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89 Years. Regular Soft Stools Without Formation. On Meals On Wheels, Frozen Sausage Patties, Eggs. Good Vital Signs. Recommend
Hi, I am acaregiver to an 89 year old male. Since June 5, he has had regularly occuring soft, pudding like bowel movements. Rarely formed stool. He has been tested for C-diff and other bacterial infections. His diet is mostly from Meals on Wheels. I just requested that he avoid nuts. I will know more in about a week if they are the problem. He also eats frozen sausage patties every weekday morning with his scr. eggs. His VA nurse reports good vital signs. What else do you recommend, as the nurse and I know that he will just get worse from this. He has not been on antibiotic for at least one month (or more). What else ? Thanks, Carol
posted on
Fri, 30 Aug 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 30 Aug 2013
Answered on
Fri, 30 Aug 2013
Last reviewed on
Hi and thanks for the query,
It might be important to note presence of any fever or accompanying abdominal pain. these could raise more implication of an infectious process. However, a stool exams and culture could be helpful. It is necessary to consider other common causes of soft stool formation like a change in diet also. Doing an occult blood test in stool (hemocult) and a colonoscopy at some point in time could be useful to exclude a tumor of the colon.
I suggest you obtain a proper clinical review form a gastroenterologist. Kind regards.
Bain LE, MD
It might be important to note presence of any fever or accompanying abdominal pain. these could raise more implication of an infectious process. However, a stool exams and culture could be helpful. It is necessary to consider other common causes of soft stool formation like a change in diet also. Doing an occult blood test in stool (hemocult) and a colonoscopy at some point in time could be useful to exclude a tumor of the colon.
I suggest you obtain a proper clinical review form a gastroenterologist. Kind regards.
Bain LE, MD
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