight ounce glass mixed with her Metamucil along with Gatorade.
Her problem was so abrupt that I thought she had a stroke in her digestive track, that was how fast things slowed down but I was told that that was not the case. Her system just decided to slow down. Things that used to work, don't work anymore or they slow down. Her body is ever changing.
It's funny sometimes when I place her on the toilet I tell her to grunt like you do a child. Not sure if she just makes the sound or she is really trying.
If your mom is not having abdominal pain, I'd just wait it out.
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