Suggest Treatment For Chronic Constipation In An Elderly Person

Posted on Sat, 27 Aug 2016

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

Sat, 27 Aug 2016 Answered on

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : My 79 year old father, has constipation most of the time. We help this with prune juice, stool softener, and occasionally he has to use an enema. He has not gone to the bathroom in 4 days. This morning he got really dizzy and sick to his stomach. I have him laying down right now. When I looked up what I could do for him on the Internet, it said that with a bowl movement he could faint. I was reading about Vasovagel when I saw that answer. What can I do to prevent that?

Answered by Dr. Ajit Naniksingh Kukreja (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Enema or Manual Evacuation

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for writing in
Considering the fact that your father has chronic constipation he needs management of the same with diet and medicines

But to prevent any emergency at this stage you should take him to an ER and go for either an enema or manual evacuation of the hardened stool

Hope this helps
DO write back in case of concern

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee