Hello everyone,
I've recently had to have a bladder repair and now I've run into serious trouble with impaction of my descending colon..very nervous regarding an obstruction. I have started on oral laxatives and suppositories as a daily regime. Full fluid diet only for now. Does anyone have any helpful advice?
See a Neurologist for PD.....see a General Practice Doctor who follows my health otherwise. When I was first diagnosed ten year ago was told that a symptom was that peristalsis would slow down. That is wave like smooth muscle contractions in the gut. General Practice Doc tracks bowel movements.......use more liquids, supplemental fiber, and occasional stool softeners as of now.
BillDavid
Annie, as BilDavd says, the slow gut action which can be a symptom of Parkinson's may have been the beginning of your trouble. Make sure your Neurologist knows what is happening to you, and make sure the doctor treating your gut looks up medication interactions with your Parkinson's treatment.
I trust a doctor is treating your colon?
Good that you are aware, get to the doctor if you are uncomfortable. I think amantadine can worsen constipation. My husband had to have part of his large intestine removed due to obstruction and it was traumatic. Magnesium citrate and lots of fiber, low meat diet can help keep your bowels moving.
My husband has has similar issues for quite awhile and I worried a lot about impaction. I now keep a calendar to note elimination and he is on a regiman of two sennacot daily, 1 am and 1 pm. Primary care physician said he could take extra if needed. Also takes 1 probiotic daily and 6-8 oz of prune juice before noon. Lots of fluid, fruit for breakfast, along with the other remedies seems to have promoted almost daily elimination. Realizing that the colon is muscle related helps. With Parknison's, and the medicines ingested, the muscles need an extra push.
I know the feeling . It is scary. After a surgery, it was a week and the GI doc recommended a half a bottle of magnesium citrate. Now I rely on Movicol (imported from UK) and suppositories. In addition to PD I have IBS-C so follow FODMAPs. Pineapple, spinach, yams, gluten free hot cereal, no bran.
good luck
Fiber has been shown to SLOW DOWN the gut. Aside from your urgent issue, eventually you'll need to do an elimination diet, no pun intended. Many people with chronic constipation actually have a hidden gluten, dairy, or egg sensitivity. Only by keeping a food diet and switching to a GAPS or FODMAP diet will you ever escape the vicious constipation/laxative cycle.
Fiber draws more liquid to the bowel, as does magnesium, but they don't get at the root cause. A blog written by a doctor about her and her family's "journey" with chronic constipation might help. She has all the pertinant links: the homeschooling doctor.com
Sounds like you have hypostalsis (slow bowl muscle contractions which when performing normally are called peristalsis) Do you have a megacolon as well? This usually accompanies chronic impaction. I would try this: Organic whole oatmeal. Dr Reds is good and contains flax) Boil the oats so they are very thin and take 1/2 cup of flax seed and boil it until it is a like like a jelloish texture. Mix the flax in the oatmeal and add some liquid multivitamins. Eat this just like you would normal oatmeal and follow it with 16 ox of warm water.
Exercising every day, as with everything it seems with PD, helps the smooth muscle of the bowel to be more functional. Smooth muscles are those inside us that are not consciously under our control. (Those in our arms and legs, etc. are under our control).
Also, sitting for long period is not good. Get up every hour and move around. Do regular exercise. We're already going to the mall to walk. Not my favorite place but at least we can stretch our legs and get blood and GI tract moving.
Thank you to everyone who has responded to my issue. I believe the surgery coupled with PD has compounded my constipation which has lead me here. Everyone is different with different ideas and I appreciate all of the information.
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