Bowels and the Patient.
A few years ago, I went to my GP with a problem that had annoyed, worried and upset me for ages'. I found it an embarrassing subject to bring up. But as my Mother had had bowel cancer in her middle forties I felt I had to go and have my problem sorted out.
After working with elderly patients for quite a few years now, I am used to the often-used saying" obsessed with his/her bowels!" Imagine how I felt telling my GP that I was not obsessed with mine, I felt they must know where I worked. If I can get embarrassed that easily at my tender age how awful it must be for older people. Never had problems before, fall ill, have an operation, C.V.A or anything else, slow down, peristalsis also slows down, not feeling up to scratch, appetite not good, drugs to make you feel better, painkillers, diuretics, the list is endless. All these can lead to constipation and/or diarrhoea.
A patient's view.
"My diuretics make me want to wee a lot. No thanks, I won't have another drink nurse or I'll be up all night. A few days of that combined with the 100 mgs of paracetamol or other painkillers I take four times a day and I'm in trouble. The pears and apples are too hard to eat with my dentures and the grape seeds get under my plate.
Right, so now I can't go, this worries me a lot. I ask for something to help! Does it? No, I either overdose on the bowel softener and get the runs, and then I have an accident. How awful, everyone seems to have noticed.
I also take senna tablets, they do seem to help but are they making my bowels "lazy? So then I end up with even more problems. Before I fell ill and was up and about I had no problems; I went to the toilet about the same time every day. In hospital with the routine and things it can be hard to keep to the same routine I have at home. I certainly cannot reach the toilet before her/him in the end bed. I actually hate going in just before or after someone else anyway, there's no toilet like your own is there?"
As for me, I was diagnosed with diverticular disease. It isn't bad enough (thank goodness,) to operate on. I just have to live with it with Colafac tablets and a high fibre diet and pray it doesn't get infected.