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An elderly family member had the same problem for years, and stool softeners just didn’t cut it. Finally a kindly nurse recommended getting a combination stool softener and stimulant laxative. We bought Colace which combines those two actions, and the ongoing problem was solved within a couple of days. The doctors, who we looped in when we had solved the problem, recommended one pill in the morning and one at night on an ongoing basis. For us, the Colace was a Godsend. At our local drugstore there are at least a couple different brands of over-the-counter combination stool softener & stimulant laxative products you can buy.
For some people, using only a stool softener just means one then has a buildup of soft stool, which is going nowhere. Stimulant laxatives trigger the intestines to contract and push out the stool.
I do hope this recommendation will help your dear wife (and you!).
Once, she has a good bowl movement then you can monitor it and use it when necessary. This last stage is not easy at all! You are a wonderful husband caring for your wife. Stay strong and be sure to take care of yourself too.
If your wife is not in pain and you don't want to get her to the ER b/c she's on hospice, I would just continue as you are, giving her the recommended dosages of laxatives, etc., and let nature take its course. I have found milk of magnesia to do the job beautifully and Grandma's suggestion of The Bomb sounds perfect. And I wouldn't worry about 'long term use of laxatives' etc when hospice is on board in this situation.
If your wife is eating a very small volume of food these days, please do not expect her to pass a large amount of stool in the first place.
Best of luck.
1/4 Cup Milk of Magnesia
1/4 Cup Orange juice
1/4 Cup Prune Juice
Warm this to about body temperature.
One of the caregivers that I had tried it to see if it worked. (answer is yes, unfortunately he was in the middle of a class when it kicked in)
I also pureed Papaya and Pineapple and froze it in 1/2 Cup portions I would give that to my Husband.
I occasionally resorted to Magnesium Citrate (at the time about $1.00 at Walmart)
He got Senna daily
He also had a prescription for Lactulose another laxative. He got that daily.
If your wife is on Hospice as the Nurse if she/he has any other suggestions.
A combination of chamomille pills/fibercon tablets/aloe vera juice taken together.
Apple pectin pills and plenty of water.
Check for hypothyroidism. It can be a cause of constant constipation.
Magnesium deficiency -- didn't work for me or anyone I know but Milk of Magnesium (MoM) is a known laxative.
Glucomannan - "Glucomannan is a dietary fiber usually made from the root of the konjac plant. It's historically been used as food and medicine in Asian cultures. Glucomannan might work in the stomach and intestines by absorbing water to form a bulky fiber which treats constipation." - WebMD
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These are from personal experience with all of them and only the MoM doesn't work for me as I avoid laxatives if at all possible because:
"The overuse of laxatives can lead to electrolyte disturbances, dehydration, and mineral deficiencies. Laxative abuse can also cause long-term and potentially permanent damage to the digestive system, including chronic constipation and damage to the nerves and muscles of the colon."
See https://health.cornell.edu/sites/health/files/pdf-library/LaxativeUse.pdf
I am recommending magnesium supplements. Everyone I know that has added a supplement has better over all health. It is not a laxative, it is a nutrient that our bodies utilize to function properly.
Magnesium deficiency is a common cause of constipation, among other things. It is used by our bodies for over 600 functions, it is a vital nutrient.