84 yr old alzheimers and constant pooping/stomach pain

[mila123]

Thank you for the replies.


I should have been more clear on her diet. I didn't mean full BRAT diet, but I added more things like bananas, apples (not applesauce), and rice. The nurses told me to stop giving her oranges and orange juice, which I did. She does eat eggs, tuna, chicken, lox, and ground beef for protein. I did stop giving her the Good Belly juice because it has too much sugar though she was only getting 4 oz per day. No caffeine and limited snacks with sugar. As an example, here's a typical meal:


Breakfast
Two eggs scrambled
Apple slices


Lunch
1/2 sandwich, beef hot dog, or lox

Cottage cheese w/pears
Avocado half

Chicken or tomato soup w/crackers


Dinner
Chicken or hamburger

Rice, baked potato, or sweet potato
Asparagus or broccoli


I try not to give her tuna or lox more than twice a week for the mercury content. With her progression, it's very challenging giving her foods she'll eat and enjoy.


Would love the banana bread recipe!

[Tzaphkiel]

looking at the food listed, this comes to mind:

Dairy can be a major disruption and aggravation for a person of any age.
Wheat can be a disruption also.

pears and apples are both high FODMAP and can be triggers for irritable bowel. And avocado too depending on quantity.

also: have you calculated her daily fiber intake? that can help with digestive balance.

[txman210]

Is she on Aricept (donepezil) or something similar? Those medications increase the GI tract work.

[Ghaati]

Asparagus and broccoli are both gassy. Give her a side-salad a couple times a week. Not with lettuce. With field greens. They are much more nutritious and flavorful. You can make a nice dressing with a little apple cider vinegar, olive oil, crumbled oregano, a healthy pinch of grated pecorino romano cheese (ultra-low lactose, it's made with sheeps millk).

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by mila123

Would love the banana bread recipe!

yes please, me too!
for the recipe for banana bread mentioned

[Charlie&Rose]

I have no advice for you......but I do have to say ,you are a wonderful daughter.

[steiconi]

I second the low-FODMAP suggestion. Several of the foods you mentioned are high FODMAP; asparagus, broccoli, cottage cheese, apples...

Doing low-FODMAP helped me discover that *broccoli* was causing a lot of my issues. Who knew?

[Thunk]

Originally Posted by mila123

Any ideas on what could be going on with the constant pooping and evening stomach pain? That can't be normal, right?

It might be dairy.

Try eliminating all dairy & see what happens (milk, cheese, ice cream, sour cream, cream cheese, butter, etc).

[Thunk]

Another thing that is GREAT for the digestive system is red grapes. (or purple grapes...green grapes do nothing).

I don't know why...but they work like the best pro-biotic I've ever tried!

[elnina]

No, red grapes are not probiotics, but they do contain dietary fiber and polyphenols that can ACT as prEbiotics.