HEALTHY EATING

Healthy nutrition is important for bowel regularity

Problems occurWhen stool is TOO hard OrTOO soft

Hard Stool

Constipation

ConstipationIn addition to diet, what other factors

could cause you to be constipated?

– Narcotic pain medications– Lack of exercise– Incorrectly performing or skipping bowel

programs

ConstipationWhat do you do if you are constipated?

– Drink more water– Eat fiber– Take a stool softener– Drink a hot beverage 30 minutes

before your bowel program

Constipation

Rectal bleeding

Rectal bleedingWhat could cause rectal bleeding?

–Hard stool–Hemorrhoids–Long finger nails–Doing digital stimulation too

aggressively

Rectal bleedingYou might see

1.Red blood on glove, toilet tissue2.Large amounts of blood on

glove, in toilet or bed3.Dark colored blood in stool

Blood on glove, tissueHemorrhoidsHard stoolNo enough lubrication during bowel programLong fingernailsOverly aggressive Dil

Blood on glove, tissueWhat you should do?

Be gentleUse lots of lubricationKeep fingernails short

Rectal bleedingLarge amounts of bright red

blood on glove or in toiletBleeding in lower GI tract

Dark blood in stoolBleeding in upper GI tract

Your stool could be TOO HARD

but it also could be

TOO SOFT

Soft Stool?Eat Insoluble fiber Meds to

Consider

DiarrheaSoft stool doesn’t lead to diarrhea

DiarrheaWhat could cause your diarrhea?

• Certain foods – get to know your trigger foods• Alcohol• Certain medications• Stress• Illness

DiarrheaWhat do you do if you have

diarrhea?– Hold your bowel program for 24

hours after last episode of diarrhea– Adjust bowel medications– Over-the-Counter anti-diarrheal

medication

DiarrheaWhat should I eat/drink?

BRAT diet – bananas, rice, applesauce, toast

DiarrheaWhat should I eat/drink?

–Low fiber foods- white breads, pastas, or rice, cooked/canned fruits or vegetables without seeds/skins–Tender/soft cooked meats–Foods with reduced fats and sugar–8-10 cups of hydrating fluid

Eat a small meal/snack every 3-4 hours

Where do I start?• Begin performing your bowel

program when medically able• Have your primary

caregiver begin practicing as soon as possible

Where do I start?Stay Hydrated• About 64 ounces per day– Five to six 12-ounce bottles– Eight 8-ounce glasses

Where do I start?Regular physical activity

“GET MOVING”

Where do I start?• Pay attention to the food you eat

– eat healthy - make good choices

Where do I start?• Deal with problems quickly to

prevent more severe problems (such as impactions, dehydration, rectal bleeding and skin issues)

When to call the doctor?

– No stool for >5 days– Dark stool– Diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours– Large amounts bright red blood

» Only reason to go to ER

Eat HealthyLive HealthyBe Healthy