Peg feeding and bowel movements

[SunriseLegend]

Sorry to have to raise this topic for discussion but I'm hoping there is some experience out there which might help. My husband has CBD and has been PEG fed since June 2024. He is doubly incontiment and his bowel movements (BMs) have been loose ever since he started the PEG feeding and the neurologist said this is common with the liquid diet.The dietician has tried all the different types of feed available and he now has the one that has the least worst effect. In the past couple of weeks his BMs have become looser than ever, gritty, and more frequent. As he is immobile and is changed only 6 times daily by carers his backside is sore. I'm also concerned that he will lose weight and is also not getting the full benefit of his nutrition so will become weak. The GP said it would be OK to give him Immodium occasionally and I have done so when it was really bad. But clearly that is just a sticking plaster and is not going to address the problem longer term . Does anyone out there have any similar experience or suggestions as to how I could make him more comfortable?

[lunarquasar]

Hi my wife had similar problems for quite a while regarding BMs but is not on a peg still fed by mouth but it is level 5 food (minced.) In conjunction with the local hospice we have been giving her 1 Loperamide every morning with porridge and mashed banana breakfast which seems to work. If she has no movement after 48hrs we stop the loperamide. Not sure if this helps or not you most probably need feedback from someone with a peg fitted. My wife stated a long time ago that she did not want to be fed by a tube.

[SunriseLegend in reply to lunarquasar]

Thanks. Good to know the hospice ok’d loperamide. It doesn’t actually seem to be having much effect but in the absence of anything else I’ll stick with it

[PineEater]

SunriseLegendHiWhat medicines is he taking for urinary incontinence? Best wishes to you and your husband.

[SunriseLegend in reply to PineEater]

No medication for incontinence. In addition to CBD he also has prostate cancer which leads to urgency

[PineEater in reply to SunriseLegend]

SunriseLegend

Hi

So, sorry to learn that your husband also has prostate cancer. What medication is he on for cancer if none for urinary incontinence. Best wishes to yourself and your husband

[SunriseLegend in reply to PineEater]

No treatment for prostate cancer either - he is only on blood pressure, blood thinners, carbocisteine and anti-depressant meds

[PineEater in reply to SunriseLegend]

SunriseLegendHi

Unfortunately, blood pressure medicines, blood thinners Carbocysteine and antidepressants you have mentioned can all cause diarrhea. The GP and/ or neurologist need to find out which medicines out of these different classes of medications are causing the undesirable side effect. Please contact them. Best wishes to yourself and your husband

[SunriseLegend in reply to PineEater]

Thank you . I will ask the GP for their thoughts on this as I have already discussed with the neurologist

[PineEater in reply to SunriseLegend]

SunriseLegendHi

What did the neurologist say? Best wishes to your good self and your husband.