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What Causes Abdominal Distention?
My 86 yr old mother has rather suddenly developed an extremely bloated/distended and very hard abdomen. Throughout her life she has experienced mild to moderate constipation but never had a belly this pronounced; she has had this for the last few days with no relief
Fri, 9 Feb 2018
Hello and welcome to HealthcareMagic!
As you already know, the cause of the abdominal distention is secondary to your mom's constipation. If her constipation is that severe, I will advise you to consult a geriatric doctor for proper examination before medical examination. Basically, a digital rectal examination will be necessary to check for an impacted stool. An electrolyte panel will be run to check her electrolyte levels, primarily calcium. Also, will be good to screen her for a colon cancer regarding her age.
Besides, it is important to be aware of general measures to prevent constipation.
* Ensure she is well hydrated. Basically, three (3) litres of water per day will be helpful. Note that dehydration is the most common cause of constipation.
* Add fruits and vegetables to her diets. But avoid guavas and bananas as they will aggravate the condition.
*Avoid too much of dry food. Dry foods should be taken with an adequate amount of water.
*Regular exercise as tolerated is advise. Excercise might just be a 20-30 minutes stroll around the yard.
*Avoid too much consumption of alcohol. A glass of red wine or a bottle of beer per day will do.
Hope that clarifies you concern. Thank you for the query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr. Chobufo Ditah, General & Family Physician
As you already know, the cause of the abdominal distention is secondary to your mom's constipation. If her constipation is that severe, I will advise you to consult a geriatric doctor for proper examination before medical examination. Basically, a digital rectal examination will be necessary to check for an impacted stool. An electrolyte panel will be run to check her electrolyte levels, primarily calcium. Also, will be good to screen her for a colon cancer regarding her age.
Besides, it is important to be aware of general measures to prevent constipation.
* Ensure she is well hydrated. Basically, three (3) litres of water per day will be helpful. Note that dehydration is the most common cause of constipation.
* Add fruits and vegetables to her diets. But avoid guavas and bananas as they will aggravate the condition.
*Avoid too much of dry food. Dry foods should be taken with an adequate amount of water.
*Regular exercise as tolerated is advise. Excercise might just be a 20-30 minutes stroll around the yard.
*Avoid too much consumption of alcohol. A glass of red wine or a bottle of beer per day will do.
Hope that clarifies you concern. Thank you for the query.
Take care
Regards,
Dr. Chobufo Ditah, General & Family Physician
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