What Are the Treatments for Fecal Incontinence?

Fecal incontinence can be a cause of humiliation and embarrassment. Because of this, most will try to conceal the problem and avoid situations that could become embarrassing. It is natural for the person suffering from fecal incontinence to become frustrated and depressed. Most will also suffer from some problems associated with the fecal incontinence such as skin rashes and sores that could get worse if left untreated.

Medication

• Many doctors try to use medication for the treatment of fecal incontinence. These medications include anti-diarrhea drugs, laxatives or stool softeners. While it might seem laxatives and stool softeners should not be used with one that has the inability to control their bowels, many times the reason for this is that there is no normalcy in the bowel movements, which these medications can help restore.

Dietary Changes

• Food and beverages that are consumed play a big role in fecal consistency. It is possible that the doctor may alter your diet to develop your bowel movements. Some have fecal incontinence because of constipation, so the doctor would change the diet to foods that are high in fiber. But if diarrhea is the culprit, then the doctor would likely add foods to your diet that are binding.

Bowel Training

• Sometimes the reason for fecal incontinence is the inability to control the sphincter muscle or the inability to recognize when the time to have a bowel movement is present. These people can benefit from bowel training, which includes exercises that help to regain muscle strength. Others might have a schedule to follow where they have to try to have a bowel movement so they can gain better control.

Therapies

• Other treatments might include biofeedback, which consists of inserting a probe into the anal area forcing the sphincter muscle to contract. The removal of impacted feces is another treatment used. The doctor will manually insert a finger into the rectum to eliminate any hardened pieces of stool. Sometimes the doctor will recommend sacral nerve stimulation, according to Mayo Clinic. This is the nerve that is responsible for regulating the sphincter muscles.

Surgery

• The Mayo Clinic says that sometimes surgery is necessary, especially when the problem comes from damage due to childbirth or a prolapsed rectum. There are a number of surgeries that can be used depending on the problem and its cause. Most of the time a surgery that simply repairs the sphincter muscle will be enough. The last resort for this problem is a colostomy where the stool is passed through an alternate route in the abdomen and then passes into a bag.