My Grandfather (80) Has been struggling from SEVERE constipation. PLEASE HELP!!?
He has Parkinson disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and a heart condition. He takes several medications a day including pain pills for his back. I know the pain pills can cause constipation, but not to the extremity of it now. He uses enemas, and laxatives, including sorbitol (for severe constipation) and it seems nothing is helping.He occasionally uses hemorrhoid cream as well. He eats lots of T.V dinners, soups, sausage, and processed meats. His diet is horrible, but he is having trouble cooking for himself. He also sits at home in his chair and watches T.V most of the day and has trouble getting any exercise because of his deteriorating muscles. He is week and nauseous most of the time. I am getting ready to move in with him to care for him and am wondering if there is a certain diet that may help, or if it will require treatment from a physician. We have been to several doctors and all they do is change his medicine around. PLEASE I AM DESPERATE!! He needs help.
Tagged with: cholesterol • diabetes • diet • disease diabetes • doctors • enemas • exercise • heart condition • high cholesterol • laxatives • medicine • muscles • pain pills • parkinson disease • processed meats • sausage • severe constipation • sorbitol • soups
Filed under: Hemorrhoid Questions
angie (68)
Changing meds will probably not do much as constipation is a symptom and not just a medication side effect. As the body stiffens with PD, the GI tract suffers.
Want to make a simple change in your grandfather’s diet? Higher fiber foods, a bit of dark chocolate might be a good way to start (if the chocolate does not upset his insulin). The processed meats probably accerbate his PD or interact with his meds. In either case they are not good for a PD patient or the cardiace patient. Your grandfather’s diet is not helping and is probably contributing. He is getting a very high sodium content, way too much fat and far too many nitrates and nitrites.
Fiber: Refried beans – yes in cans – have been a great help for us. My husband loves them – a little added tang and they have become a staple for lunch. They help as do sweet potatoes, certain cereals. The sausage – unless poultry – is probably a negative for all of his medical consitions. Your grandfather needs plenty of fluid as well – mainly water and green tea, but also certain fruit juices (not grapefruit)
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/06/more-food-for-parkinsons-disease.html
You migh consider eliminating bread as much as possible unless you are going vey high fiber – even then keep the quantity low. It probably isn’t helping although it is a staple in the quick and easy (and unhealthy) diet. He may not like it but it might help. I don’t know if a colon cleanse will work but he may need it – please consult with his doctors first.
You are on track with the lack of exercise not helping his condition. Lack of exercise will only allow the disease to continue its progression . He is weak from lack of exercise, the disease and the medication. And lack of exercise will only make the constipation worse. The nausea may be a medication side effect and also a side effect of the medication. Because you are moving in with him you may be able to get him to join you in simple chair exercises. While these may not help with the constipation, they will help his overall condition.
The link below has some easy exercises which you can help him do – there are other exercises at this site – they are listed under Exercise in the right column:
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/02/arm-swing-exercise-for-parkinsons.html
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/02/fly-with-me.html
I would also suggest trying some of the vocal exercises as these may help strengthen abdominals as they encouraging use of the diaphragm.
http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot.com/2009/02/lets-start-with-few-words-about-doing.html
Become acquainted with all of his medications, their dosage timing, their side effects. You may need to determine if there is duplication. Make sure that he signs a release with the doctors so that you can discuss his treatment with them.
The problem with suggesting supplements aside form antioxidants is that some may be contra-indicated depending upon his meds. You can probably do more by organizing everything and reorganizing the food shopping and eating patterns.
I commend you for your love and courage. You can make a difference but it won’t happen immediately.
I can be reached through Yahoo Answers and through Contact Us at the site linked above.
Parkinson’s itself can be a cause of constipation. I suggest that you consult with a nutritionist or registered dietitian for help with a diet plan that will meet your father’s nutritional needs and help improve his bowel elimination. You should learn to perform range of motion (ROM) exercises for him. As for his constipation, this may actually be impaction and should be evaluated with an abdominal exam and X-ray. If it’s impaction perhaps he can be digitally disimpacted or he may require more extensive measures. Thereafter he may need a stool softener twice or three times a day and a soap suds enema every few days. I think a lot of his problem may be due to immobility.
Take him back to his doctor and don’t allow him to be brushed off again. Changing his meds around isn’t solving the problem or even addressing it. Be his advocate.