Bowel incontinence

Uncontrollable passage of feces; Loss of bowel control; Fecal incontinence; Incontinence - bowel

Incontinence is not a hopeless situation. Proper treatment can help most people, and can often eliminate the problem.

Treating bowel incontinence should begin by identifying the cause of the incontinence. There are several ways to strengthen the anal and pelvic muscles and promote normal bowel function.

FECAL IMPACTION

If constipation or fecal impaction contributes to fecal incontinence, usually laxatives and enemas are of little help. In this case a health care provider will insert one or two fingers into the rectum and break the mass into fragments that can be expelled.

Take measures to prevent further fecal impaction. Add fiber to the diet to help form normal stool. In addition, drink enough fluids and get enough exercise to enhance normal stool consistency.

DIET

Bowel incontinence often occurs because the rectal sphincter is less able to handle large amounts of liquid stool. Often, simply changing the diet may reduce the occurrence of bowel incontinence.

Take alcohol and caffeine off the diet, because they may cause diarrhea and incontinence is some people. Additionally, certain people develop diarrhea after eating dairy foods because they are unable to digest lactose, a sugar found in most dairy products. Some food additives such as nutmeg and sorbitol have also been shown to cause diarrhea in certain people.

Adding bulk to the diet may thicken the stool and decrease its amount. Certain foods thicken the stools, including rice, bananas, yogurt, and cheese. Increasing fiber (30 grams daily) from whole-wheat grains and bran adds bulk to the diet. Additionally, psyllium-containing products such as Metamucil can add bulk to the stools.

Formula tube feedings often cause diarrhea and bowel incontinence. For diarrhea or bowel incontinence caused by tube feedings, consult your health care provider or dietitian. The rate of the feedings may need to be changed, or bulk agents may need to be added to the formula.