About constipation

Constipation can cause unpleasant symptoms such as abdominal and rectal pain, distension, nausea and vomiting, lethargy, anxiety and other negative effects on wellbeing. It can also cause psychological distress and agitation in the unwell or dying patient. It can often lead to urinary retention or incontinence.

Although it is probably the most common problem dying people face, it is often ignored, causing tremendous discomfort and frustration.

Sometimes constipation is so severe that the fluid contents of the bowel leak past and this produces overflow liquid faeces which can be mistaken for diarrhoea. There is often little control and incontinence can result.

Causes of constipation

Constipation can be caused by:

• Disease process.
• Being immobile.
• Loss of appetite, resulting in insufficient intake of food and fluids.
• Change of environment – e.g. using a commode.
• Side effects of some medicines, e.g. painkillers.

Marie Curie: Constipation

Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines: Constipation

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Palliative Care - Constipation

Some elements of this section are summarised and adapted from Macmillan Foundations in Palliative Care (FIPC) materials 2020, published by Macmillan Cancer Support, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ, United Kingdom. © Copyright Macmillan Cancer Support 2020, produced by the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI). Macmillan Cancer Support accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of the content, which is based on UK practice and guidelines at the date of UK publication; nor for the context in which the content is published; nor for any adaptations made for local use. The content as published in this app/website is solely the responsibility of the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, Inovo Building, 121 George St, Glasgow G1 1RD.