[aloha551]

The Atom Bomb of laxitives (MOM and prunejuice) followed by an afternoon in the resident lounge area being entertained. The Bomb relaxes the bowels(not realy) and the entertainment relaxes the resident. Presto everyone is scrambling, wheel chair included to the nearest facility. Never fails to work. Works even faster if she is being entertained by a group of elderly barbershop singers. I have witnesses this happen. Thought I'd add some levity to a very somber issue

[nightmare]

There was way I forgot to mention but this would depend on the Facility's policies and having someone qualified to do it..Reflexology...Now don't ask me how it worked but it did.In fact it was too successful!After having to clean up several different rooms we decided to stop using this.It is non invasive,very relaxing and uses no chemicals.

[poohmdsnurse]

Milk of Magnesia

[Tash4nvyblues]

thanks everyone, I now know what MOM stands for. What a great response (LOL). You hit the nail on the head with the cranberry juice. If your grandmother can swallow cranberry tablets, that would be even better, because it is a concentrated dose given every day and it works.

[nightmare]

Originally Posted by spongebetty

thanks everyone, I now know what MOM stands for. What a great response (LOL). You hit the nail on the head with the cranberry juice. If your grandmother can swallow cranberry tablets, that would be even better, because it is a concentrated dose given every day and it works.

Do not use cranberry if they are on Warfarin( Comadin)(blood thinners)

[BradleyRN]

Originally Posted by Skeetersmom119

MOM chased with warm prune juice did quite well.

For years in LTC, i used MOM (about 45ml) mixed with hot prune juice (about 110ml). The MOM cools it down and they should drink it while it is as warm as possible. No matter what or how many crazy laxatives they had tried for days before, once they drank this, their bowels moved every time. I may have thrown in a little placebo effect as well because i always talked it up like it was a miracle worker.
Though many times a little diarrhea is indicative of an impaction, if there are full bowel movements of diarrhea, then the pt is getting too much colace.
Also, if the pt frequently takes narcotics such as Lortab, they will most always cause constipation. If you can taper the dosage, the problem can be lessened. I have seen numerous times where i was able to get patients off pain medicine altogether, and this can greatly improve their quality of life. Good luck!