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Bowels - What to Avoid
Regular Use of Stimulant Laxatives:
These include bisacodyl (Dulcolax) tablets,
phenolphthalein (Ex-Lax), cascara, senna and magnesium citrate.
Laxative use on a regular basis will cause your bowels to become
dependent on them. When this happens the bowel will not work
well without the laxative, and eventually the "lazy bowel" that
results will require more and stronger laxatives to work at all.
An occasional small dose of a mild laxative, such as Milk of
Magnesia or an herbal laxative, can be used to treat
constipation if other measures have not worked. It is best to
consult your Doctor or health proessional before using any new
mediation.Enemas: Any
full-size enema, soap suds or tap water is too irritating to the
bowel to be used on a regular basis and will cause the same
problem with dependence as a stimulant laxative. A "mini-enema",
which has only a few drops of liquid stool softener, does not
fall into this category and can be used regularly. Occasionally,
your health care provider may prescribe a full-size enema as
preparation for a medical procedure or for treatment of severe
constipation.
Missing or Changing the time of your
program: Your bowels will move more predictably if
your bowel care program is carried out on a regular, predictable
schedule. Skipping your program can also result in constipation
or accidents.
Rushing: The more tense
you are, the more difficult it will be for you to empty your
bowels. A hurried program will increase the likelihood of an
unplanned bowel movement later in the day.
More han four digital stimulations
at a time: This can cause trauma to the rectum,
resulting in haemorrhoids or fissures (cracks or breaks in the
skin)
Long fingernails: They
can damage the rectal tissue and cause bleeding, even through a
glove
What does the bowel do?
Methods for emptying the bowel
Bowel programs
Bowel Management Tips
What to avoid
Bowel Problems
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