Fecal Incontinence in Adults
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Fecal Incontinence in Adults
Dairy foods (for people who have trouble with dairy)Spicy foodsFatty or greasy foodsDrinks with caffeine, such as coffeeDiet foods or drinksSugar-free gum or candyAlcoholEat smaller meals, more often. In some people, eating a large meal triggers the urge to have a bowel movement. It can also cause diarrhea. Eating smaller and more frequent meals can reduce the number of bowel movements you have.Eat more fiber. Fiber makes bowel movements bulkier and sturdier. This can make bowel movements easier to control. Foods that have a lot of fiber include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (table 1). You can also get more fiber by taking fiber supplements, such as Metamucil, Citrucel, or Benefiber. Should I see a doctor or nurse? " пїЅ Yes. If you have fecal incontinence, tell your doctor or nurse. People are sometimes too shy to bring it up. But fecal incontinence is a real medical problem that can be treated. пїЅ пїЅ
How is fecal incontinence treated? " пїЅ Treatments your doctor might suggest include: пїЅ пїЅ
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ
Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ
пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
table 1Amount of fiber in different foodsView Largetable 1Amount of fiber in different foods
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you.The use of UpToDate content is governed by the UpToDate Terms of Use. пїЅ пїЅ2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ
- Fiber pills, powders, or wafers " пїЅ Fiber supplements make bowel movements bulkier and sturdier. This can make bowel movements easier to control.
- Medicines to reduce the number of bowel movements " пїЅ These medicines are often used to treat diarrhea. They can decrease the number of "accidents " пїЅ a person has. Examples of these medicines include loperamide (sample brand name: Imodium) and diphenoxylate (brand name: Lomotil).
- Medicines to slow the movement of food through the intestines " пїЅ These medicines are called "anti-cholinergics. " пїЅ
- Treatment to empty the bowels " пїЅ Some people with fecal incontinence have bowels that are full and that they cannot empty completely. These people need treatment to flush the bowels. Then, once the bowels are cleaned out, they can take medicines to keep bowel movements regular.
- Scheduled bathroom visits " пїЅ Some people have fewer accidents if they visit the bathroom on a schedule. They try to go even when they don't "feel " пїЅ like they need to go.
- Biofeedback " пїЅ Biofeedback is a way to retrain the muscles that control bowel movements (figure 3). It is done at the doctor's office and involves using devices called sensors that measure muscle activity. These sensors tell you if you are using the muscles the right way.
- Electrical nerve stimulation " пїЅ Doctors can implant devices that send a mild electrical current to the nerves that control the muscles in the anus. These devices sometimes help improve bowel control.
- Surgery " пїЅ Doctors can sometimes do surgery to repair the muscles that control bowel movements. This is often helpful in women whose muscles were damaged during childbirth. There are also other types of surgery to treat fecal incontinence.
Colonoscopy
During a colonoscopy, you lie on your side and the doctor or nurse puts a thin tube with a camera into your anus (from behind). Then the doctor or nurse advances the tube into the rectum and colon. The camera sends video pictures from inside your colon to a television screen.
Graphic 52258 Version 4.0
Colonoscopy
During a colonoscopy, you lie on your side and the doctor or nurse puts a thin tube with a camera into your anus (from behind). Then the doctor or nurse advances the tube into the rectum and colon. The camera sends video pictures from inside your colon to a television screen.
Graphic 52258 Version 4.0
Colonoscopy versus sigmoidoscopy
During a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy, you lie on your side, and the doctor or nurse puts a thin tube with a camera into your anus (from behind). Then the doctor or nurse advances the tube into the rectum and colon. The camera sends video pictures from inside your colon to a television screen.
A colonoscopy allows the doctor to see the whole colon (shown in pink and green). A sigmoidoscopy allows the doctor to see only the last part of the colon (shown in green).
Graphic 58734 Version 4.0
Colonoscopy versus sigmoidoscopy
During a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy, you lie on your side, and the doctor or nurse puts a thin tube with a camera into your anus (from behind). Then the doctor or nurse advances the tube into the rectum and colon. The camera sends video pictures from inside your colon to a television screen.
A colonoscopy allows the doctor to see the whole colon (shown in pink and green). A sigmoidoscopy allows the doctor to see only the last part of the colon (shown in green).
Graphic 58734 Version 4.0
Food
Serving
Grams of fiber
Fruits
Apple (with skin)
1 medium apple
4.4
Banana
1 medium banana
3.1
Oranges
1 orange
3.1
Prunes
1 cup, pitted
12.4
Juices
Apple, unsweetened, w/added ascorbic acid
1 cup
0.5
Grapefruit, white, canned, sweetened
1 cup
0.2
Grape, unsweetened, w/added ascorbic acid
1 cup
0.5
Orange
1 cup
0.7
Vegetables
Cooked
Green beans
1 cup
4.0
Carrots
1/2 cup sliced
2.3
Peas
1 cup
8.8
Potato (baked, with skin)
1 medium potato
3.8
Raw
Cucumber (with peel)
1 cucumber
1.5
Lettuce
1 cup shredded
0.5
Tomato
1 medium tomato
1.5
Spinach
1 cup
0.7
Legumes
Baked beans, canned, no salt added
1 cup
13.9
Kidney beans, canned
1 cup
13.6
Lima beans, canned
1 cup
11.6
Lentils, boiled
1 cup
15.6
Breads, pastas, flours
Bran muffins
1 medium muffin
5.2
Oatmeal, cooked
1 cup
4.0
White bread
1 slice
0.6
Whole-wheat bread
1 slice
1.9
Pasta and rice, cooked
Macaroni
1 cup
2.5
Rice, brown
1 cup
3.5
Rice, white
1 cup
0.6
Spaghetti (regular)
1 cup
2.5
Nuts
Almonds
1/2 cup
8.7
Peanuts
1/2 cup
7.9
To learn how much fiber and other nutrients are in different foods, visit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/.
Graphic 52349 Version 3.0
Anal sphincter
The anal sphincter is made up of two sets of muscles called the "internal" and "external" sphincters. These muscles form a ring around the anus. When these muscles are working normally, they squeeze the anus shut so that gas and bowel movements cannot leak out.
Graphic 56581 Version 4.0
Anal sphincter
The anal sphincter is made up of two sets of muscles called the "internal" and "external" sphincters. These muscles form a ring around the anus. When these muscles are working normally, they squeeze the anus shut so that gas and bowel movements cannot leak out.
Graphic 56581 Version 4.0