Diarrhoea

Bowel problems – diarrhoea

If you have radiotherapy

to your abdomen or pelvis, or if you are taking certain chemotherapy

drugs, you may find that you get frequent, loose bowel movements (diarrhoea).

When you have diarrhoea, food passes quickly through the bowel before the body has time to absorb the vitamins, minerals and water. This can make you dehydrated (too little fluid in the body) and leave you more prone to infection.

Your doctor may be able to help you by giving you some anti-diarrhoea medicine, but you can also take some simple steps yourself to try to reduce any problems.

Eat less fibre

Eating enough fibre (roughage) is important for good health, but while you have diarrhoea it is better to cut down on the amount of fibre that you eat.

You can do this by eating fewer high fibre foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread and wholegrain cereals. Instead, eat more low fibre foods like white bread, cornflakes and potatoes with skin.

Foods to choose

bread and crispbreads made with white flour
cakes and biscuits made with white flour
pastry, dumplings and Yorkshire puddings made with white flour
pasta made with white flour
arrowroot, cornflour, custard powder, white rice, sago, semolina, tapioca and barley
these breakfast cereals: Cornflakes, Frosties, Rice Crispies, Ricicles, Sugar Puffs
butter, margarine, oil, lard
sugar, honey, syrup, treacle
jelly, jams and marmalades
sweets and small amounts of chocolate.

Foods to avoid

brown, wholemeal and granary breads, brown crispbreads and oatcakes
cakes and biscuits made with wholemeal flour, bran, dried fruit and nuts
pasta made with brown flour
brown rice
these breakfast cereals: All Bran, Shredded Wheat, Bran Flakes, Weetabix, muesli and cereals with added fruit and nuts
nuts
jam and marmalade with fruit pieces, pips, seeds or peel
pickles, chutnies and pickled vegetables.

Choose plainer foods

Suitable plain foods include pasteurised yoghurt, milky puddings, skinned chicken and turkey, fish (boiled or baked) and well-cooked eggs (not fried).

Bananas and potatoes (boiled or mashed, without skin) are high in the minerals sodium and potassium, and will help you to replace the minerals you lose while you have diarrhoea.

Eat little and often

Try eating small amounts of food throughout the day, rather than large meals.

Drink plenty of fluids

When you have diarrhoea, your body loses fluid. You need to replace the fluid you have lost.

try to have at least eight glasses or cups of fluid each day
avoid drinks that are very hot or very cold – room temperature is better
limit drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee and many fizzy drinks, as caffeine can irritate the bowel.

When the diarrhoea stops

As your diarrhoea clears up, you should gradually be able to get back to your normal diet. If your diarrhoea persists, please ask your doctor, nurse or radiographer

for advice.

Click here to view all featured items.