Keeping a diary is a great way to build a personalized routine for your child. Track your child's progress over the next few months and you will start seeing a pattern of what works best and what doesn’t. You may experience some frustrations at first but persevere and Peristeen Plus can give you the bowel control you’ve been seeking.
Keeping a bowel diary
Morning or afternoon? How much water has been used? Like learning anything new, establishing a good routine for your child's Peristeen Plus irrigations can take a while to master.
Finding a personal routine, that fits into your child's daily life, is an important part of regaining bowel control. Keeping a bowel diary (link to pdf) can be a great way to record your child's bowel movements and build a personalized routine.
Get a bowel diary here.
Track your child's irrigations over the next few months
Make an entry in the diary each time your child has an irrigation with Peristeen Plus. Noting your observations in the bowel diary, such as the time and date of each irrigation, the volume of water used and results, is key to establishing a successful routine. Recording how your child gets on with the different variables of their routine will help you see a pattern of what works and what doesn’t. This way you can track their progress with Peristeen Plus and make gradual adjustments your routine if necessary.
Show your child's bowel diary to your healthcare professional for a more informed discussion but remember never to make any changes to your routine without consulting your healthcare provider first.
Understanding your stool type
What should your child's stool look like? Does it look right? Use your bowel diary to note the shape and consistency of their stool. This will be helpful to see how things are improving. Reference the stool type scale system, and record the number on the Bristol Scale in your diary after each irrigation with Peristeen Plus. It will be a good reference when speaking to your local Coloplast® Care team to understand how they are getting on.
