Fecal incontinence, also called bowel incontinence, is a condition that causes you to have difficulty holding in your stool. If you have a mild version, you might notice that a bit of feces comes out when you pass gas. In more severe cases, the condition can cause you to empty your bowels completely with little or no warning.
People with normal continence, or the ability to hold in their stool, have the physical capabilities to know when it’s time to take a trip to the bathroom. If you have the symptoms of fecal incontinence, your Lone Star Gastroenterology provider may perform tests to make sure that your nerves and muscles in your rectum are working normally.
There are several possible causes of fecal incontinence. Your fecal incontinence might have more than one cause, and your physician can help you find out what it is. Here are some common causes of fecal incontinence:
Fecal incontinence is especially common in people 65 or older because the muscles in your bowels get weaker with time. If you’ve had a treatment like radiation that causes your muscles to stiffen, you might also be at a higher risk of developing fecal incontinence.
Your Lone Star Gastroenterology physician provides the most effective and up-to-date treatments for fecal incontinence. Your treatment plan might include:
Your provider selects your medication based on what’s causing your fecal incontinence. Laxatives can treat constipation-related fecal incontinence, and antidiarrheal drugs can treat diarrhea-related incontinence.
Your physician evaluates your diet to determine which foods might be making your condition worse. They might advise you to eat more fiber or cut out fatty, greasy snacks.