When we were in Ireland, we finally found a solution to Dennis' never ending constipation. I promise not to go into another icky poop story, but I thought, for someone, this information might be helpful.
A quick background. Most of Dennis' meds have constipation listed as a side effect. In addition to that, he has always had some trouble with bowel movements. Constipation is also one of the symptoms of MSA. It was bound to happen, in a big way, at some point in his MSA journey.
First we tried Mirlax. It worked for a while, but after a while, it quit helping. Then he took the 14 day Activia challenge. Yes, it helped loosen up the day to day garbage, but he was still impacted. Then we added colase (a stool softner) twice a day. Finally the doctor suggested senna. Of course, in addition we have tried enemas, but, unfortunately, those muscles don't contract well, anymore and he couldn't hold it inside.
In Ireland, a pharmacist gave us magnesium citrate. He explained to us it is what surgeons use when they really want to clean someone out. He told us that Dennis would have to take one bottle in the afternoon and one before bed. So we did. And it worked!
By this time we were using 2 sennas, a colase and a Mirlax in the morning, and senna and colase in the evening. But, no matter how cleaned out he was, he started the constipation cycle one more time. So I bought more Magnesium citrate. But, this time, I just gave him a half a bottle. And that worked.
Now we are down to 1/3 of a bottle after 4 days. It seems to be effective and efficient. So, if you are in dire straights yourself, one day, try it. You won't like the taste, but you may like the results.
Until later,
Ann and Dennis
1 comment:
My husband Bo was misdiagnosed with parkinsons in sping of 2006. In
April of 2010 we made an appointment with a specialits of Parkinsons and movement disorders. We were seen at Baylor Medical College in Houston Texas. We brought a DVD copy of his most recent MRI. He was rediagnosed by the specialists with in 15 minutes with MSA multiple systems atropy. A disease much like parkinsons but much worse. This disease causes many awful side effects and death within 9-10 years. There is no cure, only senemet(which is used to treat parkinsons (from the 1960's) has been found a little usefu)which can only be increased to a certain amount, before death occures.
Fighting Bo's Seviere Constipation with MSA
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I found the information on Dennis's MSA for seviere constipation posted by his wife Anne to be extremely helpful. Nipping one really bad side effect in the bud.
Bo has had many appointment's with his urologist, Neurologist, gastroenterologist, sycologist,MD and MSA-P Specialist located in Houston, Texas. In order to be a caretaker, especially one of someone with seviere constipation finding out it is a seviere impaction take ALOT OF PATIENTS, TIME,ENERGY,REST,UNDERSTANDING,
PRAYER, HELP FROM OTHERS (U CAN NOT DO IT ALL BY YOURSELF EVENTUALLY YOU WILL WEAR DOWN) KINDNESS,LOVE THE BEST WIFE U CAN BE ALWAYS REMEMBEING YOU TOOK SACRED VOWS YEARS AGO, THE PART SPEAKING IN
SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH. THAT IS THE MAIN KEY TO BEING THE SPOUSE AND THE CARETAKER OF A TERMINALLY ILL SPOUSE.
WE HAVE TRIED MIRALAX COLASE (STOOL SOFTENER'S.
Bo's Gastroenterologist had him taking a new constipation drug called amitiza. He was taking 24 mcg 2x a day. It worked for a while
Then while taking amitiza he developed acid reflux, so his neurologist said that was the cause of it who is located in our state instead of having to go out of state said that is what caused it and immediatly had him stop taking it.
We r signing up with another hospice company today we decided to follow his nurse and his aide. they r wonderful and he is very happy with them they r part of our family.
I will write more and keep you
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