What Causes Soft Stool In An Elderly Patient?

Posted on Sun, 2 Aug 2015

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

Sun, 2 Aug 2015 Answered on

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My mother is 96 years old and lives with me. She doesn't have diarrhea but her stools are very soft and just massing together like cement. What can I do to relieve her discomfort and what is causing this?

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Need more details...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I understand your concerns regarding your mother's health.

You are saying that she is having very soft stool massing like cement while having some discomfort, I need to know :
- specifically about her discomfort: pain? gas? bloating? changes in bowel movements? nausea?
- did you run any test to her: abdominal ultrasound? fecal examination/culture?
- has she started to take a new medication recently?
- or does she take any medication on daily basis that might be related to her stool problems?

Looking forward to have the requested information in for a more specific opinion!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (2 hours later)

Her discomfort is that she constantly feels like she needs to have a bowel movement. She only discharges a little at a time.

She hasn't seen a doctor nor has she had any tests because it just started yesterday. Always on a weekend when help is hard to find.

She hasn't had any changes in her medication and she hasn't had this problem until now.

Thank you so much for trying to help Dr. Albana.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini Greca (20 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Diet&lifestyle changes together with further diagnostic tests advised...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Sorry for the late reply due to my XXXXXXX clinic work.

If she constantly feels like she needs to have a bowel movement with a little discharge at time, are suggestive for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

I would advise to make some changes in her diet to improve the symptoms:
- avoid milk, coffee, alcohol or avoid taking foods/drinks prepared with artificial sweeteners
- advise her to keep calm, and try to cope with stress

Further tests are recommended to determine what might be causing this:
- blood tests
- examination of stool
- colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy
- lactose intolerance test

You can discuss this with her caring doctor.

For the moment, I strongly suggest to run the above-mentioned diet and lifestyle changes too.

Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar