Yesterday I ended up taking my DH to an Urgent Care facility where we are parked. He has had pain in his right side that really bothers him. After a work up including x-ray we find he is extremely constipated and now I need to monitor his bathroom visits to be sure this gets solved and doesn't happen again. Hopefully the Metamucil, Miralax routine will work pretty soon... I was surprised how much this doctor visit added to his confusion. He can't remember why he is hurting, of course. In the past we have used teas by Traditional Medicinals. They have one called Smooth Move and it really works wonders. If you have not tried these products you might be interested in checking them out. I think I have found them in regular grocery stores some times, but usually in the little organic markets or health food stores. (I checked my stash and only have Gypsy Cold Care and Throat Coat in my stash.) He is also very anemic - doesn't matter than we eat a healthy diet and as much organic as we can. My DH is already losing weight and now who knows how much gas a backed up fecal matter will reduce his poundage even further...
Frand, DH suffers from on/off issues with this as well. i found that he was having blockage for many months and i was constantly giving laxs off/on, til a wise kidney specialist told me to push without stop DAILY 2 LITERS of water. it has helped regulate DH to normal again and was a lifesaver not only for the blockage issues but also for hydration and urinary tract issues which are so prevalent in AD. also be aware he told me some medications are prone to constipate as well. 2 liters of water minimum i swear it works wonders. of course if hes on a restriced fluid intake you would need to ask your dr then.. divvi
Actually, I know about the water issue - it is just sometimes I like to do something else besides push my DH to do stuff! Believe me, I've learned my lesson!
frand, my father ended up with blockage of the colon from TAKING fiber supplements. It was a long time ago, I'm having trouble remembering, but I think it had to do with taking it in pill form, and the pill would expand in just the wrong place. It was horribly painful, and could have required surgery if he hadn't been a doctor himself and realized what was going and gotten himself to the emergency room in time. I'd opt for the type that's diluted in liquid, REALLY diluted ... in divvi's 2 liters of water.
The anemia, on top of the constipation, bothers me. He could have something seriously wrong in his colon that's causing bleeding.
Sunshyne - I'm doing the water thing today and Hank is noticing his urine being the color of water - a good sign! Metamucil and Miralax both go in lots of water and when we get past the emergency we will go to water alone. The anemia is of course, another concern. I am doing the stool sample for occult blood now and the doctor did check yesterday and found no blood. Again, at 83, with AD, PD, and macular degeneration - my DH is just worn out. I think we have all agreed that dying of Stage 7 AD is not our wish, but a painful bowel problem isn't pleasant either. As an aside, I am completely amazed at medical care when we have needed it. Since we are living in our motorhome we only plan to get back to our roots annually for medical needs. We went to Urgent Care in Bozeman, MT and by the time the x-rays were finished the blood and urine tests were available. We knew all the results before we left. The PA who looked after us was compassionate and available if we need to go back. Maybe this is the way of medicine these days, though I am accustomed to waiting for some dreadful phone call after a long weekend of worry in my past dealings with the medical community.
frand, I keep being amazed by the medical care in my new home of Pennsylvania. Things that the medical community in California wouldn't even look into are being attended to the first time I mentioned it. And I am so much stronger than I was in the days when I was using a walker. The cane has been in the closet for almost 2 years now.
I think it kinda depends on where you are. Sounds like Bozeman, Mt isn't a bad place to end up.
inge - I have the flax seed and a little coffee grinder designated for just that, though lately I must admit I have been lax with the flax. Sunshyne - you are right about the bathroom being constantly used today. I'm sure my DH gets most of his exercise these days while looking for the bathroom when we are out. (By the way, when he asks where to go he says, "Where is the urinal" and half the time the clerk doesn't understand what he is asking. He has always said he isn't taking a bath, so he won't ask for that - nit picking I'd say, but oh well....). Whatever, this has turned out to be a long day and I hope we get this cared for soon and never get to this place again.
Frand, nice to see your husband still has a sense of humour about the washroom situation. Mine makes sure when we go for a walk there is always a washroom handy. I don't know where all the urinne comes from as he hardly drinks during the day and I have to push liquids.
