Bowel Program For Patients
Constipation is a common problem in MS. It may be the result of poor dietary habits, inactivity, a lesion in the spinal cord, or the side effect of a drug. A bowel program is effective in managing constipation, regardless of its cause. What follows is a program that has proven effective in relieving constipation.
- Eat a bowl of bran cereal every evening. About one half-cup of cereal is sufficient. The bran adds the necessary bulk to your diet. Do not take a laxative of any kind.
- Eat breakfast in the morning and drink a cup of warm liquid, for example, coffee or tea. This starts the normal reflexes working in your intestinal tract.
- Sit on the toilet for 10 to 20 minutes after breakfast. Do not strain to have a bowel movement.
- If you are unable to have a bowel movement today, forget about it. It is not necessary that you have one each
day.
If you do not have a bowel movement in 2 to 3 days, add the following to your bowel program. After you have
unsuccessfully tried to have a bowel movement after breakfast, use a glycerine or Dulcolax suppository. Be sure
that it is resting against the wall of your rectum. This will stimulate the lower intestinal tract and produce a bowel
movement.
The above bowel program works well for nearly everyone. Only those with severe spinal cord damage in the sacral area need to use additional rectal stimulation. Laxatives and repeated enemas are never necessary.