Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Suggest Treatment For Constipation When Diagnosed With Emphysema

My 69 year old father has emphysema and is on oxygen. He is having terrible constipation problems and his doctor just tells him to take laxatives every day. This works but he hasn t had a hard bowel movement in months. Always watery. Are his meds causing this...Spiriva etc.
Mon, 14 Mar 2016
Report Abuse
Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Emphysema is probably not associated with constipation.
Constipation can occur due to local and systemic causes.
Local causes include - bowel obstruction due to stricture, growth in colon, growth or some obstruction outside the colon compressing the colon, rectal growth etc.
Systemic causes which affect the nerves supplying the rectum like autonomic neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal etc can also lead to constipation.
Laxatives can provide symptomatic relief from constipation, however, long term use of laxatives can lead to watery diarrhea.
I suggest you to consult a surgeon for clinical assessment to find out the cause of constipation.
A colonoscopy is required to look for any evidence of growth in and outside the colon.
Definitive management can only provide symptomatic relief but it is not definitive treatment.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri

I find this answer helpful
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 
Loading Online Doctors....
Suggest Treatment For Constipation When Diagnosed With Emphysema

Hello and welcome to HCM, Emphysema is probably not associated with constipation. Constipation can occur due to local and systemic causes. Local causes include - bowel obstruction due to stricture, growth in colon, growth or some obstruction outside the colon compressing the colon, rectal growth etc. Systemic causes which affect the nerves supplying the rectum like autonomic neuropathy, Parkinson s disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal etc can also lead to constipation. Laxatives can provide symptomatic relief from constipation, however, long term use of laxatives can lead to watery diarrhea. I suggest you to consult a surgeon for clinical assessment to find out the cause of constipation. A colonoscopy is required to look for any evidence of growth in and outside the colon. Definitive management can only provide symptomatic relief but it is not definitive treatment. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja Puri