Anal incontinence care methods

Patients with anal incontinence must pay attention to correct nursing care, eat small meals frequently, and drink plenty of water. However, eating and drinking must be separated, and it is recommended to choose foods with an appropriate amount of fiber.

1. Eat small, frequent meals

Many people may have diarrhea due to intestinal contractions caused by eating large amounts of food. You can ease intestinal contractions by dividing the same amount of food into multiple meals.

2. Eat and drink separately

Fluids help food move through your digestive system. So if you want to slow this down, you can drink water half an hour before or after eating rather than during eating.

3. Drink plenty of water

You need to drink 8 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration and keep your stools soft and formed. Plain water is the best choice, but avoid drinks containing caffeine, alcohol, milk or carbonated beverages if you feel they may cause diarrhea.

4. Eat the right amount of fiber

For many people, fiber softens stool, makes it more bulky and easier to control. Fiber comes from fruits, vegetables and grains. You should aim to maintain a daily fiber intake of 20-30 grams, but should increase this slowly to allow your body to adjust to it. Adding too much fiber at once can cause bloating, gas, and even diarrhea. Likewise, too much insoluble fiber can cause diarrhea.

Insoluble fiber includes cellulose from beans, seeds, vegetable roots and vegetables from the cabbage family. If you find that eating too much fiber makes your diarrhea worse, try reducing the number of vegetables and fruits to two and removing the skins and seeds.