IFFGD has developed a Personal Daily Diary that is intended to help you gain a better understanding of your bowel disorder. By keeping a detailed record of diet, medication, stool consistency, frequency, continence, pain, emotional status, and exercise, a clearer understanding may start to emerge for you and/or your physician to determine the best treatment options available to you.
Using The Diary
The objective of using this Daily Diary is to gain a better understanding of your bowel disorder. Use this Personal Daily Diary for 2–4 weeks to help you get the most out of your next doctor visit.
By keeping a detailed record of stool consistency, frequency, continence, pain, diet, medication, emotional status and exercise, a clearer understanding may start to emerge for you and/or your physician to determine the best treatment options available to you.
Find examples of what to record at the bottom of this page.
Name: ____________________
Day of the Week: ____________ Date: ____________
Bowel Symptoms
Evacuation in Toilet
Time | Stool Description & Symptom |
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____________________________________ |
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____________________________________ |
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Gas
Time | Details |
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____________________________________ |
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Stain/Smear
Time | Stool Description & Symptom |
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____________________________________ |
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Incontinent Bowel Movement
Time | Stool Description & Symptom |
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Bowel Symptoms Summary
Number of daytime evacuations: ____________ |
Number of nighttime evacuations: ____________ |
Number of stains or smears: ____________ |
Number of incontinent bowel movements, if any: ____________ |
Number of protect undergarments used, if any: ____________ |
Pain
Time | Description & Duration |
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____________________________________ |
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Emotional Status
Time | Details |
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____________________________________ |
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Medications
Time | Prescription/Over-the-Counter |
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Diet
Medications
Time | Prescription/Over-the-Counter |
____________ |
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Foods
Breakfast | Time | Items |
|
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____________________________________ |
|
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|
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|
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Lunch |
Time |
Items |
|
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Dinner |
Time |
Items |
|
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|
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Beverages
Time | Items |
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Exercise
Time | Exercise Type |
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Women
Menstrual cycle; ovulation; menstruation |
____________________________________ |
____________________________________ |
Examples
Descriptions | Examples |
Stool Description |
Loose; diarrhea; formed; hard, pellet-like; ribbon-shaped |
Symptoms |
Incomplete evacuation; strong urge; straining; incontinent; stain/smear |
Gas |
Belching; flatus |
Pain |
Abdominal cramping; lower intestinal cramping; pain on either side of abdomen; tenderness (tender when touched); rectal pain (sharp dull, burning; feels like a hard object is in rectum; cramping sensation in rectum) |
Emotional Status How do you feel? Why? |
Fine; happy; relaxed; anxious; nervous; sad; unhappy, depressed; fatigued; tired (wake up tired, wake up during the night) – mentally tired, physically tired |
Stressors |
Daily obligations; employment; school; family; social; travel; shopping; medical appointments; illness; injury; trauma; surgery; personal/intimate |
Medications |
Prescription/over-the-counter including herbs or supplements; and Dosage |
Women |
Menstrual cycle; ovulation; menstruation |
Food List everything, be detailed. |
Fruits; vegetables; dairy products; meat; fish; poultry; breads (whole grain, etc); pasta; dessert; condiments (salt, pepper, sauces, spices, oils) |
Beverages |
Caffeine; decaffeinated; carbonated; diet/sugar free; alcohol; fruit juices |
Exercise |
List examples: walk, run, bike, swim, aerobic, other; and times |