This is something that I have been wondering about as well. Mine spends HOURS in the bathroom every day. I keep asking if he is alright. He says he is fine, not constipated or anything, but there must be more to it than that. Taking him out shopping is a test. We no sooner walk through the door to any store and he wants the restroom immediately. Also refuses to call it a bathroom. He actually prefers toilet room. Due to his wandering, I have to wait outside the door until he comes back out. The rest of the shopping is like having a 3 year old. He puts things in the basket that we never buy. When I remove them, he acts like a child that really wanted that candy at the checkout. Not sure how much longer I will be able to do shopping with him along.
if your DH are older guys, you may want to ask a urologist about 'going' all the time. i took mine in for that he was going all day it seemed- and he has enlarged prostate -BHP? or such is the dx-. they can put them on meds like flomax or such to help the urinating issues. i know what you mean about shopping with DH along, i have to allow exactly 10 min to grab and go and no check writing to pay! that takes too long, so i bring cash now. oh those little things we take for granted! divvi
I think part of the reason I have hated to push fluids is that I figured that would lead to Depends. Maybe Flomax would be better than that, but today we are on the third pair of undershorts and the second pair of shorts because my DH can't make it to the toilet to avoid accidents if he drinks this much. When the weather is cooler I just can't see how we would manage with jeans. I suggested it might be time for Depends and was suprised that he actually agrees with me. We have a 'pee jar' in the car, but it would take him too long to get ready to use it - there just aren't great choices these days. Something else about Flomax - another pill to take - makes me want to gag and I don't even swallow them! I also have to wait at the facilites these days to avoid loosing my DH. Half the time he doesn't go down the grocery aisles and I hurry to get what we need and meet him where he is leaning on the cart for support...
Frand - b4 you go with the "depends", you might try the "peel & stick" pads that you can put inside men's briefs during the day...then, hopefully, you won't go through to the undies & shorts...we use these & "most" of the time, they work great during the day. They make them with different "absorbency" levels -- Tena is the brand I buy & they are on sale this week @ CVS...not sure if you have CVS where you live.
Also, I've been told by our urologist that the drugs that keep them from "going going going" cause "confusion" and are not good for those already suffering from AD or another form of dementia...just a thought as y'all think through it all.
my neuro told me ALL meds that mess with functionsof the body including the urinary one, mess with the brain and can cause confusion, like i said before its a 'pick and choose' your battle, urinating vs depends, vs confusion, vs flomax..on the other hand i havent seen any more confusion in DH since on this bladded med- he was on flomax first for about 1 yr but it dropped his blood pressure - so we switched to uroxotrol and its working very well so far now for about 3mos. bettr than prostate surgery or laser! you just have to try sometimes for better or worse to see what helps alleviate the issues at hand. divvi
My husband was having a bit of a problem with having to urinate more frequently than he was used to. The doctor suggested trying "saw palmetto berries" first, rather than going for a prescription drug. Saw palmetto berries have fewer side effects than the drugs used for prostate enlargement.
In order for a saw palmetto product to be effective, it should either supply a daily dose of 320 mg of 85 to 95% fatty acids, or 640 mg of a 45% fatty acid extract. Some saw palmetto products that do not have these high potency fatty acid extracts may not be as effective.
natsmom - thanks so much for your suggestion of Tena. I went to the CVS I saw earlier and bought a package. My DH is quite happy to wear them, since it gives him more confidence that he won't wet through his pants when finding a toilet facility isn't that easy and when he has to get up at night. I don't remember anyone mentioning them before. 60 for less $11 seems like a bargain. Today we returned to Urgent Care since yesterday was the worst I've had with such a weak husband. I had to help him get up and he couldn't walk without holding on to something. The PA said I really didn't have to worry about getting more water through him. They did all sorts of tests and his bowels are looseing up - thank goodness. He may have an infection so we are on a round of antibiotics and I am not to worry about getting food and liquid in him as much as letting him sleep. So much for exploring Bozeman, but if he gets to feeling better this is most important. Today was the first time I pulled out his advance directive to take with me. No Flomax for us - this seems much better...
frand, I also use the Tena along with the Depends with my husband, of course he is already incontinent, but just to let you know, if you will call the 800 phone number on the back of the Tena product and request cash off coupons for the product they will gladly send you some. I did this and was told that I can request these each three months. They sent some really good cash off. Some were for $5.00 off the products.
