BM’s C or D?

[MissRita]

Hello all!

In terms of bowel movements can anyone expand on constipation versus diarrhea in terms of what is more common with PD? Thank you!

[pdpatient]

MissRita,. Constipation is very much common in Parkinson's.

[MissRita in reply to pdpatient]

That’s interesting because I did have that for a while and now I have the exact opposite and I I have not found any information on it.

[laglag in reply to MissRita]

I agree constipation is more common in PD. It could be from some of your meds or supplements, etc.?

[MissRita in reply to laglag]

It might be from the supplements but it doesn’t run like water it’s just a lot looser than I am normally used to and I go a lot more than I’m used to going which look I don’t complain LOL it just seems surprising.

[SFD7 in reply to MissRita]

Among physicians, the word ‘diarrhea’ is used to refer not just to very loose (watery or completely liquid) stool but to nicely formed, somewhat soft (and typically small) stools passed more frequently in one day than would be normal. (Nine stools instead of three, for example.)

[pdpatient in reply to MissRita]

MissRita, diarrhea is highly unusual if chronic. I mean for Parkinson's patients. As laglag said, you should pursue the cause of this and if it is not clear you should see a gastroenterologist.

If it is due to benign reasons, such as antibiotics and some other meds, I will repeat what my doctor once said: "its a good problem to have!". 😇

[MissRita in reply to pdpatient]

Agreed!! Lol

[NellieH in reply to MissRita]

A period of severe constipation can be followed by what's called "overflow diarrhea." Be careful: it could signal that there's an impaction.

[MissRita in reply to NellieH]

Well if there is an impaction I would never know LOL

[Idofotos]

Too much magnesium can cause it if you’re taking any supplements

[SFD7]

I’m allotted a certain amount of levodopa to take on an ‘as needed’ basis depending on how active my day is going to be. If I add too much more than I need, then my body uses it to ‘super-power’ my digestive system and I have diarrhea. Too little levodopa and my digestive muscles don’t have enough energy to propel stool along at a normal rate so I’m constipated. And because it’s not easy for me to predict just how active I’ll be on any given day, during the course of a week I often go back and forth between constipation and diarrhea, a condition that’s often referred to online as consti-rhea.

[Carolbren11]

I have normal bowl movements but maybe because I had the gastric bypass surgery years ago.

[angeltoday33]

My husband has Parkinson, he swings from constipation to diarrhea. There is days where he is normal. Wish for more of these. Joyce

[MissRita]

Well if there is an impaction I would never know LOL