1. Bowel Management 1

2. The digestive system mouth oesophagus stomach bowel back passage
Sigmoid colon
Rectum
back passage 2

3. Why do you need to look after your bowel after Spinal Cord Injury?
The feelings from your bowel may have changed
Your control of your bowel may have changed
The movement of stool (poo) through your bowel may have slowed down
Why learn about bowel care?
To stay in control of your bowel and avoid accidents
So that you can empty your bowels regularly and at a time
that suits you
So you don’t spend too long on the toilet
To avoid constipation and Autonomic Dysreflexia
To keep healthy 3

4. What can you do to help look after your bowel?
Empty your bowel at the same time every day or every other day
Have meals regularly through the day
Drink a lot, especially water
Eat 5 portions a day of fruit or vegetables and 2 portions of whole grain foods (for example: weetabix, brown bread, brown rice or pasta, mangos and dried apricots)
Have a hot drink 20 minutes before you start your bowel routine 4

5. Laxatives – medicines which help the bowel to work
You may be given one or more of these to help you empty your bowel
Movicol is a powder that you mix with water
Senokot is a tablet that you take 8 to 12 hours before you want to empty your bowel
Fybogel is a powder that you mix with water or fruit juice 5

6. Suppositories are made of glycerin and are inserted into your back passage.
Suppositories melt and lubricate your bowel which makes it easier to empty. 6

7. When it is time to empty your bowel:
Collect plastic gloves, Aquajel and place them by the toilet
Sit comfortably on the toilet and relax
Put on a plastic glove and squeeze a little Aquajel onto your finger
Put 2 suppositories into your back passage as you were shown by your nurse
Massage your tummy
After a few minutes you can gently rub your back passage
You may need to empty your bowel with your finger. Your nurse can show you how to do this. 7

8. Different types of stool (poo)
Separate hard lumps
Sausage shaped but lumpy
type 2
Like a sausage but with cracks in the surface
type 3
Like a snake, smooth and soft
type 4
Soft blobs
type 5
Mushy
type 6
Entirely liquid
type 7

9. Ask for help if the following problems occur:
constipation - your stool (poo) is hard and dry
diarrhoea - your stool (poo) is runny or liquid
bowel accidents
bloated and painful stomach
increased spasm
Autonomic Dysreflexia
leaking urine
bleeding from your back passage 9

10. Who can help you? Your carer Telephone number: Your nurse Your GP
Spinal Outpatient Team
Telephone number: or 10