MY SISTER IS 63 YRS OLD. HAS BEEN ON MEDS

Posted on Wed, 12 Dec 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 Answered on

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Question : MY SISTER IS 63 YRS OLD. HAS BEEN ON MEDS FOR SQUIZOFRENIA ALL HER MOISTER MEDS FOR SQUISOFREMIA SINCE SHE WAS 15. SHE HAS HAD A LARGE ABDOMINAL,SIMILAR TO A 9 MONTH PREGNANCY. SHE IS CURRENTLY HOSPITALIZED.DIAGNOSED WITH PNEUMONIA, AND SOME KIND OF INFECTION.HER ABDOMEN IS MORE DISTENTED THAN USUAL. THERE IS CURRENTLY A TUBE I N HER NOSE TO DRAIN THE FLUID. SHE IN AND OUT OF IT. THE RESPIRATORY THERAPIST IS TRYING TO DO TREATMENTS FOR HER PNEUMONIA. I LIVE IN A DIFFERENT STATE AND HAVE NO CONTACT WITH THE DRS. PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HER.IF THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT, SURGERY WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP.

Answered by Dr. Anders Mark Christensen (26 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It may be small bowel obstruction

Detailed Answer:
Hi Anadelanoy,

A distended abdomen in a patient on antipsychotic medicine sounds like a case of severe constipation caused by the medication. If laxatives do not help, surgery is required. Has she had an abdominal computed tomography scan? This will help diagnose the cause.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad