Sections:
What is the bowel and what does it do?
Methods for emptying the bowel
Bowel programs
Factors that can affect success
What to avoid
What to do if...

What is the bowel and what does it do?
 

When you swallow food, food goes into the stomach where there are enzymes. Enzymes are chemicals that act on the food and speed up the digestion process.

After passing out of the stomach, food first goes through the small intestine, and then to the large intestine which is also called the "bowel". In the intestines, nutrients and liquids produced during the digestion process are taken up, or absorbed, by the body. The remaining solid waste, or stool, is left in the bowel.

The rectum is empty until the stool is ready to be evacuated. This is when your rectum sends a message to your brain and you get the urge to have a bowel movement.

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.

A spinal cord injury below the T-12 level may damage the defecation reflex and relax the anal sphincter muscle. This is known as a lower motor neuron or flaccid bowel. Management of this type of bowel problem may require more frequent attempts to empty the bowel and bearing down or manual removal of stool.

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:
Each person's bowel program should be individualized to fit his/her own needs. The type of disease or nerve damage (for example, upper or lower motor neuron) should be taken into account as well as other factors. Components of a bowel program can include any combination of the following:

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.

Bowel programs

After a spinal cord injury, messages from the rectum do not get through to the brain and you do not get the urge to have a bowel movement. As a result of not feeling the urge, you may not be able to control the sphincter that makes your bowel move. Not being able to control the sphincter can result in an inability to have a bowel movement. This can cause your stool to be "impacted" and the solid waste, which is normally eliminated from the body, to be retained. Impaction can be serious if it occurs high up in the bowel.

   You may wonder if you can ever get back into a normal routine again. You can! It is possible to develop a regular bowel program that will avoid accidents, but you have to learn how to do this. Your nurse will help you work out the best possible bowel program for you.

The goals of the bowel program are:

• to have a bowel movement at a predictable time
• to make the stool soft
• to make a sluggish bowel work better.

The parts of the bowel program are:

• Suppository every night: In the beginning, your program will probably be as simple as a suppository or theravac every night, which will cause the rectum to empty of stool. As time goes on, a pattern should start to develop and you should have bowel movements fairly regularly.
• Suppository every 2nd or 3rd day: Your program will then be changed to a suppository every other day, or, for some patients, every third day.
• Choose foods high in fiber (roughage), such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods.
• Drink enough liquids to keep the stool soft and/or use a stool softener. Prune juice is a great natural laxative.
• Avoid foods which cause constipation, or very hard stools, such as meats and dairy products which are low in fiber or roughage.
• Avoid foods which cause diarrhea, or very loose stools, such as spicy, greasy foods, onions, etc.
• Be as active as you can. The lack of activity can cause constipation.

   Learn, by experimenting, the foods and lifestyles that let you have bowel movements at a predictable time. Once you are having regular bowel movements, stick to the bowel program you developed. Skipping your program can cause constipation, impaction, and bowel accidents. If something is wrong with your program, it is usually related to diet and/or activity. Remember to think about what you eat, drink, and do if a difficulty occurs.

   When you are discharged from the hospital, you may decide to change your program to fit your lifestyle. If you have learned the things that work, and do not work for you, you will be able to make changes with a minimum amount of discomfort.

The medications and stimulants used in managing your bowel program are:

Most people perform their bowel program at a time of day that fits in with their prior bowel habits and current lifestyle. The program usually begins with insertion of either a suppository or a mini-enema, followed by a waiting period of approximately 15-20 minutes to allow the stimulant to work. This part of the program should, preferably, be done on the commode or toilet seat.

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:
Any one of the factors listed below, or a combination of factors, can affect the success of a bowel program. Changing one factor may produce results almost immediately, or it may take several days to see the results. Changing more than one factor at a time makes it difficult to determine the effects of individual factors, and may increase the time it takes to develop a stable bowel program.

• 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.

What to avoid:

REGULAR USE OF STIMULANT LAXATIVES
These include bisacodyl (Dulcolax) tablets, phenolphthalein (Ex-Lax), cascara, senna and magnesium citrate. Laxative use on a regular basis will cause your bowels to become dependent on them. When this happens the bowel will not work well without the laxative, and eventually the "lazy bowel" that results will require more and stronger laxatives to work at all. An occasional small dose of a mild laxative, such as Milk of Magnesia or an herbal laxative, can be used to treat constipation if other measures have not worked. (We recommend that you use no more than three doses per month.)

