We have started to experience this joyful PD symptom on a more-than-we-care-to-admit basis, and have experimented with many things, most of which do not work. Coconut oil, tons of fiber (try cups of blueberries in a smoothie, very little effect), teas, even miralax, walking/exercise as well. Our research indicates these things should all help, but they really do not seem to.

Anyone have anything that helps with this consistently?

Also, in drinking the vast quantities of water we have read help with constipation, we are experiencing dizziness and I am wondering if all of this water could be throwing electrolytes out of balance? Anyone have any experience with that, or any ideas of what a LOT of water can do to someone who is drinking more than normal in an effort to help with the constipation?

Thanks for any and all comments.

Hi,
From what I’ve learned and re-read, excessive water drinking or hyperdipsia can certainly lead to hyponatremia (or low sodium) as you were thinking. Drinking too much water without any other medical disorder would likely result in euvolemic hyponatremia of moderate severity which can give you symptoms of anorexia, nausea, muscle cramps, lethargy and confusion. Unlikely to lead to seizures or coma unless ingested very rapidly.

Generally, healthy adult kidneys can process 15 liters of water per day if you drink the water in small quantities throughout the day. Not that it’s recommended to drink that much obviously, more like 2.8 L (3 quarts) for the average adult which, taking into consideration the water content in food, ends up being that proverbial 8 to 12 eight ounce glasses of water. The rate at which you drink is also important (about 240 ml (or 8 oz) per hour) so that your body can absorb and also excrete the water as required.

Not that this information helps with the constipation which I sympathize with you about. You’ve done the fiber and fluids, exercise etc. Then from a conventional point of view, you’re looking at stool softeners, lubricants like mineral oil (which you have to be careful about due to risk of aspiration in neuro disorders), stimulant and osmotic laxatives, all of which I’m sure you don’t want to be on long-term. I’m sure there must be another answer in other health practices that I’m not familiar with and hopefully someone more knowledgeable in this area. Hope you find an answer!

it is generally ackowledged that 8-8 fl oz glasses of water will fix one's constipation. Unfortunately almost no PWP that I know can consistantly drink that much water, day in and day out.
There, however, is an answer. It is called "Miralax" ,and it is available over the counter. IT works!!
Charlie

just plain old kelloggs bran flakes in milk for breakfast, not the bran granuals, not even bran flakes with raisins, just the flakes. it works consistently. also a good roast beef dinner, i need red meat every once in awhile. This is also consistent.

i have heard that too much water is bad for you.

paula

I'm rarely ever constipated now, ever since I've after I started using Zandopa (mucuna) 3 years ago and my diet is normal. Contipation was a painful problem before.


Taken from this link: http://altmedangel.com/fpp.htm
In Brazil and India, traditional healers have used seeds called mucuna beans (Mucuna pruriens) to treat the Parkinson's disease. These seeds have an L-dopa content of 3% to 10%.

Ayurvedic medicine calls for grinding the mucuna beans into powder. Since the whole bean is used, the powder includes dozens of different compounds that appear to exert a strong synergistic effect -- far stronger than using each isolated compound independently. This synergy is one of the benefits of using whole herbs rather than synthetic drugs. Not only can the plants be just as effective, if not more so, but they are often more balanced, resulting in a gentle healing without many of the dangerous side effects associated with drugs.

Since mucuna beans are members of the legume family, they not only provide a rich source of vitamin E but also roughage, which helps to combat the constipation commonly associated with Parkinson's disease. Another plus is the herbal complex is often only a fraction of the cost of the prescription medication and you need much less of it to attain the same effect.

It really works,
so you can EnJoy life.
Max

Recently discovered dry roasted flax seeds (whole, not ground). Spectrum makes a particularly tasty version. Great for regularity plus adds more omega-3s to one's diet. I have 2-3 tablespoons on my oatmeal with fresh fruit each morning. Made me a believer.

Jon

I agree about the flax seed. PD didn't cause constipation with me, but Miraapex and Amantadine did. I was quite uncomfortable for awhile. Now
I take one capfull of Miramax in my OJ, 2 heaping dinner spoons of ground flax seed in my cereal, 1 Metamucil capsule in the morning with a glass of water, and 1 docusate sodium 100mg pill, also in the morning. I've been fine for a month now and think I could probably drop the last 2 pills. I make sure to drimk at least 6 glases of liquid per day.
--Mata