Taking Care of Your Bowels--The Basics

Contents What is the bowel, and what does it do?  Methods for emptying the bowel  What is a bowel program?  Factors that can affect success  Spinal cord injury clinics  What is the bowel, and what does it do? The bowel is the last portion of your digestive tract and is sometimes called the large intestine or colon. The digestive tract as a whole is a hollow tube that extends from the mouth to the anus.  The function of the digestive system is to take food into the body and to get rid of waste. The bowel is where the waste products of eating are stored until they are emptied from the body in the form of a bowel movement (stool, feces).  A bowel movement happens when the rectum (last portion of the bowel) becomes full of stool and the muscle around the anus (anal sphincter) opens.

With a spinal cord injury, damage can occur to the nerves that allow a person to control bowel movements. If the spinal cord injury is above the T-12 level, the ability to feel when the rectum is full may be lost. The anal sphincter muscle remains tight, however, and bowel movements will occur on a reflex basis. This means that when the rectum is full, the defecation reflex will occur, emptying the bowel. This type of bowel problem is called an upper motor neuron or reflex bowel. It can be managed by causing the defecation reflex to occur at a socially appropriate time and place.

Both types of neurogenic bowel can be managed successfully to prevent unplanned bowel movements and other bowel problems such as constipation, diarrhea and impaction.

Methods for emptying the bowel

• MANUAL REMOVAL

Physical removal of the stool from the rectum. This can be combined with a bearing down technique called a valsalva maneuver (avoid this technique if you have a heart condition).
• DIGITAL STIMULATION

Circular motion with the index finger in the rectum, which causes the anal sphincter to relax.
• SUPPOSITORY

Dulcolax (stimulates the nerve endings in the rectum, causing a contraction of the bowel) or glycerine (draws water into the stool to stimulate evacuation).
• MINI-ENEMA

Softens, lubricates, and draws water into the stool to stimulate evacuation.

What is a bowel program?

After the waiting period, digital stimulation is done every 10-15 minutes until the rectum is empty. In order to avoid damage to the delicate rectal tissue, no more than four digital stimulations should be performed in any one session. Those with a flaccid bowel frequently omit the suppository or mini-enema and start their bowel programs with digital stimulation or manual removal. Most bowel programs require 30-60 minutes to complete.

Bowel programs vary from person to person according to their individual preferences and needs. Some people use only half of a suppository, some require two suppositories, and some use no suppository or mini-enema at all. Some choose to do the entire program in bed, while others sit on the toilet from the beginning. Some find that the program works better if they can eat or drink a warm beverage while it is in progress, others find that this is not helpful. What is most important is that you discover what works best for you.

Factors that can affect success

• PREVIOUS BOWEL HISTORY

What have your bowel habits been in the past?
• TIMING

Do you do your bowel program in the morning or evening? At the same time every day? After a meal or warm beverage? What is the interval between programs -- half a day, one day or two days? (You should do a bowel program at least every 2-3 days to reduce your risk of constipation, impaction and colon cancer.)
• PRIVACY AND COMFORT

Does someone else share your bathroom? Do you have enough time to complete your program?
• EMOTIONAL STRESS

Has your appetite been affected? Are you able to relax?
• POSITIONING

Where do you do your program -- on a commode chair, raised toilet seat, on the toilet, or in bed? It will probably work better when you are sitting up because of gravity.
• FLUIDS

How much and what type of fluid do you drink? (Prune juice or orange juice can stimulate the bowels, or another type of fruit juice may work best for you.)
• FOOD

How much fiber or bulk (such as fruits and vegetables, bran, whole grain breads and cereals) do you eat? Some foods (such as dairy products, white potatoes, white bread and bananas) can contribute to constipation, while others (such as excess amounts of fruit, caffeine, or spicy foods) may soften the stool or cause diarrhea.
• MEDICATION

Some medicines (such as codeine, Ditropan, probanthine, and aluminum-based antacids like Aludrox) can cause constipation, while others (including some antibiotics, such as ampicillin, and magnesium-based antacids such as Mylanta and Maalox) can cause diarrhea. Consult your health care provider for information about the medications you are taking.
• ILLNESS

A case of the flu, a cold or an intestinal infection may affect your bowel program while you are ill. (Even if your digestive system is not directly affected, your eating habits, fluid intake or mobility may change, which can alter your bowel program.)
• ACTIVITY LEVEL/MOBILITY

How much exercise do you get? How much time do you spend out of bed?
• WEATHER

Hot weather increases the evaporation of body fluids, which can lead to dehydration and constipation.
• EXTERNAL MASSAGE

Massaging the lower abdomen in a circular, clockwise motion from right to left increases bowel activity.
• VALSALVA (bearing down)

This technique is not recommended for patients with cardiac problems.
• ASSISTIVE/ADAPTIVE DEVICES

Devices such as a suppository inserter, finger extension or digital stimulator may be required to assist you in establishing a successful bowel program.

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