ABSTRACT
Most people would feel that going less often than usual means they are constipated. This idea works fine if we are eating normal amounts, drinking normally, and fully active. But this is unlikely to be the case for people with advanced disease. It is normal for these patients to pass stools less often. So we need to use other definitions. Causes of constipation are: when we realise that a stool becomes hard because it is drier than usual, it becomes easier to think of causes. Several causes will make a stool lose water. Not drinking enough water makes a patient thirsty and causes more water to be absorbed from the bowel. Enemas are last resorts because prevention was not done or was unsuccessful. They are not a treatment for constipation. Either oil is used to lubricate the stool, or a stimulant solution is used to make the bowel contract.
