How can I help mum manage her constipation?

Submitted by Emma Hamilton on Fri, 09/09/2011 - 10:40am

Questions: Mum takes lots of different types of laxatives. I'm not sure if the doctor prescribes these as they are over the counter and she's been taking them for years. She says she needs them in order to open her bowels everyday. She also takes lots of pain-killers. How can I help her manage her constipation?

Answer: Even taking over-the-counter laxatives deserves professional advice. As a very general rule, laxatives should be for occasional use only. You need to speak to the GP about your mum’s bowel management.

Medicines (such as pain-killers) taken for other health problems may be causing or affecting the incontinence and/or constipation. It’s important to speak to your doctor or pharmacist about these.

The constipation is an important factor. Straining in the toilet can weaken the pelvic floor (important for control) and the blocked bowel can impact on incontinence by pressing on the bladder neck, for example. So you can see that the whole picture can be a complicated one.

There may be dietary adjustments that the doctor, dietician or continence clinician will recommend, such as more fibre, more fluids and adjustments to daily exercise levels (even a seated exercise program can have great benefits). Again, everyone is different, and it’s another reason to enlist expert help.

Article by:
Anne Ramus, Continence Foundation of Australia
Steve Marburg, National Continence Helpline
19/03/08

The National Continence Helpline 1800 33 00 66
www.continence.org.au