Alzheimer's Disease Support Group

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...

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Deborah48 05/01/2011

Ok, EVERYONE who knows my husband thinks he has a few months BUT his doctors are talking like he has 1-2 years. They see him for a few minutes and I don't know what to think.

The next part is going to be a bit graphic but I don't know who else to ask, it's about poop.

Rollie had a constipation problem from the pain meds when he was in the hospital. FINALLY, on Friday, after numerous doses of Lactulose and 3 enemas he had a BM (if you could all it that, it was very loose and yucky). He is eating and drinking less and less everyday. He will have 2 or 3 bites of a sandwich and a couple sips of liquid and tell me he is full. This morning he said he had to go poop so I put him on the pot 3 times and nothing came out and when I wipe him the toilet paper is clean as a whistle.

My question is..... is he eating enough to even have a BM?

And I do have a call into his doctor and I have talked to the advice nurse and I'm not really get much of an answer other than, well, keep trying.

Trying? for what? Is his body just shutting down? I don't want to be accused of not trying but is there any reason to continue with the enemas and Lactulose at this point?

sosadandtired 05/01/2011

Hi Deb, I have been dealing with bathroom issues for many years but my hubby eats well for the most part. I give him a Colace twice a day when he is constipated but always at least one unless he has diarrhea or is eating lots of fruit. I give a gas pill along with the Colace since it always makes him gassy. If he did get constipated from all the medication, I sometimes had to manually remove the stool. He is off of a lot of the medications that used to bind him up so he is now going on his own every morning after breakfast......what a relief. Unfortunately, if your hubby is not eating or drinking those suggestions will not be really helpful to you.

My concern is if he already is not drinking or eating, enemas could really dehydrate him and make everything a lot worse. I definitely would call and ask to speak with his doctor and thoroughly explain the problem.......hugs & prayers......Jeanmarie

Pam65 05/01/2011

Mother is just now beginning to complain of constipation. I'm going to try prune juice every day to see if helps. Thank heavens she likes it so that, I don't think, will be a problem. We'll see. I'm glad you're talking about it now so I'll be prepared.

grammyx3 05/01/2011

My husband has the gold medal for being constipated. He has always had a problem I think because he has always abused the use of laxatives. Now his pain meds do the same thing. Try a capful of miralax in juice everymorning. See if he will eat more fresh fruit. Prunes and prune juice is very good and helping. Mine has gotten a little better because he is eating better. There is a definite connection between not eating enough and eating enough. The colace is OK too but did nothing for Carl. You can't believe what he was taking...all at the same time. Miralax, lactulose, ducosate, bisocodil tablets. Also, will he eat yogurt. See if you can get him to eat an ACTIVIA yogurt everyday or try giving him some probiotic capsules. Also sounds like he needs more liquid.

deleted_user 05/02/2011

Deborah, just make him comfortable and let the body do what it is going to do. 1to 2 years, no way. You will be dead first!

deleted_user 05/02/2011

Eating is not enough to solve bowel problems. There are two other factors, one being more important than the other. The most important is fluids. We need to drink as much as we can to keep our bowels working. Juice, especially prune juice is good. Water throughout the day.
The last piece of the puzzle is exercise. Get out for a walk.
Eating is good especially if it includes vegetables and fruits.

Deborah48 05/02/2011

But Virlace, he won't do any of those things, I offer all the time and he just takes little sips. I am thinking he is sending me a message.......

What do you think you have been around this before?

deleted_user 05/02/2011

What does he like to drink, milkshakes, sodas, coffee drinks, whatever? You can add all kinds of stuff to what he likes to drink. What does he like to eat? I found most people like spaghetti or macaroni and cheese or chili. Chili is good because it has beans, roughage.
You are right to be concerned about his bowel habits. Being constipated is going to make him miserable and you miseable.
You know what his bowel habits were like before the Alzheimer's. If you don't, make sure he has a BM every three days.
It might sound mean, but if he doesn't have a poop every two or three days, give him a suppository. Don't tell him. Just give it to him just before it is time for him to wake up preferably.
Good luck.

deleted_user 05/02/2011

When you are looking after someone who can't look after himself, you have to get down to basics. You have to make sure they eat right and have regular bowel movements. Sometimes you just have to be creative.

deleted_user 05/03/2011

Hi Deborah.You are doing the right thing.Offer nutrition and fluids,but never force them. It will not cause any harm to continue the Lactulose,but beyond that,seems like overkill.Bowels become lazy,and all of the pain medicine makes it worse.An enema will only work if there is already stool in the lower bowel.

You could be right that his body is doing what a body does,when it nears the end of life.Whatever it is,you are lovingly caring for him and doing your best to meet his needs.Who could wish for more,if the tables were turned?Take care of yourself.Peace............Cheryl

deleted_user 05/03/2011

Unfortunately, when you have someone with Alzheimer's, you have to step up to the plate. If your husband's bowels get backed up, everyone will blame you. He is not going to die from constipation. Do everything you can do. Force fluids and rouphag.

grammyx3 05/03/2011

I agree with Cheryl. Do your best, but what good is it going to do at this point to try to force him to eat and drink. when you don't want it, you don't want it. when I was on Chemo, It was all I could do to swallow a couple spoonfuls of applesauce or something I didn't even have to chew.
As for the fluids, yes, plenty of fluid is necessary for the bowels, BUT, as in my husbands case, he has a problem with fluid retention and is on lasix. His fluid is limited per the Dr.'s instruction.

Every case is different and there is no cut and dried remedy for everyone. Make him comfortable. Offer him things you know he likes, but I don't agree with trying to force him.
Hugs....Carolyn

deleted_user 05/03/2011

I don't know if thois works or not as I have not yet tried it......BUT..on DR OZ yesterday he was talking about constipation and he said one natural form of help is "Aloe Vera Juice". Couldn't hurt but worth a try.

I agree with others I wouldn't force feed, as long as you know he is getting fluids and you are offering food he should be allowed to eat as he wishes.

Good luck......

Deborah48 05/03/2011

I CANNOT force him to eat and drink, it isn't possible, I am making food and drink available to him as much as possible. He will not allow me to spoon feed him, just turns away from it. Yesterday I made him his favorite pbj sandwich, he took 2 bites and then gave it to the dog. He isn't complaining of stomach pain so I am thinking that there just isn't enough for him to make a BM. We go to the doctor today so I will tell them about it.

On Sunday we went for a pic nic by the river with the whole family and he was laying on a blanket and looking up at the sky, very quiet. I asked him, "What are you thinking?" He said, "a lot" I then asked him, "Do you think you are dying?" He said, "Oh, yes." I asked him, "Do you think it will happen soon?" He said, "very soon"

deleted_user 05/03/2011

My Rob just said almost the same thing. My girfriend came to sit with him while I went to the Dr yesterday and he said"this will be over soon" and she asked him why he thought that and he said "you just know"

deleted_user 05/03/2011

I am sorry, but your loved one takes cues from his body because he has nothing else to go by. When I don't eat, my body gets used to not eating. When I eat a lot, my body gets used to eating.
All you have to do is look at residents in a nursing home. They have three meals a day. They eat three meals a day. Being underweight is not a problem in a nursing home. Being overweight is.
The only reason there is constipation in a nursing home is because they don't drink enough. They don't drink enough because they are not offered enough to drink.

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