Colorectal Surgery - Duke University Medical Center

4. Ask your doctor about antidiarrheal medicines such as Imodium or Lomotil. These
are taken about 30 minutes before meals and at bedtime.
5. Empty your bowels correctly
• Hold off going to the toilet until the urge is very strong.
• If you have to sit and wait, you sat down too soon.
• Keep your knees higher than your hips (unless you just had hip surgery – check
with your MD). Point your toes to raise your knees.
• Lean forward with your elbows on your knees.
• Do not strain. This weakens your pelvic floor muscles.
6. Avoid heavy lifting, squatting, or intense physical activity while your stool is liquid to
avoid leakage.
7. Practice pelvic floor muscle exercises to strengthen your anal sphincter.
• Begin by doing the exercises lying down with your feet elevated or your knees bent.
Later you can do the exercises sitting and standing as well.
• Tighten the muscles you would use if you were trying to hold your urine or stop from
passing gas. You should have a sensation of lifting these muscles up and then relaxing
to let them go down.
• Do not tighten your abdominal muscles or your buttocks at the same time.
• Tighten the muscle and hold for a count of 5, work up to a count of 10.
• Relax the muscles slowly and completely. Rest for a count of 3.
• Repeat the tightening and relaxing. Start with a set of 5 repetitions and work up to 10
repetitions.
• Start slowly and increase gradually to avoid overstressing the muscles.
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