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70 Year Old White Male Awakened At 4:30 A.m. With
Question: 70 year old white male awakened at 4:30 a.m. with dizziness (like pereferal vertigo) claminess,nausea,warm persperation. And constipation for last 36 hours.have been takinjg Colcase daily.Have been sitting on toilet for thirty minutes and trying to calm down and go to bathroom. Urine somewhat yellow and I cannot deficate but feel like I have to. Took one 42 meclizine 25 MG tablet from an incident injanuary that I had in my medicine cabinet.also took one regular asperine pill. Managed to drink 8 oz. of prune juice to help with electrolytes andhave been drinking water while on toilet episode seems to be waning somewhat. What do you think? Saw physician last January that had some similar symptoms. Had prostate cancer surgery in August and am continuing to have urinary incontinance.
Written by spouse , Diane Silberhorn
Written by spouse , Diane Silberhorn
Brief Answer:
Colace may not help constipation, other symptoms need proper diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Diane,
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service.
I have gone through your description of the problem carefully and I understand your concern.
Since he had had prostate cancer surgery in august, recurrence of the tumour needs to be ruled out first.
His constipation can be due to that recurrence, and is unlikely to be eased by colace.
He needs to take a stool softener and laxative such as Liquid paraffin (cremaffin) or lactulose.
His all other symptoms like nausea, cold and clammy extremities, dizziness and perspiration need prompt diagnosis as they can be due to a heart issue as well, so I suggest you take him to the emergency without delay.
I hope this answers your concern for now, I will be available if you need any further guidance.
Wishing your husband a speedy recovery.
Best regards
Colace may not help constipation, other symptoms need proper diagnosis.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Diane,
Welcome to Ask a Doctor service.
I have gone through your description of the problem carefully and I understand your concern.
Since he had had prostate cancer surgery in august, recurrence of the tumour needs to be ruled out first.
His constipation can be due to that recurrence, and is unlikely to be eased by colace.
He needs to take a stool softener and laxative such as Liquid paraffin (cremaffin) or lactulose.
His all other symptoms like nausea, cold and clammy extremities, dizziness and perspiration need prompt diagnosis as they can be due to a heart issue as well, so I suggest you take him to the emergency without delay.
I hope this answers your concern for now, I will be available if you need any further guidance.
Wishing your husband a speedy recovery.
Best regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you. My husband is doing much better now. He finally had a large bowl movement and the vertigo has seemed to resolve it self now due to the meclizine that he took.
Do you think his episode was more related to dehydration or heart related?
Ed’s post op detected no problems but he continues to have incontenace and that may have led to his dehydration.
Thank you for your speedy reply.
Diane Silberhorn for Ed Silberhorn
Do you think his episode was more related to dehydration or heart related?
Ed’s post op detected no problems but he continues to have incontenace and that may have led to his dehydration.
Thank you for your speedy reply.
Diane Silberhorn for Ed Silberhorn
Brief Answer:
It is relieving to know that he passed bowel movements.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Diane,
Thank you very much for updating me with the progress and I am relieved to learn that your husband is now doing fine after passing the stools.
If now he does not have any of the symptoms you described earlier, then you can safely assume that constipation is the cause for all those symptoms, and yes, constipation can cause such symptoms.
Yes, dehydration can cause constipation, and drinking plenty of water is helpful.
No, incontinence can not cause dehydration, the urine that comes to the bladder is already filtered by the kidneys and does not get reabsorbed at all.
Incontinence is a very well known post op complication of prostate cancer surgery, you need to give it more time to see if it gets any better.
If your husband Ed develops similar complaints again, it is worthwhile to visit the ER just to be on the safer side.
He can take cremaffin solution for constipation, it will keep his stools softer and will prevent such mishaps again.
I hope I have been able to help you.
Wishing you both good health.
Warm regards
It is relieving to know that he passed bowel movements.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Diane,
Thank you very much for updating me with the progress and I am relieved to learn that your husband is now doing fine after passing the stools.
If now he does not have any of the symptoms you described earlier, then you can safely assume that constipation is the cause for all those symptoms, and yes, constipation can cause such symptoms.
Yes, dehydration can cause constipation, and drinking plenty of water is helpful.
No, incontinence can not cause dehydration, the urine that comes to the bladder is already filtered by the kidneys and does not get reabsorbed at all.
Incontinence is a very well known post op complication of prostate cancer surgery, you need to give it more time to see if it gets any better.
If your husband Ed develops similar complaints again, it is worthwhile to visit the ER just to be on the safer side.
He can take cremaffin solution for constipation, it will keep his stools softer and will prevent such mishaps again.
I hope I have been able to help you.
Wishing you both good health.
Warm regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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