How To

How to Prevent Impacted Stools

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(8 Ratings)

Many conditions can cause a person to become constipated. These conditions may be heightened when engaging in wilderness activities. Avoid constipation to prevent the more serious condition of impacted stool.

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Evacuation Plan
  • Wilderness First Aid Classes
  • Dried Fruits
  • Fruits
  • Milk Of Magnesia
  • First Aid Kits
  • Laxatives
  • Stool Softeners
  • Evacuation Insurance
  • Fruits
  1. Step 1

    Hydrate well by drinking at least 2 quarts of water per day.

  2. Step 2

    Avoid starch and meats if you start to experience symptoms of constipation.

  3. Step 3

    Eat plenty of fruits, leafy vegetables, bran and high-fiber cereals. Dried fruits such as apricots, dates and prunes are a great way to get fiber while backpacking.

  4. Step 4

    Encourage regular bowel rhythms by eating meals as regularly as possible.

  5. Step 5

    Find a place to squat daily to encourage a bowel movement, even if you don't feel you need to defecate. Many people become constipated when backpacking because they want to avoid defecating in the wilderness.

  6. Step 6

    Pay attention to how frequently you have bowel movements when backpacking. If you have gone several days without defecating you may be in danger of fecal impaction.

  7. Step 7

    Treat constipation aggressively if it has gone on for four or five days or longer. Administer a stool softener, laxative, or milk of magnesia. (See "How to Treat An Impacted Stool.")

Tips & Warnings
  • Fecal impaction is a potentially dangerous condition requiring aggressive intervention in order to eliminate the feces. Prevention is key - catching fecal impaction too late can require surgery.
  • Evacuate immediately if a person has not defecated in 6 or 7 days or has a distended abdomen. He or she will require the help of a trained medical professional to remove the stool.
  • This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Comments  

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 8/8/2006 Drink lots of water.
Take 2 tablets of FiberChoice daily. this is the best medication I have ever tried and no failure at all with healthy BM daily.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 Drink lots of water.
Take 2 tablets of FiberChoice daily. this is the best medication I have ever tried and no failure at all with healthy BM daily.

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