Tag stool

Bisacodyl

In a class of medications called stimulant laxatives, bisacodyl is used on a short-term basis to treat constipation. It also is used to empty the bowels before surgery and certain medical procedures. It works by increasing activity of the intestines to cause a bowel movement.

How Should Bisacodyl be used?

Bisacodyl comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken the evening before a bowel movement is desired. Bisacodyl normally causes a bowel movement within 6 to 12 hours. Do not take bisacodyl more than once a day or for more than 1 week without talking to your doctor.

Follow the directions on the package or on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take bisacodyl exactly as directed. Frequent or continued use of bisacodyl may make you dependent on laxatives and cause your bowels to lose their normal activity. If you do not have a regular bowel movement after taking bisacodyl, do not take any more medication and talk to your doctor.

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water; do not split, chew, or crush them.

Do not take bisacodyl within 1 hour after drinking or eating dairy products.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking bisacodyl,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to bisacodyl, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in these products. Check the label or ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.

tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.

if you are taking antacids, wait at least 1 hour before taking bisacodyl.

tell your doctor if you have stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or a sudden change in bowel movements lasting more than 2 weeks.

tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking bisacodyl, call your doctor.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

A regular diet and exercise program is important for regular bowel function. Eat a high-fiber diet and drink plenty of liquids (eight glasses) each day as recommended by your doctor.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

This medication usually is taken as needed. If your doctor has told you to take bisacodyl regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Bisacodyl may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

stomach cramps

faintness

stomach discomfort

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience this symptom, stop taking bisacodyl and call your doctor immediately:

rectal bleeding

Bisacodyl may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

What other information should I know?

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about bisacodyl.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Fecal Occult Blood Test

This test examines blood that you can’t be seen with the naked eye in the stool sample. Blood in your stool means there is bleeding in the digestive tract and could signify other diseases and conditions;

The bleeding may be caused by a variety of conditions, including:

• Polyps, abnormal growths on the lining of the colon or rectum
• Hemorrhoids, swollen veins in your anus or rectum
• Diverticulosis, a condition with small pouches in the inside wall of the colon
• Ulcers, sores in the lining of the digestive tract
• Colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease
• Colorectal cancer, a type of cancer that starts in the colon or rectum

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States. A fecal occult blood test can screen for colorectal cancer to help find the disease early when treatment may be most effective.
Other names: FOBT, stool occult blood, occult blood test, Hemoccult test, guaiac smear test, gFOBT, immunochemical FOBT, iFOBT; FIT

What is it used for?

A fecal occult blood test is commonly used as a screening test to help find colorectal cancer before you have symptoms. The test also has other uses. It may be done when there is concern about bleeding in the digestive tract from other conditions.

In certain cases, the test is used to help find the cause of anemia. And it can help tell the difference between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which usually doesn’t cause bleeding, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is likely to cause bleeding.

But a fecal occult blood test alone cannot diagnose any condition. If your test results show blood in your stool, you will likely need other tests to diagnose the exact cause.

Why do I need a fecal occult blood test?

Your health care provider may order a fecal occult blood test if you have symptoms of a condition that could involve bleeding in your digestive tract. Or you may have the test to screen for colorectal cancer when you don’t have any symptoms.

Expert medical groups strongly recommend that people get regular screening tests for colorectal cancer. Most medical groups recommend that you start screening tests at age 45 or 50 if you have an average risk of developing colorectal cancer. They recommend regular testing until at least age 75. Talk with your provider about your risk for colorectal cancer and when you should get a screening test.
A fecal occult blood test is one or several types of colorectal screening tests. Other tests include:
A stool DNA test. This test checks your stool for blood and cells with genetic changes that may be a sign of cancer.
Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Both tests use a thin tube with a camera to look inside your colon. A colonoscopy allows your provider to see your entire colon. A sigmoidoscopy shows only the lower part of your colon.
CT colonography, also called “virtual colonoscopy.” For this test, you usually drink a dye before having a CT scan that uses x-rays to take detailed 3-dimensional pictures of your entire colon and rectum.

What happens during a fecal occult blood test?

Usually, your provider will give you a kit to collect samples of your stool (poop) at home. The kit will include instructions on how to do the test.
There are two main types of fecal occult blood tests:
The guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) uses a chemical (guaiac) to find blood in stool. It usually requires stool samples from two or three separate bowel movements.
The fecal immunochemical test (iFOBT or FIT) uses antibodies to find blood in stool. Research shows that FIT testing is better at finding colorectal cancers than gFOBT testing. A FIT test requires stool samples from one to three separate bowel movements, depending on the brand of the test.

It’s very important to follow the instructions that come with your test kit. The typical process for gathering a stool sample usually includes these general steps:
• Collecting a bowel movement. Your kit may include a special paper to place over your toilet to catch your bowel movement. Or you may use plastic wrap or a clean, dry container. If you are doing a guaiac test, be careful not to let any urine mix in with your stool.
• Taking a stool sample from the bowel movement. Your kit will include a wooden stick or applicator brush for scraping the stool sample from your bowel movement. Follow the instructions for where to gather the sample from the stool.
• Preparing the stool sample. You will either smear the stool on a special test card or insert the applicator with the stool sample into a tube that came with your kit.
• Labeling and sealing the sample as directed.
• Repeating the test on your next bowel movement as directed if more than one sample is needed.
• Mailing the samples as directed.

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

A fecal immunochemical test (FIT) does not require any preparation, but a guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) does. Before you have a gFOBT test, your provider may ask you to avoid certain foods and medicines that may affect the results of the test.
For seven days before the test, you may need to avoid:
• Nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. If you take aspirin for heart problems, talk with your provider before stopping your medicine. You may be able to take acetaminophen during this time but check with your provider before taking it.
• Vitamin C in amounts over 250 mg a day. This includes vitamin C from supplements, fruit juices, or fruit.
For three days before the test, you may need to avoid:
• Red meat, such as beef, lamb, and pork. Traces of blood from these meats may show up in your stool.

What do the results mean?

If your results from a fecal occult blood test show that you have blood in your stool, it means you likely have bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract. But that doesn’t always mean you have cancer. Other conditions that may cause blood in your stool include ulcers, hemorrhoids, polyps, and benign (not cancer) tumors.
If you have blood in your stool, your provider will likely recommend more tests to figure out the exact location and cause of your bleeding. The most common follow-up test is a colonoscopy. If you have questions about your test results, talk with your provider.

Regular colorectal cancer screenings, such as fecal occult blood tests, are an important tool in the fight against cancer. Studies show that screening tests can help find cancer early and may reduce deaths from the disease.
If you decide to use fecal occult blood testing for your colorectal cancer screening, you will need to do the test every year.
You can buy gFOBT and FIT stool collection kits without a prescription. Most of these tests require you to send a sample of your stool to a lab. But some tests can be done completely at home for quick results. If you’re considering buying your own test, ask your provider which one is best for you.

Afya Mashinani

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Diarrhea

Diarrhea is when you pass loose or watery stool.

Considerations

In some people, diarrhea is mild and goes away in a few days. In other people, it may last longer.

Diarrhea can make you feel weak and dehydrated.

Diarrhea inbabies and children can be serious. It needs to be treated differently than you would treat diarrhea in adults.

Talk with your health care provider if your child has diarrhea. There can be a lot to know. Your provider can help you learn how to recognize and treat diarrhea in babies and in children.

Causes of Diarrhea

The most common cause of diarrhea is the stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis). This mild viral infection most often goes away on its own within a few days.

Eating or drinking food or water that contains certain types of bacteria or parasites can also lead to diarrhea. This problem may be called food poisoning.

Certain medicines may also cause diarrhea, including:

Some antibiotics

Chemotherapy drugs for cancer

Laxatives containing magnesium

Diarrhea may also be caused by medical disorders, such as:

Celiac disease

Inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Lactose intolerance (which causes problems after drinking milk and eating other dairy products)

Malabsorption syndromes

Less common causes of diarrhea include:

Carcinoid syndrome

Disorders of the nerves that supply the intestines

Removal of part of the stomach (gastrectomy) or small intestine

Radiation therapy

People who travel to developing countries can get diarrhea from unclean water or food that has not been handled safely. Plan ahead by learning the risks and treatment for traveler’s diarrhea before your trip.

Home Care For Diarrhea

Most times, you can treat diarrhea at home. You will need to learn:

To drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration (when your body does not have the proper amount of water and fluids)

Which foods you should or should not eat

What to do if you are breastfeeding

What danger signs to watch out for

Avoid medicines for diarrhea that you can buy without a prescription unless your provider tells you to use them. These drugs can make some infections worse.

If you have a long-term form of diarrhea, such as diarrhea caused by irritable bowel syndrome, changes to your diet and lifestyle may help.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider right away if you or your child shows signs of dehydration:

Decreased urine (fewer wet diapers in infants)

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Dry mouth

Sunken eyes

Few tears when crying

Schedule an appointment with your provider if you have:

Blood or pus in your stools

Black stools

Stomach pains

Stomach pain that does not go away after a bowel movement

Diarrhea with a fever above 101°F or 38.33°C (100.4°F or 38°C in children)

Recently traveled to a foreign country and developed diarrhea

Also contact your provider if:

The diarrhea gets worse or does not get better in 2 days for an infant or child, or 5 days for adults

A child over 3 months old has been vomiting for more than 12 hours; in younger babies, call as soon as vomiting or diarrhea begins

What to Expect at Your Hospital Visit

Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history and symptoms.

Lab tests may be done on your stools to find the cause of your diarrhea.

Over-the-counter supplements that contain healthy bacteria may help prevent diarrhea caused by taking antibiotics. These are called probiotics. Yogurt with active or live cultures is also a good source of these healthy bacteria.

The following healthy steps can help you prevent illnesses that cause diarrhea:

Wash your hands often, particularly after using the toilet and before eating.

Use alcohol-based hand gel frequently.

Teach children to not put objects in their mouth.

Take steps to avoid food poisoning.

When traveling to underdeveloped areas, follow the steps below to avoid diarrhea:

Drink only bottled water and DO NOT use ice, unless it is made from bottled or purified water.

DO NOT eat uncooked vegetables or fruits that do not have peels.

DO NOT eat raw shellfish or undercooked meat.

DO NOT consume dairy products.