Taking care of a woman (85) who continues to have 10 stools of poo a day. How do I help her understand this?

I was thinking an impaction because that causes too many stools but you said her stools are normal so I wouldm't think an impaction. Her doctor needs to know she is having this many stools a day. Something to stop her up some might be in order.

Thanks for the advice this is my first time on this site ; and good to know that I can have a little help when I need it. She only takes a small amount of the Miralax now. But, I am going to start making it even smaller without her knowing, so that I may see the change or not.I don't want to spend anymore time in the bathroom. Thanks ladies...

blannie's advice is exactly what I was thinking. It is definitely worth a try. I wondered if you might need to cut her back to a half dose first before taking it away completely. That would give her system a little time to adjust. I don't know if abruptly stopping a gentle laxative such as Miralax might cause constipation. Does anyone know?

Get the daughter to tell mom to cut out the Miralax and see if that solves the problem. It seems like she's got plenty of normal stool and doesn't need the Miralax to go. That's for people who are constipated - which she clearly isn't! And her diet sounds fine...

She takes the Merilax because of her daughter's advice.She does have normal stools.I was counting so that I may tell her daughter. I have only been taking care of Betty for 5 months so far. And, didn't know about this problem. Even into the late night 3am she is going poo again. does not seem right.

We were writing at the same time. Her diet sounds pretty normal for an older person. It doesn't sound like a 10 stool a day diet, though.

Whose idea is it to have the Merilax? Hers or her doctors?

Hmm, strange question. I wondered why you were counting. Are they big stools or little stools? Stools range from dinkleberries to logs, so there is no way to answer your question. There is one rule, though -- you'll never get out more than you put in. If she's making lots of poop, she's eating.

She eats oatmeal with toast and a banana in the morning.For lunch she has a chicken ( can ) sandwich with tomato soup and a fruit cup.Dinner is usually a frozen dinner she likes or I make meatloaf with sweet potatoes. but, she insist on having merilax in her water 2 a week. which I see no reason for.Not a loss of bowel control she insist on going to toilet often . she does not go on herself thank goodness.I have told her daughter to take her to the doctors so they make check her colon. But, not an easy task taking care of yet. I just know that this does not seen right. Plus she is losing body weight too.But Ms. Betty won't listen.

What kind of diet is she on? Have you had any success in determining why this is happening? Is it a loss of bowel control? And do you know if her family, if involved, has had a physician evaluate the condition?