Being prepared when you go out

One of the hardest things about having diarrhea is that it can sometimes happen so suddenly. You will probably want to be close to a toilet at all times to avoid accidents.

 

If an accident does happen it is very natural to feel embarrassed and upset, even if no one else knows about it. You may worry that people will smell it. This is very hard to cope with so try not to be too hard on yourself. Your close family and friends will understand and will only want to make things as easy as possible for you.

 

To avoid accidents when you go out, you can help to prepare yourself

 

• Know exactly where the toilets are in the place you are going
• Don’t go on long car, train or bus trips
• Take spare underwear, pads, soothing creams and a plastic bag with you, just in case. You can always rinse out underwear you have on in the bathroom sink and put it in the bag to take home. No one needs to know about this
• Wearing a pad can help protect your underwear and make you feel a bit safer
• If you have a colostomy take a spare colostomy bag with you. There are products on the market that can help mask the smell from a colostomy so ask your stoma nurse about these.

 

And also when you are at home, try to

 

• Protect your mattress - put a large pad or towel on your bed if you are worried about having an accident during the night
• Leave a night light on near your bed, in the hallway and bathroom so that you can see where you are going and get to the toilet quickly

 

There are disposable waterproof bed pads on the market that are made for toddlers during toilet training. These can be very handy and help you to feel more secure. You can buy these in supermarkets. Or your nurse may be able to give you some from the hospital, as they use a similar product.

 

If you aren’t able to move quickly, you may feel safer with a commode by the bed. Your nurse can help you arrange to borrow a commode for as long as you need it.

 

Even if it is embarrassing, it is important to let your doctor know if you are having accidents. They may be able to change your anti-diarrhoeal drugs