I bring this issue to you all because I think that collectively you all have much more wisdom and experience for almost any issue than the physicians do. I have no doubt that you will give me a better diagnosis and RX than I am getting anywhere else.
For probably 6 months or more I've been giving dh 2 Immodium's a day - 1 in the morning and 1 before bed. I've experimented a couple times with only 1 tab/day, but this always ends up with unwanted "accidents" that yours truly gets to clean up wherever we are (YUCK!!); hence the 2/day routine. Dh's belly has grown very large in the last year (I attributed it to ice cream and drugs), but I wonder if it's because of the Immodi8um and constipation?? Beginning last Friday, dh started complaining about a bad side ache on his left side that went all the way around to his back. He'd complained on/off about being constipated but when I cut his Immodium back, he got all loose. Anyway, on Friday, in additiion to the pain, he had dry heaves, was clammy and very pale. No temp and bp was just fine. After reassuring myself that he didn't have diabetes (he'd also been very thirsty for about a month prior and peeing a lot - well, he'd been drinking much more water ), I gave him an Aleve and he was pretty much fine all weekend. Monday, pain returned and he didn't feel well. Said he'd been going to the bathroom but I do not monitor his stool so I take his word for it, although he probably doesn't remember well. Tuesday morning he was moaning and groaning all morning and he has also been off his food, including everything he really likes a lot. By the time we got to his doc at 4:00 pm yesterday, he felt fine again. Oh, how could I forget this??? He's been belching almost continuously, even while sleeping (I sure didn't sleep well). His doc says he is constipated and I need to fee him more fiber, water, exercise. Sounds reasonable.
So, I stopped his Immodium all together until he starts having good bm's (I'm praying this doesn't bring on the dreaded Poop Plague). Today, he feels poorly again and is not eating. We did have blood drawn this morning, as well.
So, whatcha think my seasoned friends? Thanks so much for yyour advice.
Hi T, I never used Imodium with Lynn so I really can't offer you any help, but did want to lend my support and offer a ((hug)) Did they run a scan to see if your DH has a blockage? With the bloating and the pain it would be a concern in my opinion. Hoping your DH starts to feel better.
Thank you, Nikki. I've given him stool softeners and natural laxatives today and nothing. However, I fear that when things do start to move it might not be a pretty sight. If something doesn't happen soon, I'll have to talk to the doc again. He hasn't been eating much for about 5 days because it's so uncomfortable for him. Me, on the other hand, have made up for his portion :-))
The bloating could be a "blockage" like Nikki said. My dh had one years ago and he looked like he was 6 or 8 months pg. Has the bloating gone down?? I know nothing about this sorry to say so I won't guess past what I know and that is a "blockage".
No, bloating remains the same. He's eating practically nothing and continues to burp and belch constantly. I'm a bit worried about a blockage; his doctor listened to his tummy and said that all sounded normal; but, obviously he isn't normal. I'm wondering who to call to tell me what to do; I'm stumped.
T, maybe you could call his doctor and explain that though he said it sounds normal, you do not feel it is and would feel better if he had a scan for a blockage. It is quite painful and would explain some of his symptoms. Of course it could just be severe constipation, which can also cause many of the symptoms. Have you tried warm prune juice? Did they suggest any medications or suppositories? Keeping you both in my thoughts ((hugs))
I think I will head down to the store and get some prune juice, he'll probably drink that. I made him a fruit smoothy today but he didn't drink much of it and I gave him a stool softener (2 yesterday), and 3 herbal laxatives - still nothing moving. He's snoring on the couch right now. I was just looking up the Gastro doc who did both of our colonoscopy's a few years back - this is the doc that the other docs go to so I know he's good. I think I will call them tomorrow to see if we can get in to see them this week. So much for holiday cheer. Why do these things have to happen during these times when you want to get together with family and friends?
I don't want to seem like an alarmist but having been through a bowel obstruction i think this sounds quite serious. the enlarged abdomen sometimes happens with cancer, the pain indicates there is something very wrong going on. I hope not , but i would be going to emergency at hospital to have it checked there, if there is a blockage and nothing moving through gangerine is a possibility. it,s very hard with AD patients to know exactly but this sounds like he needs help. i don't mean to sound panicky and hope i don't scare you. pray that is isn't anything like that. i had a wonderful surgeon and excellent care but it was hell.
