Sleeping all day, constipation - depression or HE?

Hi all,

We have an appointment with a psychiatrist for my mom 66F this week because she seems vastly depressed since her diagnosis (sleeping most of the day 9pm to 3pm, scrolling on her phone most hours she is awake, not doing hobbies, etc). She is also unable or unwilling to do exercise and is maybe moving 500 or less steps a day.

However, she has had about 1 golf ball-sized bowel movements a day for the last week, and she says she has constipation and severe cramping. I seem to recall reading something about HE being caused by ammonia build up from not having bowel movements. I am now wondering if this could be causing what seem like depression symptoms.

I am going to call her primary doctor in the morning but want to be prepared with the right questions to ask. Am I overreacting in thinking this could be HE? I’m a little nervous about this and need a little support in knowing what the next right steps to take may be.