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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.
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