the belching and bloating and pain are a concern. i agree that a trip to the ER if he doesnt have a BM soon. the standard is usually every 3 days at best to wait as a max time for a BM - if there is a blockage they may need to try to manually remove it if its low enough. my DH has suffered so many of these last couple years. i would not use immodium, but miralax as its helped my DH a great deal, its a stool softner for daily use, try the maximum dosings for a day or two along with nikkis prune juice:), if hes not had a BM you may have no recourse but to get him to ER soon. but you may want to get a lubed glove, yes yes i know its a horrible prospect, and see if hes got a blockage or not that you can 'feel'. if its higher up you will need medical attention asap. you should monitor his toileting as well. we cant assume anything with these guys or what they say is correct. again, its what i do in this situation, everyone has their own theory! :) i find that the miralax added with carnation breakfast, milk and icecream goes down easily and my DH never refuses it. oh and yes when the dam finally breaks if hes clogged up you will have poop plague but even that is dealt with more easily than surgery!
Hi Divvi, Thank you for your sage advice. I had been giving dh Immodium to control his bowel incontinence and it has worked very well for the past 6 months. But, I now wonder if that could be part of the problem? I've given him 4 stool softeners (GeriLax) in the last couple days and 3 herbal laxatives, prune juice and a fruit smoothie. I ask him each time he goes to the bathroom what happened and no bm yesterday at all. I gave him enzymes yesterday to control the belching and they helped for about 4 hours and I gave them to him again at midnight so we could both get some sleep. He woke me up this morning groaning with tummy pain and burping again and still no bm. Poor guy won't eat anything except a little ice cream. I've fax'd his doc to get him in for a CAT Scan but it is December and I could be waiting until January for that, so I think we might be heading for Urgent Care today.
Well, looks like the intervention is having the hoped-for effect, dh is camping out on the privvy. Phew! I was just about to take him to the Walk-In. He doesn't want to do anything but go to bed, though. He hasn't eaten much for days, he's probably dehydrated and very weak.
I've been watching him decline much more rapidly this year than last. His memory is getting reallllly bad, he can't see things right in front of his eyes, he gets confused easily, his posture has gotten hunched-over and he shuffles along and loses his balance easily. I think this bout with constipation (obstruction?) is just a sign of things to come, unfortunately. My honeymoon with this disease is coming to an end, I'm afraid.
If my Dear Helen went three days without a bowl movement, I was instructed by her doctor to call a number which he gave me and a nurse would come to our house and give her a suppository. The nurse would usually be here whihin two hours, and three hours later I would get her on the toilet. It worked every time. Medicare must have paid for it because I was never billed. I hope you can find something like this to help you out. With Love..........GeorgieBoy
the suppositories we use are Bisocodyl. generic for ducolax 10mg. they work nicely. and if you have a bad block that is able to be felt, then a mineral enema on top of it, well lets just say get ready. usually works within an hr or so. blockages are very painful as well so its not a good time to let them suffer if they arent passing stools. a suppository is very easy indeed to administer, use a glove, some lubricant no vaseline -baby oil or such fold up the knees while they are laying down and voila. push it in as far as you can slowly. if it doesnt go in the effect will be minimal. unfortunately, i do believe constipation does become part of the disease as they tend to lose mobility, exercise, and dehydrate easily. its on going as time goes by. the memory can become more altered with dehydration as well.
mothert glad to hear you had liftoff. :) but make sure hes doing something in the toilet dont just rely on his verbal - divvi ps mineral enemas tend to work much better than a regular enema. it lubricates the intestine and makes passage alot easier. but yes it tends to be a bit messier. the things we do!! grin i aint the ex poop queen for nothing.
T, it is so hard watching the declines, I am sorry ((hugs)) I agree, every 3 days seem to be the max most doctors aim for. Like GeorgieBoy, day three and Lynn gets a suppository. I have lubed up the gloves too Divvi, Lord what we do to bring our sweeties comfort. Constipation and blockages seem to happen to many of our dear ones in the later stages.
T, I can't help but think even if he does have a BM, there could still be a blockage. Dehydration is a serious concern with our frail loved ones. I avoided the emergency room any time I could, but perhaps some IV fluids and thorough exam are in order. Also, they would do the scan right away, there wouldn't be any waiting. My thoughts are with you both ((hugs))
The only thing I can think to add is to ask about the Aricept. Is he still getting it?
Aricept increases both secretions and bowel activity, hence the side effect of diarrhea. Maybe it was why you need the imodium(?) It can also increase urination something you mentioned, but doesnt seem to be a problem.
If it was stopped recently it could cause/add to the lack of a BM. A quick X-ray of the abdomen can show up most intestional gas and blockages. Good luck Jim
Well, Nikki, I believe you are psychic. I, too, believe he needs to go in for a CT and get some relief from all of his gas and he probably is dehydrated, as well.