Dad either has diarrhea or is constipated can't tell which one it is today. A couple weeks ago he had diarrhea for a week. Complaint of stomach pain so a trip to the ER and then he gets admitted to the hospital for pancreatitis. After a week there on morphine he was constipated. Pretty much still is from what he tells me (which is never the same). So he listens to everyone else on the phone but the person he lives with.
He has taken to eating yogurts... 3 a day. Someone told him that will work. I advised him they are high in sugar, one a day but not 3. He always over doses EVERYTHING! Oh yes he is diabetic.
I have tried low fat for him but he will munch down anything HIGH FAT he can get his hands on. I've made chicken soup, I try veggies every night at dinner staying away form rice now (someone told him no rice).
He says he has meds to help. Personally if he takes a double dose of dulcolax it should clear up in a day. Not sure I want to be round for that one. Trust me works very fast.
He has an upper GI yesterday, haven't heard what the status is. Any suggestions?
1) The easiest way to pick good yoghurt is to get full fat Greek. Avoid anything labelled ‘naturally sweet’ - it usually means it’s got sugar in it, even though we don’t normally think of added sugar as ‘natural’.
2) Opioids (especially strong ones like morphine) are strongly constipating for most people.
3) Constipation can lead to a hard compacted mass of feces that blocks the bowel. However unless it is a total blockage (which is a serious health risk), liquid feces can by-pass the blockage. This gives the appearance of diarrhoea. So you have both constipation and diarrhoea at the same time, or in quick succession. At least that’s how it seems. It can be a common problem in cancer treatments.
4) Step 1 is to get rid of the bowel blockage, and this may in bad cases mean manual extraction. If so, get it done by a professional. Digging around with a spoon etc can lead to a perforated bowel, which is a major problem. I think there is more information on this site about getting the blockage out.
5) Step 2 is to stop the constipation building up again. This is where prunes and other high fibre foods are very helpful. Psyllium husks are good – a packet is cheap from a health food shop. They are a tasteless fibre that absorbs water. You can sprinkle them on breakfast cereal, for example. The fibre helps avoid constipation, and the absorption cuts down the diarrhoea. With luck you get soft regular stools.
6) Keep a diary for a week or so about exactly what he is eating and what drugs he is taking. It sounds from your question as though his poor intestines are lurching from one extreme to the other, as he self treats each day’s problem. Until you know what he is really doing, you can’t stabilise things with him.
Best of luck!
Frankly, which yoghurt brand is the least of your worries (though hint: get plain, unsweetened full fat live yoghurt and add whatever he likes to it. Low Glycemic Index, high protein, good bugs. Stewed prunes go well and, er, should gee things up a bit...).
If you don't already have full access to his medical information and full communication with his primary physician, get it now. You need to understand exactly what is going on. Don't take any crap about this (no pun etc.)
If he likes garlic you could try that to help counterbalance the fats. It's amazing how efficient garlic is at breaking them down - see 'le gigot qui pleure' as a classic example, you stuff a leg of lamb with slivers of garlic and sprigs of rosemary and the amount of gravy is astonishing, as well as the tenderness of the meat.
Yumyumyum! - think I might change my dinner plans - !
I'm relieved to hear it's not alcohol, then, anyway; that's one problem you don't need, for certain. But what did the doctors have to say about his pancreatitis? Are you being fully copied in?
Had his birthday this week. Made him lobster and his favorite cake and ice cream, so life is not so bad in this place.
He had 4 nerves in his back lazered yesterday, hopefully that helps his back pain. He fell the other night in my office when I wasn't home, he tripped over a rug because he doesn't pick up his feet. Says he will join the Y when he gets back, not sure why he doesn't start now. All he has to do it walk to build strength. Like when he and mom went to the gym for 2 weeks... spent money they didn't have. He says this is covered by his health plan. I tried 5 years ago when he came here, got him a 3 month pass and he went 1 day...... He talks a good game.
His dog is messing in the house now every week. I let him out at 5 AM. This morning he pooped right beside me. Lucky it was in the kitchen. This has been happening the past month. Has peed in the kitchen a couple of times in the past few weeks, this week on Sunday when we are right there. The dog can barley walk, is almost blind. smells horrible and has one tooth. My wife wants to take him for his final ride while dad is away...... i am on the fence. He is still mobile, if dad were in a car going to my siblings I'd send the dog too since it was hers first then she could deal with it. I have had to put down too many animals, not a fan. Still painful from the last one 5 years ago. I put my dog down (age related and kidney issues) and lost mom a few months later. That was tough.
Not sure how he is going to manage changing planes next week. He got lost trying to find his way out of voting at the school the other day. I guess I will have to draw him a map or put a tag on him like a child on the airplane. Guess my sibling didn't think that one all the way through. Not sure she made accommodations for him. Just got him a ticket. When I travel with him I use my amex and get accommodations like a wheel chair and early boarding blue pass. He hasn't flown SWA yet. Different when you dont have an assigned seat. I will have to advise him to check in early and get pre boarded. Didn't want to have to get a pass to get him through security but maybe I have to. Ugh.
That poop in the kitchen sounds neurological, especially if he's also having trouble walking. It's going to start happening in his bed next and that will really upset him. Will the vet come out to you? It's (microscopically) less harrowing that way, I've found.
Whether or not you do it while your Dad isn't looking - I'm guessing you feel that what the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve over? But I'm not sure he needs or deserves to be protected from facing up at least to this much responsibility.
TG, do you go to his doc appointments with him? It sounds as though he has had significant cognitive and physical decline.
Are you taking his word for the fact that he hasn't heard back from the GI doc?
But if your dad needs to poop and can't peppermint tea works very well to keep pipes clean. 1 cup a day is good, however, if he is really backed up than 2 cups a day. Now, it takes a few days to work but it makes the body do the work naturally.
If he is prescribed a medication (pain meds) that you know will make him constipated than I would have him drink a cup of peppermint tea before taking the meds and try to get him to drink two cups a day. One at night and one in the morning or noontime.
Along with the Greek yogurt.
As for the dog, well it might be time for his last ride. Sorry😟
Good Luck!
What did his discharge documents say about followup?
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