Treating Fecal Impaction as a Digestive System Disorder
The occasional bout with constipation – also known as fecal impaction – may be treated with a glass of prune juice or a few fiber crackers. Before long, the intestines will be cleared and the sufferer will once again enjoy regularity of bowel movements. With proper dietary modification, the odds are good that the bouts of constipation will be few and far between and more often than not should not reoccur.
Yet there are times when treating fecal impaction as a digestive system disorder is required and more extensive measures need to be taken not only to evacuate feces from the gastrointestinal tract, but also to help the digestive system to expel the waste from the anus without consistent presence of external aides. To this end, a physician may make the following treatment choices:
* The physician will refer to the patient to a dietician for a consultation and revamping of the daily food and liquids intake. By and large dietary fiber must be increased and in addition to dietary supplements, the dietician will most likely suggest that the patient add two more servings of whole vegetables or fruits to the daily meal plan, while also forbidding all breads except those made from whole wheat. In some cases, flax oil is added to the diet. In addition to the foregoing, a small glass of prune juice might need to be enjoyed with each meal.
* Severe fecal impaction is treated with enemas using oils or glycerin. Granted, many of these enemas may be purchased over the counter and used at home, but for children suffering from the most serious fecal impaction it is wise to have a professional take care of the problem to ensure that the more tender intestinal mucosa of the child’s intestines is not harmed by either the device used to introduce the liquid or by the liquid itself.
* Self medicating with laxatives is a double edged sword and the medical community is divided on their uses. Proponents point to the quick work these laxatives do and thus the overall relief the patient will enjoy within just a few minutes or short hours, while opponents point out that studies suggest the use of laxative to be causal in the development of intestinal dependency on such aides to void feces in the future.
* Those subscribing to alternative forms of medicine might participate in a form of colonic irrigation which is another hot button topic in the medical community.
* After the immediate discomfort has been removed and the diet has been modified to such an extent that severe fecal impaction is reasonably considered to be unlikely in the future, any subsequent bouts with the problem may give rise to concern about other digestive system disorders and thus may suggest the need for further testing. In this case a doctor may prescribe a colonoscopy and other semi-invasive tests to ensure the health of the overall gastrointestinal tract. Patients will be wise to follow up on their doctor’s suggestions and participate in treating fecal impaction as a digestive system disorder that requires further attention.
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