Tips To Diarrhea Prevention

Managing your diet

Although it is usually better for us to eat a diet high in fiber, this makes diarrhea worse. So if you have diarrhea you will need to break the rules for a while and eat foods that don’t contain too much fiber. It’s best to check with your doctor how long you should do this for.


Foods high in fiber include:

• High fiber cereals such as bran
• Wholegrain breads
• Dried and fresh fruit
• Nuts
• Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and beans
• Other foods that tend to make diarrhea worse include
• Greasy, fatty and fried foods
• Foods with caffeine in them – chocolate and coffee
• Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, butter and cream
• Some foods tend to make your stools firmer so try these instead
• Rice and pasta
• Potatoes without the skin
• Dry cracker biscuits
• Baked foods
• White bread
• Pretzels
• Bananas
• Chicken, beef or fish

Avoid pickled and spicy foods as these irritate the digestive tract and can make diarrhea worse. Eating several small meals a day instead of 3 large ones can help you feel less bloated.


Drinking plenty

You lose a lot of fluid if you have diarrhea so it is important to replace this to prevent dehydration. Drink as often as you can, even if it is just small sips. And avoid alcoholic drinks, as they make you lose fluid, rather than replacing it.

The best types of fluids to drink include:

• Water
• Herbal teas
• Clear soups
• Non fizzy drinks
• Electrolyte replacement drinks such as Dioralyte
• Soy milk

Looking after the skin around your anus
The skin around your back passage (anus) can become very sore and may even break down if you are having severe diarrhea.

These tips may help

Use unscented baby wipes instead of toilet paper to wipe yourself after you’ve been to the toilet

Have a warm bath to help soothe pain and help with healing. Do this a few times a day if necessary

Pat the area dry with a soft towel after a shower or bath - don’t rub

Ask your doctor or nurse about soothing creams to apply around your anus

Avoid wearing tight trousers or underwear

Cotton underwear will help to keep the area ventilated – nylon can make you sweat and cause even more soreness


Being prepared when you go out
One of the hardest things about having diarrhea is that it can sometimes happen so suddenly. You will probably want to be close to a toilet at all times to avoid accidents.

If an accident does happen it is very natural to feel embarrassed and upset, even if no one else knows about it. You may worry that people will smell it. This is very hard to cope with so try not to be too hard on yourself. Your close family and friends will understand and will only want to make things as easy as possible for you.

To avoid accidents when you go out, you can help to prepare yourself

Know exactly where the toilets are in the place you are going

Don’t go on long car, train or bus trips

Take spare underwear, pads, soothing creams and a plastic bag with you, just in case. You can always rinse out underwear you have on in the bathroom sink and put it in the bag to take home. No one needs to know about this

Wearing a pad can help protect your underwear and make you feel a bit safer
If you have a colostomy take a spare colostomy bag with you. There are products on the market that can help mask the smell from a colostomy so ask your stoma nurse about these.

And also when you are at home, try to:
Protect your mattress - put a large pad or towel on your bed if you are worried about having an accident during the night

Leave a night light on near your bed, in the hallway and bathroom so that you can see where you are going and get to the toilet quickly

There are disposable waterproof bed pads on the market that are made for toddlers during toilet training. These can be very handy and help you to feel more secure. You can buy these in supermarkets. Or your nurse may be able to give you some from the hospital, as they use a similar product.

If you aren’t able to move quickly, you may feel safer with a commode by the bed. Your nurse can help you arrange to borrow a commode for as long as you need it.

Even if it is embarrassing, it is important to let your doctor know if you are having accidents. They may be able to change your anti-diarrhoeal drugs.


Rest
Having diarrhea for more than a couple of days can be very exhausting. If you have lost a lot of fluid you are bound to feel very tired and weak. So it's very important to let your body rest when you can.

Ask family and friends to help you with things like cooking, cleaning the house, shopping and collecting the kids from school. They really won’t mind so don’t be afraid to ask. It’s important you get all the help and rest you need.