What to tell your doctor about diarrhea
Diarrhea is awkward to talk about and easy to under-remember. A few plain notes made on the day make the conversation shorter and clearer.
How often, and what it was like
Write each time in plain words, with the time of day. Use your own words if these do not fit:
- how many times in the day
- loose or watery
- urgent, with little warning
- cramping or an ache before or after
- whether it woke you at night
What was going on around it
Write down what you were doing in the hours before. These are the details that tend to get forgotten:
- what you ate and drank, and when
- anything new, such as a restaurant, a trip or a different food
- medicines, supplements or alcohol
- stress, poor sleep or a busy day
- anyone around you who was unwell
Anything else you noticed
Note other things you felt at the same time, without trying to link them:
- nausea or vomiting
- a temperature, if you took it
- tiredness or feeling weak
- how much you were able to drink
- anything you noticed about the stool that you want to mention
When it started
Write when you first noticed it, even as a range, or "not sure". The day you first wrote it down can be later, so keep that date separate. If it comes and goes, note each time with its own date.
A note to take with you
Copy the prompts that matter to you:
- What happened, and how often:
- What was going on around it:
- Anything else I noticed:
- When I first noticed it, or "not sure":
- What I want to ask:
To put your notes on one printable page, use the free visit summary.
Related guidance: NHS: preparing for an appointment
Keep dated notes in Ever Since
A symptom entry can include where it is, how strong it feels, and your own words. Each entry keeps the date it was logged. Symptom logging is included in the free plan.
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