View Full Version : Nothing Works (constipation)
Does anyone have a good idea of how my mom can get rid of problem constipation due to the formula she eats. She has tried different formulas and different drugs. Nothing seems to work more than once. Any ideas would be a big help.
I wish everyone a great day!
Thanks
Paul :)
Patsy
11-09-2005, 06:53 PM
first read this http://www.alsa-or.org/treatment/treatment.htm
I take a lot fluids via my feeding tube and take 15mls of Milk of Magnesia three times a a week. It took a year of trying different things before we figured what worked best for me.
Patsy
Yolande
11-09-2005, 07:40 PM
Thank You Patsy,
I think she is or has already tried milk of magnesia; but maybe not enough or the way you have taken it.
I very much appreciate your response, I will let her know and give you an update.
Sincerely,
Paul
Yolande
11-10-2005, 12:00 PM
Dear Patsy,
I showed my mom what you wrote and she says thank you.
She already tried milk of magnesia with some success, but her neurologist told her to stop as is was too abrasive for her system??
Maybe the abrasiveness is worth it if it works. as the alternative is not better.
She may go back to it if she can't find anything else that works. Thank you again for the good option,
Sincerely,
Paul
Patsy
11-10-2005, 04:24 PM
I also take 1/2 cup of high fibre that is purreed with water down the feeding tube everyday. You could use prune juice instead , easier!
Patsy
Patsy
11-10-2005, 04:26 PM
I forgot a word: high fibre fruit!
Patsy
ronney525
12-18-2005, 09:06 PM
you might also try a tea called....smooth move....
buy it at a health food store.
I'd try the prune juice or buy dried prunes and puree it in a blender. Works for my 91 year old dad. He's healthy but constipated once in a while.
Jerry Story
12-20-2005, 08:05 PM
Veggy juices? Ground flax?
ronney525
12-21-2005, 07:36 AM
is she having a lot of difficulty passing the stool??? or just not going at all?
there is a bit of a difference. i would start with any natural laxative and/or stool softener. might try what they call a "probiotic" this helps keep the bowel tract healthy, and also promotes proper movements. high doses of vitamin C will also aid in the cleansing. and if nothing else works get a prepackaged enema.... but i would recommend trying the more natural and tolerable ways first. good luck
ronney525
12-21-2005, 07:40 AM
quick add.... just read on a box of epsom salts....use as a laxative....
might be worth a try???
but i think adding something natural on a regular basis will be the best long term solution....
Mike27
12-22-2005, 11:52 AM
Hi Paul,
Certainly a common and frustrating problem!
I would concur with Patsy about the high fibre foods and prune juice. Also ronney's suggestion of the probiotic.
Myself, I drink a warm glass of water. A Dr of Chinese medicine suggested that and it works pretty well.
What drugs? Why drugs?
You certainly do not need to answer that question. Your mom's prescriptions are none of our business.
Maybe take what we have suggested and discuss it with her Doctor. He'll know better than us what will work.
Cheers!
mike_cfc
12-22-2005, 04:30 PM
Senna is the liquid form of Senakot and it seems to be working like gangbusters with my patient. 2 teaspoons a day. tastes like chocolate and he loves it!
any pharmacy can get it!
mike
Jerry Story
12-22-2005, 11:55 PM
Hi Paul,
Myself, I drink a warm glass of water. A Dr of Chinese medicine suggested that and it works pretty well.
What drugs? Why drugs?
You certainly do not need to answer that question. Your mom's prescriptions are none of our business.
Maybe take what we have suggested and discuss it with her Doctor. He'll know better than us what will work.
I saw a bunch of doctors in the last five years. Every one without exception was clueless. Maybe some day I will post details. I know more about what concerns me than the doctors know. (They know more than I know about things that I don't give a rat's @$$ about.) I am puzzled that people have more faith in doctors than a saint has in God.
If asking what drugs someone is taking is improper, then at least that person should do a Google search on the drugs and find out things that the doctors won't tell you.
