How to Avoid the Stigma of Fecal Incontinence

Stigma of Fecal Incontinence

Losing control over your body movements can be embarrassing and depressing. Therefore one can shy away from talking about it or meeting people. However, you require medical attention if you develop frequent fecal incontinence. Lone Star Gastroenterology is a medical center offering comprehensive care for treating fecal incontinence. The team provides treatment in a warm, welcoming, and friendly environment, thus giving you relief from the symptoms of fecal incontinence. There are several tests the team can offer to establish the cause and provide proper treatment.

What is fecal incontinence?

Fecal incontinence is when you cannot control your bowel movements, thus causing feces to leak from your rectum. You may experience this leakage while passing gas or have a total loss of bowel control. Some people may have the condition as either recurring or chronic, thus unable to prevent the urge to defecate, which means a person can’t make it to the toilet in time. There is also another type of fecal incontinence where a person is not aware of their need to pass stool, a condition known as passive incontinence. The accompanying symptoms of fecal incontinence may include:

·                     Diarrhea

·                     Bloating and gas

·                     Constipation

You should visit a doctor if you have frequent or severe fecal incontinence.

What can cause fecal incontinence?

The causes may include:

·                     Muscle or nerve damage

·                     Chronic constipation

·                     Hemorrhoids resulting from the swelling of your rectum

·                     Rectal prolapse

Are there ways to prevent fecal incontinence?

You may prevent fecal incontinence by reducing constipation; you can do that by increasing your exercise and drinking plenty of fluids. You can also avoid straining during your bowel movements to stop weakening your anal sphincter muscles, which may lead to fecal incontinence. One last helpful tip can be treating the cause of diarrhea to help avoid this condition.

What is the treatment for fecal incontinence?

Your doctor may conduct various tests to find the cause of your fecal incontinence. Then after your doctor finds a reason, your treatment options can include:

·                     Medications

Your doctor may prescribe anti-diarrheal medicine or bulk laxatives if your incontinence is from chronic constipation.

·                     Exercise and therapy

Your doctor may recommend exercise or other therapies if your fecal continence arises from muscle damage. The practice may consist of Kegel exercises that help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, thus reducing incontinence. Your doctor can also recommend bowel training to help gain control of your bowel movement.

·                     Surgery

Your doctor may recommend surgery to treat incontinence by correcting an underlying problem such as sphincter damage. Your surgical options may include:

·                     Sphincteroplasty

During this procedure, your doctor repairs weakened or damaged anal sphincter by identifying the injured area of your muscles and freeing the edges. The doctor then sews the edges in an overlapping manner, thus strengthening your muscles and tightening your sphincter.

·                     Colostomy

This surgical procedure diverts your stool via an opening in your stomach. Your doctor attaches a special bag that collects your stool. Your doctor may recommend this treatment if all other treatments fail.

If you experience fecal incontinence, visit LONE STAR GASTROENTEROLOGY or request an online appointment.