baaad constipation

[boosty]

hi ladies. i have a problem and its for my mom . shes 49 years old and always complains about her health. she is waiting for her new insurance to be accepted so she can go and get a check up. but what i have a problem with is that right now its almost a week that she is constipated and hasnt used the bathroom. her stomcache is hard rock and she looks pregnant. i talked to a pharmacist and he said that they dont recomment a laxative or anything like that because they dont know why shes having this problem and it could make things worse. what can this constipation and always being bloated be a side effect of ? i am very concerned. thank you for any opinions.

[Silver]

Hi ,  your poor mum , it sounds really uncomfortable . I have had bad bloating and constipation in the past and a nutritionist I was seeing at the time for my endo problems told me to drink nettle tea ,. It has a more gentle effect than laxatives  as it is a natural product and it did work for me . Best wishes , take care - Silver

[tmv]

Sounds like it could be IBS with constipation. At this point, probably the only thing that will help is to give herself an enema. The oil retention type by Fleets should do. Also, sorry TMI, but she may want to pick up a pair of exam gloves and vaseline. Very often there is what is called an impaction down it the rectum and has to be removed with fingers, most of the time breaking it apart to get it out. After good results with the enema, she should see a dr and start on a fiber supplement/lax. Best wishes.

[boosty]

how do you remvoe an impaction? and since its constipation, how is an enema gonna let it all come out? doesnt the stool have to be soft for it all to come out?

[tmv]

The longer the stool is in the bowels, the more water is absorbed. Therefore, it makes it harder the longer you don't have a bm. First, I'd do the enema. It helps lubricate the bowel and adds moisture around the hard stool to help it "slide" on out. Plus, the little extra pressure causes the intestines to contract to try to expel it. If this doesn't work, then she should check with a gloved finger/vaseline into the rectal area to feel for any hard stool.She can move her fingers in a circle and bend to hook the stool and start removing it. At her age, though, the enema should be enough to get a good bm going. Oh, sorry if tmi, I'm a nurse and I don't think twice about explaining anything in detail. You should hear my kids (ages 9 and almost 13)! LOL! It is true that she needs a stool softner for the next bm, but it's too late for the stool that's already in the lower rectum. I think that I mentioned a fleets oil retention enema with my last comment. Sorry if I'm repeating. But that's what I'd use. Also, make sure she eats healthy and drinks a lot of fluids. Best wishes.

[boosty]

thank you soooo much. i will tell her all this