Drugs have two kinds of effects: intended poisonous effects and unintended poisonous effects. The latter are called "side effects".
ronney525
12-23-2005, 09:37 AM
three cheers for you jerry. doctors would have a hard time finding their elbow without a graph !!! i have 3 doctors that i "use"...basically i tell them what i want or need...but i agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments.
so, whats the difference between g-d and a doctor??
g-d doesn't think he's a doctor!!!
just a little levity, guys!!
Thank you everyone for all your suggestions, I am having my mom try some of them; at the moment she is using a combination of stool softener and some oral fleet. I asked the doctor if the oral fleet was to hard on her system ; but she thinks it is the better to use it than not to use it.
Happy New Year to everyone , and sorry it took me so long to reply.
Paul
germaine
01-19-2006, 09:20 PM
Hi,
I;m new to ALS, wondering if my friend has it. But, due to gbs
5 years ago, I too have a very hard time "going" What I find
works is 2tablespoons of mineral oil morning and nite, (my grandma has done this all her 90 years give or take a few - so it
can;t be bad as some dr"s may say, and I also eat oranges a few
times per week and use the child glycerine suppositories when I
can't remember the lst time I went. Any of the internal pills, or
herbal or metimucil just sent me to the hospital with cramps and chest pains??
I am 45, female and I had Guillain Barre Syndrome, which is also
called Postpolio syndrome. It paralyzed me from the neck down
on the r. side and from my face down on the left, and kept shutting
down my system/. I am ok now, walking etc. but I have a lot of
residual symptoms especially extreme pain, and the medicine I take really does a trip on my bowels.
anyway, I hope this helps.
PS- try to make the suppository as smooth as possible on the edges as the companies don't seem to realize how sensitive one
is down there!
You are all in my continuing prayers
Hi Germaine. Shitty subject I know but have you tried prunes. You can get the dried ones and they don't taste too bad. Kind of like big raisins. They come in cans with juice too. Or just get the prune nectar. It should work. Or what usually works for me is a big helping of frozen corn or corn on the cob with lots of butter. Next thing you know you're going like poop through a goose. Hope this helps. Al.
ljtaylor
07-30-2006, 09:50 AM
Hello I have been reading about the problems some people have had with constipation
and I am one of them. I take 500 mg. of calcium twice daily and fosomax D once a week. I use milk of magnesia every 3-4 days, it is harsh,but I am only taking 1/2 dose.
I have tried prune juice, this doesn't work, I might need more of it. Any new updates in this area I would appreciate. I eat a little soft food twice daily the rest is by feeding tube administered by my husband.
Thanks,
Ljtaylor
Hello all, sorry to here about the trouble you are all having. When I worked in long term care we would sprinkle bran on cereal or add it to soup it would usually do the trick without the use of anything else.
I recommended this to another caregiver for her PALS and it worked well. Hope it will do the same for you.
take care
Jane
MtPockets
07-31-2006, 07:04 AM
Just went through a spell of lockjaw, er locked bowels I should say, and tried lots of stuff I saw on here. Some of it finally worked but was warned by son who is one of the evil Doctors we all talk about, to be careful. If we use these medicines too often our natural bowel movements will begin to shut down and depend on the medicines to make the movement for us.
Just another thought as if we don't have enough to worry about.
God Bless
AL:oops:
TRACY22
07-31-2006, 07:39 PM
i was having the same prob til i cornered my main doc. i grilled him on each drug i was taking and after 3-4 weeks of drug changes(many calls to the nurse) found out my pain meds were messing me up.
since then i only try 1 new drug at a time (including over the counter....like ibprofen).
good posting question as we are all learning the docs are just guessing at how to help us.
LittleHeart
07-31-2006, 08:35 PM
I went through this with my mother when she had her peg.She doesnt have ALS but we found that Prune Juice in her tube helped her. We gave her some in the morning and at night.
Pain Meds were the cause of her constipation as well.Homehealth Nurse told us that most pain meds cause constipation.
Good luck
LittleHeart
