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My 89 Yr Old Mother Is Suffering From Bloating ,
Question: My 89 yr old mother is suffering from bloating, gas, gurgling stomach, unproductive bowel movements a week or longer. This is a second episode of same symptoms, the first one 5 months ago following a fall that broke ribs. Generally she is "regular as the clock." Adding fiber seems to have helped a bit but symptoms continue. She will have an MRI in a few days to rule out obstruction but believes her stomach/digestion is the root of the problem. What do you recommend?
Brief Answer:
Please go through detailed answer.
Detailed Answer:
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As one digest food, digestive gases are formed as a result of incomplete fermentation and digestion of food which can lead to excessive gas formation with gurgling sound and flatulence etc.
The pathophysiology of gas and flatulence is complicated.
The term gut microflora means hundreds of species of bacteria which lives in our intestinal tract.These bacteria's and yeast are responsible for proper digestion and fermentation of food. Hundred's of species of bacteria and yeast are found in colon of human intestine.In the same way thousands of these species florishes in our gut these bacteria play a vital role in digestion and absorption of food.Even minor disturbances in gut microflora can lead to significant changes in gut function, including gas production.Age is one of the most important thing that can be related to this depleted gut flora.
There are various mechanism that can be related to increased flatulence
If this microbiota is disturbed food is improperly fermented causing production of large amount of gases in gut leading to severe flatulence.Hence most common cause in most of the cases is disturbed microflora. Secondly in old patient mobility of intestines is severely compromised leading to accumulation of large amount of gases in intestines.As persitaltic moments are week gas accumulates in intestines.Severe constipation or incomplete evacuation can also hinder the passage of gases.
-Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth can be a reason of severe flatulence .
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria are present in the small intestine, and the types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestines causing improper and disturbed food digestion.
Tests suggested-
Small bowel imaging and a gastric-emptying scan.
I would recommend him to take
Tab omeprazole 20 mg twice daily.
Add digestive enzymes supplements twice daily.
Activated charcoal tablets one tablet thrice (to absorb gas)
Any probiotic like Econorm thrice daily for 10 days initially to replete the destroyed gut flora.
Add isaghul husk 2 tsf thrice daily(soak it in XXXXXXX warm water for 10 minutes before taking).
All the above mentioned medicines are over the counter.As age is 80 plus things would take some time.
Follow up with reports of above mentioned tests.
Hope i answered your query with relevant details.
In case you need any other advice do follow up.
Please go through detailed answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details,
As one digest food, digestive gases are formed as a result of incomplete fermentation and digestion of food which can lead to excessive gas formation with gurgling sound and flatulence etc.
The pathophysiology of gas and flatulence is complicated.
The term gut microflora means hundreds of species of bacteria which lives in our intestinal tract.These bacteria's and yeast are responsible for proper digestion and fermentation of food. Hundred's of species of bacteria and yeast are found in colon of human intestine.In the same way thousands of these species florishes in our gut these bacteria play a vital role in digestion and absorption of food.Even minor disturbances in gut microflora can lead to significant changes in gut function, including gas production.Age is one of the most important thing that can be related to this depleted gut flora.
There are various mechanism that can be related to increased flatulence
If this microbiota is disturbed food is improperly fermented causing production of large amount of gases in gut leading to severe flatulence.Hence most common cause in most of the cases is disturbed microflora. Secondly in old patient mobility of intestines is severely compromised leading to accumulation of large amount of gases in intestines.As persitaltic moments are week gas accumulates in intestines.Severe constipation or incomplete evacuation can also hinder the passage of gases.
-Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth can be a reason of severe flatulence .
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria are present in the small intestine, and the types of bacteria in the small intestine resemble more the bacteria of the colon than the small intestines causing improper and disturbed food digestion.
Tests suggested-
Small bowel imaging and a gastric-emptying scan.
I would recommend him to take
Tab omeprazole 20 mg twice daily.
Add digestive enzymes supplements twice daily.
Activated charcoal tablets one tablet thrice (to absorb gas)
Any probiotic like Econorm thrice daily for 10 days initially to replete the destroyed gut flora.
Add isaghul husk 2 tsf thrice daily(soak it in XXXXXXX warm water for 10 minutes before taking).
All the above mentioned medicines are over the counter.As age is 80 plus things would take some time.
Follow up with reports of above mentioned tests.
Hope i answered your query with relevant details.
In case you need any other advice do follow up.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you, Doctor Kumar! I will forward your response and recommendations to my mother. Gratefully, Robin Norton
Brief Answer:
Welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you so much.
Hope she would be much better in few day.
Do rate the answer and any suggestions to make answer better are welcome.
Thank you and may she get well soon.
Dr Kumar Ramesh!
Welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you so much.
Hope she would be much better in few day.
Do rate the answer and any suggestions to make answer better are welcome.
Thank you and may she get well soon.
Dr Kumar Ramesh!
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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