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I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
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VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Bedridden, frail, easily out of breath. Doc giving anti-diarrhea med which I am concerned about. If one needs to evacuate, isn't it better to let it out?
I would suggest the most absorbant continance pads, changed very frequently until the situation improves. Maybe a barrier cream for the skin for protection.
The gut takes time to fight infection/bacteria. With a frail elderly person, the risk of dehydration happening quickly may be a very big concern. The medicine will hopefully reduce the loss of fluids & dehydration risk.
Years ago while travelling overseas I was overcome by a bout of diarrhoea. A Doctor prescribed something for me to stop the symptoms. I was young & healthy yet so lethargic & dehydrated I hardly knew the time of day & could hardly drag myself to the bathroom, let alone travel. My plane companions the next day appeared to have various degrees of the same ailment. I'm sure those who didn't have it at take-off, had it by landing time..
If this is something that could be contagious, be very mindful to protect yourself. (You getting ill certainly won't help matters).
I would also suggest ordering in deliveries of disposable gloves, soft disposable cloths, rubbish bags, hand sanitiser. Even set up your own supply trolley like they might in a hospital so everything is within quick reach.
A different approach. My doctor told me that he had patients who had been taking Imodium for years, with no adverse effects. I take it (or a chemist alternative, Eg Gastrostop) if I get a bout of diarrhoea (usually after drinking too much red wine), and it does me no harm.
Diarrhoea usually comes from over-the-top irritation in the gastric system. Medications stop the irritation, and give the gut a chance to calm down. Diarrhoea isn’t the same as a “need to evacuate” when it’s “better to let it out”.
Bentonite clay may help firm up the stools. We have a rescue cat that had chronic soft stools and started him in this fir cats and after a couple if weeks he finally has normal stools. They have the clay for people too. Might be worth a try. And a good quality probiotics. If they are taking ither medications like antibiotics the probiotic should be taken 2 hours before or after that medication.
Not to be gross , but I have some very important questions . What were the stools like before the diarrhea started ? Were they normal in frequency ? Were they normal in amount , or small and hard ? Was this bedridden individual constipated prior to the loose watery stools?
Bedridden people can become impacted . Meaning there could be a collection of hard stool just sitting in the colon not moving . Then the stool from higher up in the colon that is not solid yet literally seeps around the impaction and leaks out of the rectum as watery stool.
Did the doctor order an abdominal X-ray to rule out impaction before ordering the anti diarrheal ? Did the doctor perform a digital rectal exam ? Sometimes the impaction is literally near the end of the colon and it can be felt . An impaction can lead to a life threatening bowel obstruction . Is this individual more lethargic, having fevers ? Is appetite less? Is the abdomen distended ? These are other signs of impaction . Frequent urination can happen if the impacted bowel is pressing on the bladder .
Or does the doctor KNOW FOR SURE that this is true diarrhea ? Is this individual on a new med or new tube feeding that could cause diarrhea ? Is the patient in a facility where a stomach bug is going around ? Diarrhea can lead to dehydration . More information in your question would be helpful.
An impacted individual needs laxatives , and/or enemas to move the stool collection . When the collection gets to the end of the rectum sometimes it has to be broken up digitally ( carefully with gloved fingers) if it’s very wide so it can be evacuated .
Sorry about the gross details . I’m just an old nurse that at one point worked in a nursing home .
Has your loved one been put on any of the many bladder spasm medications for their frequent urinating? A urologist can also put Botox in their bladder to try and calm it down. My only concern with having to take an anti-diarrhea medication is that one of the side effects is that it causes high blood pressure, so if this person already suffers with high blood pressure, that could be a major issue. Taking a good probiotic may help get their stomach back in some sort of more normal state and help with the diarrhea, as will perhaps the BRAT diet. Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
This is so hard to deal with on a daily basis.
I wouldn’t be opposed to trying meds that can possibly help with the diarrhea.
Stick around, other posters will give their opinion on this topic.
Wishing you and your family all the best.
The gut takes time to fight infection/bacteria. With a frail elderly person, the risk of dehydration happening quickly may be a very big concern. The medicine will hopefully reduce the loss of fluids & dehydration risk.
Years ago while travelling overseas I was overcome by a bout of diarrhoea. A Doctor prescribed something for me to stop the symptoms. I was young & healthy yet so lethargic & dehydrated I hardly knew the time of day & could hardly drag myself to the bathroom, let alone travel. My plane companions the next day appeared to have various degrees of the same ailment. I'm sure those who didn't have it at take-off, had it by landing time..
If this is something that could be contagious, be very mindful to protect yourself. (You getting ill certainly won't help matters).
I would also suggest ordering in deliveries of disposable gloves, soft disposable cloths, rubbish bags, hand sanitiser. Even set up your own supply trolley like they might in a hospital so everything is within quick reach.
I hope this resolves quickly.
Diarrhoea usually comes from over-the-top irritation in the gastric system. Medications stop the irritation, and give the gut a chance to calm down. Diarrhoea isn’t the same as a “need to evacuate” when it’s “better to let it out”.
Bedridden people can become impacted . Meaning there could be a collection of hard stool just sitting in the colon not moving . Then the stool from higher up in the colon that is not solid yet literally seeps around the impaction and leaks out of the rectum as watery stool.
Did the doctor order an abdominal X-ray to rule out impaction before ordering the anti diarrheal ? Did the doctor perform a digital rectal exam ? Sometimes the impaction is literally near the end of the colon and it can be felt . An impaction can lead to a life threatening bowel obstruction . Is this individual more lethargic, having fevers ? Is appetite less? Is the abdomen distended ? These are other signs of impaction . Frequent urination can happen if the impacted bowel is pressing on the bladder .
Or does the doctor KNOW FOR SURE that this is true diarrhea ? Is this individual on a new med or new tube feeding that could cause diarrhea ? Is the patient in a facility where a stomach bug is going around ? Diarrhea can lead to dehydration . More information in your question would be helpful.
An impacted individual needs laxatives , and/or enemas to move the stool collection . When the collection gets to the end of the rectum sometimes it has to be broken up digitally ( carefully with gloved fingers) if it’s very wide so it can be evacuated .
Sorry about the gross details . I’m just an old nurse that at one point worked in a nursing home .
Immodium or pepto bismol can help manage the watery stool. It won't heal it.
You want your loved one on a very gentle diet. Think protein, rice or mashed potato or sweet potato and pureed veggies.
My only concern with having to take an anti-diarrhea medication is that one of the side effects is that it causes high blood pressure, so if this person already suffers with high blood pressure, that could be a major issue.
Taking a good probiotic may help get their stomach back in some sort of more normal state and help with the diarrhea, as will perhaps the BRAT diet. Bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.