Also when buying the Tenas be sure to notice the absorbency, I have been using them quite a while, got a package last week and thought it was the same because the protection looked the same but they were smaller in size than the ones that say FULL PROTECTION.
i really like these serenity tena pullup underwear, they fit thinner legs much better than depends or any others i tried. this controls leaks so much more. plus seems their padding in front on their underwear goes up higher on the pant. depends has like a smaller absorbant pad and for men it just doesnt work well. the pad on the TENA goes almost to the top of the underpant -divvi
My Mother had chronic constipation all her life and 8 yrs. before her death she had a colostomy due to diverticular disease. For her cconstipation our MD prescribed the Miralax and he STRESSED it should be taken every day if you needed it or not. She would not do this. Once I took over her meds I gave it to her every morning in water or juice and as long as I did it that way she had no more constipation problems.
I have been using the same strategy with my husband and it seems to keep him going but he has a little stool every time he urinates. This causes a constant clean the bottom difficulty for him to contend with. Has anyone had this situation?
we take miralax too but only when needed . if i gave it daily i would be in trouble:) i give immodium instead for the opposite so he doesnt go every day. maybe you could try to decrease the dose some and see if it helps. divvi
I have decreased by half but then he complains of constipation. I think his meds are one of the big issues and also he doesn't drink enough fluids. He does not drink juices and he just won't drink. Seems like he just wants to sleep all the time and he isn't taking that many meds compared to a lot of the posts here. I have eleminated as many of his meds as I can. He is on Arecept, Namenda, Wellbutrin ER, Xanax, Neurotin and pain meds. He is content and just exhausted all the time. I don't know how any of you stand the anger described on many posts. Thanks for your imput. I am always open to suggestions and I love this website.
I apologize in advance for the gross-out, but I thought I'd use this opportunity to get all the info I can on bathroom cleanup. Unfortunately, I mean the "#2", bowel movement variety. DH has lost control of this and I started him on adult undergarments this past week.
I have been having a terrible time trying to clean him up. I was just wondering if there were any "tricks" any of you know about that might help. I use baby wipes, but it never seems to "end", if you know what I mean. Maybe I should use something else before cleaning with wipes?
Any advice is appreciated. DH is in the awful stage of being aware that he should be able to clean himself but can't. It's so demeaning for him, and I just feel that If I could be more confident in this "area", it wouldn't bother him so much to have to have help.
Starling & Jane - Thanks for the tips on the TENA coupons! These will help us on the costs of these products!!
Imohr: I recently (a week ago) began giving my husb a daily dose of the Miralax & it has helped his constipation tremendously. He used to use Metamucil each day, but now we've switched to the Miralax because it is more effective. I also recommend SALAD, which helps to loosen things up, it seems. My husband is much better to pass things when he has a salad with dinner. Also, you mentioned not getting enough fluids...try some popcycles, or jello, or lemonade with lots of ice for chewing on...these are things that my husband will eat & LOVES. Also, some fresh fruit will provide liquid in another form, and this is a good time of year to get all kinds of fruit. Try freezing some green grapes -- they are great & just like popcycles ~ Very good! I hope these suggestions help you.
Kelly: I use the larger "adult" wipes that you can get over the internet...they are 9x13 or 8x13 in size and you can "wipe" and fold and then "wipe" again. Also, you might try wiping with regular toilet paper first a few times, and then follow-up with the 'wet wipes'. This seems to work well for us. My husb too realizes that he should be able to do this himself, but I just talk him through it all, letting him know that "this will be a little cold"...and 'we're almost through"...and "you're doing great"...those types of reassurances seem to help. Many times we end up with hugs, but even with all that, sometimes he's just down & out afterwards. Hang in there! We are all doing the best we can, and they are too :)
Kelly, getting at least 8glass of fluids will help so much. anyway you can, like natsmom suggeted. popsicle/fruits/mine loves sugarless koolaide/water water etc. it will help regulate him you may not need as much laxatives. the poo squad here, i think i am at the top of the list:) is a hard one to deal with, the ideas natsmom gave work for us as well. i would suggest getting DH into a 'routine' during cleanup, so its easier as he progresses. i have mine move to large bathroom, sit on commode and as hes sitting i jerk the pants down, (this is why elastic is a must!) and then just rip the depends off the sides down the seams. i use wipes, then warm washcloths w/nonirritating soap. hope this helps. divvi
For keeping things moving naturally, natsmom's recommendation of salads is a good idea ... I've been fixing a big fresh spinach salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and tuna or chicken chunks or shrimp, maybe a little shredded mozzarella, with light ranch house dressing for dinner. My husband loves it, and the spinach is very effective. (This is the guy who used to eat just dessert for dinner, before he met me, hated veggies, and would NEVER eat chicken and rarely ate fish -- it was beef or nothing.) Also, a high-fiber cereal for breakfast -- I pour on the milk, and make sure there's plenty of it, which helps with getting liquids into him. (Raisin bran is tasty, also Post Trail mix crunch ... there used to be a bran cereal with 'yogurt bits' that was great, but I can't find it any more.) Whole grain breads for even more fiber. For liquids, my husband likes Ocean Spray Light cran-grape (no sugar added), I can usually get him to sip on a glass of that sometime during the day. He'll also drink caffeine-free Coca Cola (caffeine is a diuretic, so you want to avoid liquids containing caffeine.) Watermelon is great, feeds his sweet tooth, and we often find those basketball-sized melons in the store even in winter. He refuses to drink water with meals or to quench thirst, but if I give him a whole glass of water with his pills, he'll often down most of the glass.
I don't know what stage my husband is in. He has Parkenism with Vascular Dementia and Altz according to his Neuro and I can't tell where one disease starts or stops. He also has severe spinal stenosis that I think sometimes causes more problems than the other three. He doesn't Shadow, or Sundown, is continent, limited walking due to back, wants to sleep all the time. I can't leave him by himself, he can't follow directions, answer or dial the phone. Vitals are goodl. Attitlude is good, talks softly, haltingly, trouble formulating sentences. We go to his Neuro this week. Going to ask him but if he is like always I won't know any more than I do now...
Here is the stages document from the Alzheimer's Association. First time I've seen it as a pdf, which makes it easy to print out and/or save to your own computer.
There are other versions of this, but this is a good basic. What I did was start at the earliest stage and stop when I got to a whole section where he didn't have any of the symptoms.
Thank you Starling. I made a copy of it to save and send to the kids. He would be considered stage 5 completely so I guess I start watching for some of the 6s.
Mine was at stage 5 when I first saw the list as well. Early in stage 5, but certainly there. I've seen some early stage 6 symptoms, but mostly he is still at stage 5 except for language skills. Those are going faster than the rest of the decline.
Thanks, Starling, for the link to the STAGES...i had never seen that before and it is most helpful. My husb is def in a Stage 6....it's sad to see it in writing, really. Heart-breaking actually.
My husband has a different problem,his stool is always loose? Any suggestions to firm it up? The doctor suggested Benefiber, but isn't that when you cannot go?
Well since you asked-products like Metamucil and Benefiber draw fluid into a hard stool and absorb liquid from a too soft stool. I want you to know that I was eating my dinner while peeking into the site.
Sorry bluedaze, Didn't mean to ruin your dinner. But, I needed the help, trying to get him to use toilet paper 3 times a day or more is not an easy chore. So what you are telling me is the Benefiber is the correct thing to use?
My husband has had loose stools all his life - got worse after his GERDS surgery. Now with the AD drug, seems to be back to not just loose stools, but diarrhea. Am watching Dr. Oz (he has his own program now) and he just had an episode where he used clay to show the different types of stools.
Benefiber didn't work with mine, gave him diarrhea. The doctors say you just have to wait a few weeks and the system will adjust. I was impatient! That's when I call in my trusty immodium, one pill once a day or for the first day or so, after each stool.
Went the gamut on this--constipation/diarhea. Original Dr. kept saying fiber and basic softener. Never worked. Saw an entry by a Dr. on another site--"Fiber and Pericolace do not work on med. induced constipation" She named at least 6 meds which will work. I wrote them down and asked the Pharmacist which would be the safest/best for DH, given his other meds.(10). I was told either Miralax or Dulcolax. By then he'd been bound for a week. Bought a box of each. Started with one, got him moving. Then worked out a pattern which kept him moving, but not on a morning when he was going to be going away. Tried the other and had smoother results, alternating days. Then we added a new med. and he doesn't need the help so much. For myself, with IBS and Milk intolerance(all milk components), I often have stuff disagree with my system. One store brand imodium works great to calm the system and get it running right again.