rosie35

Hi everyone,

I am new on here and would like any suggestions to the above problem. But I will start with a little of the background...

Apologies if any of my posts are in the wrong place as it is my first time doing anything like this! It is my Mum who has alzheimers - she is only 64, diagnosed at 60. She was very lucky to be diagnosed in 6mths and is on aricept. I had noticed a few changes over the past 2yrs? like ringing me up to ask what day her bins go out ( I hadn't lived at home for 12yrs then!), getting appts times wrong, needing to be reminded a lot at what time to pick my daughter up etc. The penny dropped for my dad when they went to Canada for her 60th. That same day she couldn't remember flying over Niagra Falls.

My dad does a wonderful job looking after her. He retired not long after diagnosis and took over everything as very quickly she lost all skills. I go round twice a week and he goes out when he needs to. Otherwise we just chat as it is good for him to have someone to speak to as my Mum hasn't said a lot for a good couple years. I always think twice a week sounds like nothing but I work 25hrs a wk, have a husband, 9 yr old and a dog! Its no good if my marriage breaks up for anyone!

My Mum tried a daycentre in the early stages but realised everyone was so much older and wasn't happy there. My Dad has refuses all other outside help (as in people coming round) from the onset. There were quite private people so I am not surprised ..

Anyway my Mum is definately way in the middle stages - she cannot do anything for herself, barely talks, hasn't been able to read for years, just looks out the window, watches TV or listens to the radio. She can feed herself and does sleep well so that is a blessing. She enjoys going for a drive so they try and do that most days.

In Nov she had a permamanent catheter fitted as she went to wee couple times a day only. Everything else had been checked out so it appears to be the alzheimers. For those of u that don't know its a tube that comes out of her tummy (and is attached to a balloon in her bladder) this is then drained into a bottle every couple hrs. If she didn't have it there was a high chance of perm. kidney damage. My dad and I thought long and hard bout it. My dad prob thinks he wished it hadn't been done as it has added badly to her confusion in the morn.

Getting back to the question I asked regarding poo! For the last couple of years my Mum hasn't been going properly (ie constipated). Medications have been checked out (also on diazepan, mematine). Since she has had the catheter fitted it is like she is leaking poo, there is never anything in the pan, its just there every time she has a "wee" (as she doesn't have a wee as such!). She is on movicol too but it isn't like my dad has given her too much. It even happens when he has stopped it for a few days, then she gets constipated! This obviously upsets them both. Any ideas??

Thankyou for listening! I have been reading TP point for about 18mths now and have finally got round to joining. I feel like I know a lot of you all ready!