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What Can Be Done To Manage Bowel Incontinence In A 93-year-old?

Posted on Wed, 4 Dec 2019

Question: My mom is 93. She had about 7 inches of small bowell removed 25 years ago. Has had occasional diarrhea over the years...Recently she has been having incontinance.. ....hard to hold bowell movement... .... and has not been able to get to commode in time... please tell me some things to do to help her.....is it part of oldvage??? What tests should i ssk doctor for

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
incontinence due to diarrhea, constipation, muscle or nerve damage.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I have evaluated query for your mom.

* The incontinence relates to issue of anal sphincter tone for which various factors
are responsible for diarrhea, constipation, muscle or nerve damage involving
pelvic region (usually it is not age-related change unless it is severe
depletion of muscle tones).

Kindly provide further details so that I can answer your query completely.

1. Whether she has the passage of feces during flatus passing or there is total
incontinence of stool?
2. Details for diarrhea.
3. Is there intermittent constipation?
4. When last physical checkup and colonoscopy was carried out?
5. Is there any problem with urination?

Awaiting the details...
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (2 days later)

No passage of feces during flatus . Not total incompetence . Diarrhea happens often after eating a sweet or sugar loaded food. But some just happens really fast without reason. Sometime she takes Immodium to stop diarrhea. No constipation. Last colonoscopy was 5years ago. Mom is 93. She does have leaking of urine but not all the time . Most of the time she does notleak

Answered by Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
follow up .

Detailed Answer:
Welcome for follow up.

* This relates to alteration in gut flora mechanics to certain food stuffs or at times
without reason due to old surgical insult.
* My suggestions at present

- Allow her to consume more liquids.
- Particular diet with certain food stuffs that provoke diarrhea, should be avoided
till possible.
- Increase the intake of fresh
- Immodium intake is not recommended, instead of that get prescription of pro
biotic from her doctor.
- Pelvic floor exercises can help in occasional bladder leakage and diarrhea to
varying extent.
- Keep her ambulatory till possible.
- Usually per rectal examination is sufficient for a consultant surgeon to assess
the issue, later on further detailed evaluation may be necessary as per clinician
concern only.

Wish her fine health.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana