The Scoop on Poop and Parkinson’s (Part 2 of 2)

Last week we talked about the dangers, warning signs, and how to recognize if you are constipated, using the Bristol Stool Scale. Today, we have the final scoop on poop and Parkinson’s article, and how to smooth out the situation.

Most important: Prevention is the key!

• Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of fiber. Good sources of fiber are fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grain bread and cereal. Most of the fiber in fruits is found in the skins. Eat bran cereal or add bran cereal to other foods, such as soup.
• Drink 1½ to 2 quarts of water and other fluids a day. (Note: Milk can cause constipation in some people.)
• As much daily VIGOROUS exercise as is possible.
• Use the bathroom when you feel the urge.
• Avoid Metamucil or other forms of psyllium since in the slow gut, this tends to become hard and make constipation worse in Parkinson disease.

What if I’m not pooping regularly now?

• Drink two to four EXTRA glasses of water a day. Very important!
• Try warm liquids, especially in the morning.
• Eating warm oatmeal with a cup of coffee in the morning.
• Add fruits and vegetables with the skins to your diet.
• Avocados are high in good fats helping with inflammation. One half of an avocado contains 4 grams of fiber.
• Foods that have special recognition as laxatives include almonds, apricots (dried), avocados, chicory, coconut, dates, endive, figs, flaxseed, grapes, mangos, olive, papayas, parsley, persimmons, pineapple, prunes, rhubarb, soybeans, turnips, walnuts, or watercress.
• There are Senna “Smooth Move” teas you can buy, but don’t overdo these. They can cause cramping and may interfere with some cardiac meds.
• Time It Right. If possible, try to time bowel movements during “on” periods when Parkinson’s medications are working. During these periods, there may be improved function and relaxation of the anorectal sphincter​ muscles, which can aid bowel movements.
• Eat prunes and/or bran cereal.

One simple home remedy is the “Keep It Moving Colon” cocktail.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup bran
• 1/2 cup prune juice
• 1/2 cup applesauce

Directions:
Mix together and refrigerate. Take 1 or 2 tablespoonfuls each evening. If needed, you may increase dose by 1 tablespoon each week. Gas may increase the first few weeks, but will usually adjust after one month. You can also add some extra stewed prunes daily.

What does the added fiber do?

Fiber, along with water, keeps our bowels working smoothly. Fiber soaks up water like little sponges swelling up to many times its size. This bulks up the stool, making it soft and easy to pass. It also exercises the muscles of the intestine, so they stay strong and healthy. This not only
helps prevent constipation, it can also prevent or ease hemorrhoids. Without fluids, fiber particles remain dry and harden, making constipation worse.

What if fiber and fluids aren’t sufficient to manage constipation?

• Manual “belly massage” from the bottom of the ribcage to the top of the pubic bone, performed 2-3 times daily, sends mechanical signals to the bowel to “keep things moving.”
• Train yourself to “honor the urge” to have a bowel movement. It may not always occur first thing in the morning or only at home!
• Get a Squatty Potty! The natural position for pooping is SQUATTING. I can not recommend this enough: A must have for EVERYONE!!!! Raised toilet seats may aid in getting up and down on the toilet, but are NOT ideal for bowel function. The Squatty Potty is highly recommended by clinicians. I’ll let the advertisement speak for itself. They hold nothing back…pun intended. You can get it at many local stores, they are affordable, light weight and can easily be stored away. It’s worth the 3-minute viewing.

Most physicians recommend diet and exercise should be your first treatment for constipation. However, sometimes peristalsis (muscle action in the large intestine) is slowed enough in Parkinson’s disease that other therapies may be indicated. If you get plenty of exercise, fiber and fluids, yet still have fewer than three bowel movements per week, it may be necessary to take further steps. Ask your doctor about a fiber supplement that can be stirred into liquids, and are found in most grocery stores. They may also need to prescribe medication