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Suggest Treatment For Constipation And Fatigue In An Elderly Person Despite Raking A Laxative
Question: My 77 year old husband had constipation for two days. He took the laxative because the hard stool was pushing the rectum. He drank milk and laxative and thinks that he got all his stool out of his system. He is very fatige because he has to get up once an hour when gas was pushing his rectum. He is tired, no temperature and appears O.K. Is there any urgency for me to take him to the ER because he refuses to see his Kaiser M.D. for the past 4 days.
Brief Answer:
If appears okay then can monitor
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If he appears okay with no fever, normal appetite, no vomiting (obstruction of the bowel can cause constipation and vomiting in some persons) and no abdominal pain then you can monitor at home.
Fatigue, as you stated, would be due to getting up regularly to use the bathroom.
He can continue the gas x if he still feels as though a lot of gas is present and can consider adding ginger or peppermint tea, either of these would be helpful.
Preventing further constipation would be helpful.
Using enough daily fluids if he can, 6 to 8 glasses and a high fiber diet, would be important.
Fiber would include fruits, vegetables and whole grain products. A fiber supplement can also be used eg metamucil, benefiber etc
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
Regards
If appears okay then can monitor
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If he appears okay with no fever, normal appetite, no vomiting (obstruction of the bowel can cause constipation and vomiting in some persons) and no abdominal pain then you can monitor at home.
Fatigue, as you stated, would be due to getting up regularly to use the bathroom.
He can continue the gas x if he still feels as though a lot of gas is present and can consider adding ginger or peppermint tea, either of these would be helpful.
Preventing further constipation would be helpful.
Using enough daily fluids if he can, 6 to 8 glasses and a high fiber diet, would be important.
Fiber would include fruits, vegetables and whole grain products. A fiber supplement can also be used eg metamucil, benefiber etc
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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