Long Term faecal impaction

90 year old husband has been having re -occurring bouts of impaction, where rectum is empty but he can't evacuate his bowels. He's taken 3 sessions of Laxido (8 in 6hrs) about 5days apart, even taken 2 senna in the evenings. He can't do exercise like when younger, but walks as far with sticks, as he can max just under a mile in short bursts. we have fibre and fresh chopped fruit, chai seeds and inulin powder, w' skimmed milk, lunch is salad/seafood or meat and soup.dinner is home cooked, vegetables 2/3 of plate. his appetite has diminished slightly, but otherwise things seem ok, except the need for evacuating, even during night but with perhaps liquid and tiny amount of poo. 3yrs ago in hospital they wrote they'd noted a marked rotation of bowel on right flank and queried whether there had been any GI symptoms. Should we see GP again? it was dismissed last time as old age. thank you

  • Hello and thanks for posting,

    Gut motility (movement) decreases with age, and also when someone is less mobile. Constipation is very common in the elderly. There is useful information on the NHS website

    His GP can review him and his current laxative regime and maybe prescribe some new ones. It is important that he drinks regular fluids during the day as this will help him.

    I hope that this helps,

    Vanda