ENEMAS
Any full-size enema (such as Fleet's, soap suds or tap water) is too irritating to the bowel to be used on a regular basis and will cause the same problem with dependence as a stimulant laxative. A "mini-enema", which has only a few drops of liquid stool softener, does not fall into this category and can be used regularly. Occasionally, your health care provider may prescribe a full-size enema as preparation for a medical procedure or for treatment of severe constipation.

SKIPPING OR CHANGING THE TIME OF YOUR PROGRAM
Your bowels will move more predictably if your bowel care program is carried out on a regular, predictable schedule. Skipping your program can also result in constipation or accidents.

RUSHING
The more tense you are, the more difficult it will be for you to empty your bowels. A hurried program will increase the likelihood of an unplanned bowel movement later in the day.

MORE THAN FOUR DIGITAL STIMULATIONS AT A TIME
This can cause trauma to the rectum, resulting in hemorrhoids or fissures (cracks or breaks in the skin).

LONG FINGERNAILS
They can damage the rectal tissue and cause bleeding, even through a glove.

What to do if...

STOOL IS TOO HARD (CONSTIPATION)
Do your bowel program on a daily basis until constipation resolves. Add or increase the dose of a stool softener (such as DOSS or colace). Add or increase the dose of psyllium hydro-mucilloid (such as Metamucil or Citrucel). Increase your fluid intake (this is essential if you are increasing psyllium). Increase your activity level and your intake of dietary fiber. Avoid foods that can harden your stool, such as bananas and cheese. 

STOOL IS LIQUID OR RUNNY (DIARRHEA)
Temporarily discontinue the use of any stool softeners. Continue your bowel program at the regular time and frequency. (If you are having accidents, increase the frequency of your program.) Try adding or increasing the dose of psyllium hydro-mucilloid (Metamucil, Citrucel), which adds bulk to liquid stool. If the diarrhea seems to be related to an acute viral or bacterial illness, change to a liquids only or very bland diet for 24 hours (avoid milk, however). If diarrhea persists for more than 24 hours or if you have a fever or blood in your stool, consult your health care provider.

A frequent cause of diarrhea is a blockage or impaction of stool (liquid stool leaks out around the blockage). Evaluate whether you may have this problem. Have you had small hard stools recently? Or have you had no results from the past several programs? If you suspect impaction, consult your health care provider.

FREQUENT BOWEL ACCIDENTS
Be sure your rectum is completely empty at the end of your program. Increase the frequency of your program (some people with a flaccid bowel may need to empty their bowels twice daily). Try using only half of a suppository. Evaluate stool consistency -- if it's too hard or too soft, see above. Monitor your diet for any foods that may over stimulate your bowel, such as spicy foods.

MUCOUS ACCIDENTS
If you notice a clear, sticky, sometimes odorous drainage from the rectum, try switching from a suppository to a mini-enema, or using only half of a suppository, or try eliminating suppositories or mini-enemas completely and begin your program with digital stimulation only. Avoid hard stools.

NO RESULTS IN 3-4 DAYS
Treat constipation as recommended above. If there are no results in three days, take 30 cc. of Milk of Magnesia or a single dose of an herbal laxative at bedtime. Do your bowel program in the morning. If there are still no results, repeat the dose of Milk of Magnesia or herbal laxative the next evening. If there are no results in the morning, consult your health care provider.

RECTAL BLEEDING
Keep your stool soft. Be very careful to do digital stimulation gently and with sufficient lubrication, and keep your fingernails short. If you have known hemorrhoids, you may treat them with an over-the-counter hemorrhoidal preparation such as Anusol or Anusol HC. If bleeding persists or is more than a few drops, consult your health care provider.

EXCESSIVE GAS
Avoid constipation. Increase the frequency of your bowel programs. Avoid gas-forming foods, such as beans, corn,onions, peppers, radishes, cauliflower, sauerkraut, turnips, cucumbers, apples, melons and others that you may have noticed seem to increase your own gas. Try simethicone tablets to help relieve discomfort from gas in your stomach.

BOWEL PROGRAM TAKES A LONG TIME TO COMPLETE
Try switching from a suppository to mini-enemas. Increase your intake of dietary fiber and add or increase the dose of psyllium hydromucilloid. Try switching your program to a different time, and be sure you schedule it after a meal to help increase intestinal peristalsis.

AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA DURING BOWEL PROGRAM
Use xylocaine jelly (available by prescription from your health care provider) for digital stimulation. You may also need to insert some of the jelly into your rectum before beginning the program. Keep your stool as soft as possible. If dysreflexia persists, consult your health care provider. You may need medication to treat or prevent this condition.