Does anyone have this experience...my 89 y\o mother will have a cycle of constipation then diarrhea about every 2 months. She doesn't have any bowel issues and I'm careful to keep her diet stable and filled with fiber. She drinks water at a decent rate. Everything she does is almost exactly like the day before. We stay away from diarrhea causing foods. But every couple of months she gets constipated. Once that resolves...about a week later the diarrhea will kick in.
Peritonitis. This is life threatening. If previous scans have shown no cancer or polyps, I would not put an elderly person thru the prep.
It comes down to, if your not going to do anything if cancer is found, then don't put the person thru the test. Chemo is very hard on the body. If Dementia is involved, I really would not put my elderly parent thru any of it. My Mom had bladder cancer at 79. Chemo for that is pretty simple. Every year she had a scan. After 5 years she was still cancer free. But Dr wanted to continue the scans. By that time Mom had been diagnosed with Dementia. If the cancer returned, we were not going to do anything so I said no to the scan.
A good gastro doctor or PCP should be able to test stool for treatable conditions (bacterial infection or parasites). This is well worth doing as it may be a problem that can be resolved.
We had a push from the doctors and one of my relatives to do the colonoscopy after a small mass turned up on a CT scan. I’d think carefully about whether you proceed with that kind of testing. My mom just turned 90. Everything others have posted here is true—there is more risk for people above 80, colonoscopies are not standard practice. We ended up completing the prep in the hospital over two days; I was up two nights straight with her, as she lacked the mental focus to drink such a large volume of liquid. (She wouldn’t take the pill prep.) It was frankly an ordeal for everyone. My mom was frightened being in unfamiliar surroundings, and the edema in her legs—which had slowly improved after a year or so of repeated cellulitis infections—got much worse, as they held her LASIX for three days. Her GI doctor kept her overnight after the procedure and monitored heart risk for the first 12 hours or so. Her cognition was notably worse for 3-4 weeks afterwards, too.
So now we have a cancer diagnosis, and we are starting conversations about whether she will choose to treat the illness (in some
minimally-invasive way) or go into palliative care.
I don’t know if any of this info will be helpful to you, but I guess it is one possible outcome. But there are a lot of other things that could cause recurrent GI problems.
If your relative has new problems, I would push the doctor to rule out the simple treatable stuff. Infections, parasites. PCP can also test for ferritin/iron profile to see about iron deficency, which can be related to a lot of things—one of which is colon cancer.
Also honestly I have no idea whether we made the right decision with my mom. We have clarity and a diagnosis and a team of people through oncology and primary care helping us now. Before my mom was just suffering more and more, with no idea of what was happening and minimal medical help. But the colonoscopy was a dreadful experience for her (yes, she would describe it in that manner). I talked to a nurse today who advised no more testing and palliative care. We will follow my mom’s lead on that one and make sure she has all the info she needs. (I doubt she would choose surgery, and I doubt they would approve her if she did.) I wonder whether we could have gotten into palliative care without the whole colonoscopy ordeal. Probably one of those situations where there’s no optimal path forward.
I hope there will be a simpler resolution for your family.
Generally microscopic colitis causes diarreah but some get alternating constipation and diarreah.
IF SHE EVER GETS ANOTHER COLONOSCOPY MAKE SURE THEY TAKE BIOPSIES FOR MICROSCOPIC COLITIS AT THE SAME TIME.
Do know, that for some (I am one) fiber isn't a friend. I have IBS, and as with all IBS sufferers, triggers are variable. Where fiber and pre or probiotics help one person, they may injure and exacerbate symptoms for another. Where one needs a FODMAP diet, it doesn't work for another.
Mother may have something going on. A gastroenterologist can test stools for presence of any problems. I would not, if she is aged, go the route of colonoscopy. The bowel becomes fragile and thins with age, is more susceptible to perforations. But I would discuss with that person.
Start by researching pills your mom is on, including supplements.
Good luck, but remember, medical problems belong in the realm of medical team, legal belong with lawyers and financial with good financial experts. It can be problematic to guess. You have clearly done what you can to work with this, but it's continuing so check it out. I hope you'll update us.
I have been reading that a large percentage of nursing home residents experience constipation...and it sometimes causes leakage around the blockage. She doesn't have that. She has constipation then when it's cleared up she may have diarrhea a week or so later- even tho her food and medications are stable
I wanted to know if others are experiencing this with their elderly parent and if it is something that seems to happen with age...or not.
Perhaps a visit with a digestive health specialist is in order to rule out any underlying issues.
We will be going to her PCM for a referral as no one here seems to also experience this .