Can you be constipated with diarrhea

Sometimes it might be necessary to insert a catheter. This can be helpful to treat urinary retention or to manage incontinence.

Your district nurse can do this procedure at home. They can also order any equipment that you need to make it easier to go to the toilet. This might include incontinence pads, commodes and toilet seat raisers. Many people living with a terminal illness worry about incontinence. Incontinence means not having control over when you have a bowel movement faecal or stool incontinence or when you pass urine urinary incontinence.

There are lots of products and techniques you can use to help you live with incontinence. Your district nurse can tell you how to order hygiene products such as incontinence pads and how to manage incontinence at home.

You can also find lots of information and support from Bladder and Bowel UK or call their helpline on Your doctor or specialist nurse might recommend using a catheter to manage urinary incontinence. Sometimes a faecal management system can also be helpful to manage faecal incontinence. If you are caring for someone who has incontinence, you might find it helpful to read our information on our page Helping someone to use the toilet. NHS website — diarrhoea. NHS website — constipation.

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If you want to speak to someone or have any questions, please contact our Support Line. This information is not intended to replace any advice from health or social care professionals. We suggest that you consult with a qualified professional about your individual circumstances.

Read more about how our information is created and how it's used. Published date: 1 September Review date: 1 July Home How we can help Information and support Living with a terminal illness Constipation, diarrhoea and bowel problems Bladder and bowel problems You may experience some bladder and bowel problems because of your illness, or as a side effect of medication or treatment for your illness.

On this page:. Constipation Diarrhoea Overflow diarrhoea. Bowel obstruction Bladder problems Incontinence. What causes constipation? Being less active than before — exercise stimulates the bowel and can make you go to the toilet more often.

Your illness — in many cases, constipation can be a direct effect of your illness. Managing constipation There are a number of things you can do yourself to try to avoid or relieve constipation: Drink plenty of fluid including water and fruit juices. Eat foods containing fibre, such as high fibre breakfast cereals, wholemeal bread, fruit and vegetables, and beans and pulses. Keep as active as possible — even gentle movement can help to keep your bowels moving. Share this page. Share on facebook.

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June 4, Assessing the Risk and Benefit in Treatment. May 27, Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Selecting a Practitioner. March 8, Personal Stories. International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. Our Other Sites. Stay Connected. Keep up-to-date on the latest news, stories, tips, research highlights, and more!

Sign Up for eNewsletter. In rare cases surgery may be necessary, like if constipation is caused by a physical blockage or structural issue. If there is an underlying condition causing your constipation, your doctor will also focus on diagnosing and treating it. If diarrhea is caused by an infection, antibiotics or antiparasitic treatment may be prescribed, depending on the infectious agent.

Proper hydration is also an important part of treatment. Your doctor will advise you to drink plenty of fluids or recommend a rehydrating solution. Constipation and Diarrhea Bowel Movement Problems. What are the symptoms of constipation? You may be experiencing constipation if you have symptoms like: You have a bowel movement less than three times in a week.

It is difficult or painful to have a bowel movement. The stools are hard and dry. What are the symptoms of diarrhea? With a bout of diarrhea, you may experience these symptoms: Your stools are watery and loose.

The feeling that you need to have a bowel movement comes on suddenly. What can cause constipation?