Need ideas on managing Dad's fecal incontinence - Stage IV Metastatic - Sigmoid Colon

sooyi
sooyi Member Posts: 3
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Dad is not mobile having spent 3 weeks in the hospital for pneumonia contracted during initial radiation treatment (9 days).  He can use a walker for about 20 feet - to get from the house to the car to the Dr's office.  Unable to know when he has to make a bowel movement and there's alot of pain/cramping.

He wears Depends 24x7 with 10-12 changes a day (every couple of hours).  The Dr does not want to use a colostomy bag and have Dad undergo surgery (general anaesthesia).  But as his caregiver (Mom and I) - we need ideas on how to manage his fecal incontinence.

He is on a low residue/liquid diet (Ensure Plus, white rice, vegetable soups) but the diarrhea is only getting worse and I'm worried about cleaning him, keeping him clean, and general hygeine issues given that it's alot of liquid stool we're trying to control in a pair of men's Depends....

Appreciate any advice!

Comments

  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #2
    Have you tried immodium? My
    Have you tried immodium? My husband has a temp ileostomy and he was losing too much fluid and ended up in the hospital dehydated. He now takes an immodium 1/2 hr before each meal and before bed and its a big improvement.

    Why wont they do a colostomy?
  • sooyi
    sooyi Member Posts: 3
    #3
    jen2012 said:

    Have you tried immodium? My
    Have you tried immodium? My husband has a temp ileostomy and he was losing too much fluid and ended up in the hospital dehydated. He now takes an immodium 1/2 hr before each meal and before bed and its a big improvement.

    Why wont they do a colostomy?

    Oncologist and surgeon are

    Oncologist and surgeon are concerned he won't make it off the table w/ general anaesthesia for an ostomy surgery.

    Oncologist thinks the diarrhea is because there is a partial obstruction in his bowels and the radiation is supposed to help with that - the tumor that is causing a partial obstruction.  So taking something like Immodium is a concern if it causes an adhesion and then a full blockage.

    I personally would opt for the ostomy surgery as he just recovered from a supra-pubic catheter (for his urinary incontinence/prostate enlargement).  However, aside from pursuing the surgical option, what are the options for the constant diapering - is there some other product available - like a urinary catheter but for fecal matter?

     

  • sooyi
    sooyi Member Posts: 3
    #4
    Decided to stop radiation as

    Decided to stop radiation as the diarrhea is unmanageable and causing severe dehydration which last round of radiation caused edema and pneumonia - and 3 weeks of antibiotics w/o radiation.

    Going to pursue a colostomy and bring back some quality of life for him - for the few months he has left.  Without being stuck in the house and able to maybe spend some time outside with his family.

    Thanks all.

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