Not entirely down to the dementia, but something we could have done without! Found mum very pale and very clammy in her recliner yesterday afternoon. She was still able to stand for a transfer though so we went onto the commode and she had the largest bowel movement ever - first it was normal looking, but a lot of it, and then it was diarrhoea. There was another bout of diarrhoea later. I was quite pleased that both had been dealt with on the commode so put her to bed and popped out quickly to get some food in - when I got back she'd had another bout in bed! I waited for the carer as I just didn't know where to start on my own, fortunately it was one of the very good ones and we got stuck in together, cleaned her up, washed her, changed her and changed the bed, all with her in it - would never have been able to do that on my own, or if I'd had to, it would have taken me hours. Thought all well, until this morning. I woke up around 6 and thought I'd better look in on mum - she had vomited in bed (thank goodness only a little, and to the side) and another bout of diarrhoea! Carer due in a few hours so I got her out, amazingly she could still stand, so I transferred her to the commode and cleaned her up, washed her, and then … she vomited all over the clean clothes and all over the floor! Waited for carer then to help me do it all over again. More sickness and diarrhoea later, but now the flow seems to have subsided from both ends. I've only given her water, herbal tea and a salty clear soup today. I really hope tonight is quiet.
I think I know what caused the upset, but I need to see the GP again about the amount she stores in her bowel - it can't be healthy and it must be really uncomfortable for her, but unfortunately she doesn't seem able to tell me any more, though I keep a record so I know when something's due. I've tried prune juice and that doesn't seem to work well enough to keep a regular movement through her bowel. I was using Lactulose morning and evening. Now, I don't really know how that worked, but just the fact that she had stored so much up, tells me that perhaps it wasn't working so well, or maybe I need to just give her a small dose, once a day. I took a photo of the commode pan so that I can show her doctor what comes out! I don't know whether an enema might be possible if I feel there's nothing coming out, or maybe I just need to keep trying different types of laxative in small dose, until I find something that keeps her regular. It's a real nightmare to manage! We eat a good, healthy diet - fish and chicken, vegetables, porridge/cornflakes/eggs for breakfast. I don't think I can really feed her more healthily, but can't seem to get her bowels working properly. She has no idea now if or when she has passed urine or had a bowel movement, and I am pretty sure she can no longer push it out. Poor mum.
I think I know what caused the upset, but I need to see the GP again about the amount she stores in her bowel - it can't be healthy and it must be really uncomfortable for her, but unfortunately she doesn't seem able to tell me any more, though I keep a record so I know when something's due. I've tried prune juice and that doesn't seem to work well enough to keep a regular movement through her bowel. I was using Lactulose morning and evening. Now, I don't really know how that worked, but just the fact that she had stored so much up, tells me that perhaps it wasn't working so well, or maybe I need to just give her a small dose, once a day. I took a photo of the commode pan so that I can show her doctor what comes out! I don't know whether an enema might be possible if I feel there's nothing coming out, or maybe I just need to keep trying different types of laxative in small dose, until I find something that keeps her regular. It's a real nightmare to manage! We eat a good, healthy diet - fish and chicken, vegetables, porridge/cornflakes/eggs for breakfast. I don't think I can really feed her more healthily, but can't seem to get her bowels working properly. She has no idea now if or when she has passed urine or had a bowel movement, and I am pretty sure she can no longer push it out. Poor mum.
