Managing your bowel habits, appetite and weight

Peritoneal dialysis is a type of kidney replacement therapy. It is used when your kidneys have stopped, or almost stopped, working.

Eating well while on peritoneal dialysis can help you to stay and feel healthy.

Reducing the risk of constipation

Constipation can change the position of the small plastic tube (catheter) used for peritoneal dialysis. This can affect how well the treatment works. Eating enough fibre can help to prevent constipation.

A few things can help you to poo regularly and keep your bowel habits healthy.

Increasing the fibre in your diet

Try to include plenty of fibre-rich foods in your diet, such as:

• wholegrain breakfast cereals
• wholemeal bread or pasta
• brown rice
• beans and pulses
• fruit and vegetables

Here are some tips to increase the fibre in your diet:

Reaching your daily fluid allowance

For fibre to work well, it needs to take in (absorb) water. As a result, you need to try to reach your daily fluid allowance or target.

If you restrict the amount of fluid that you drink too much, this could increase the risk of constipation.

Doing regular exercise

Regular exercise will help you to poo regularly.

Taking laxative medicines

You may be prescribed medicines called laxatives to help make sure that:

• you poo regularly
• it is easy for you to do a poo

You need to take the amount (dose) of laxatives that your kidney doctor has recommended.

Eating well if you have a poor appetite

If your appetite is poor, you will need to tell your kidney doctor, nurse or dietitian.

Your dietitian may advise you:

• to eat small, frequent meals and snacks
• how to increase the calories and protein in your meals
• about taking oral nutritional supplements

Examples of suitable snacks include:

• cheese and crackers
• croissant
• quiche
• yoghurt, custard or rice pudding

Keeping to a healthy weight

If you are overweight or obese, this can increase your risk of getting:

• high blood pressure
• heart (cardiovascular) disease
• diabetes

If you already have one of these conditions, being overweight can make it worse.

Your body mass index (BMI) is a measurement of your weight compared with your height. If you are a kidney patient and your BMI is greater than 30kg/m², you can come to our SCALE renal (kidney) weight management clinic. SCALE stands for:

• Supported
• Change in
• Activity
• Levels and
• Eating

This is a 9-month programme held at Guy's Hospital.

At our SCALE clinic, you have:

• an appointment every month for the first 6 months
• a final follow-up appointment at 9 months

During each appointment, a dietitian and physiotherapist give advice and support to help you reach your weight loss goal. You see a renal dietitian, who recommends any diet changes that you may need to make due to your kidney condition.

If you are interested in joining our SCALE programme, please ask your dietitian, nurse or doctor for more information.