In general terms, incontinence is the inability to restrain discharges or evacuations. In regards to medicine, this is typically referring to natural discharges such as urine from the bladder or feces from the intestines. It can be caused by many different factors and should be discussed with your doctor if you are suffering from this condition.
Fecal Incontinence
Having fecal incontinence means that you can't control your bowel movements and have leakages of feces. The condition ranges from leakages of a small amount of feces as you're passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control. It can be a very embarrassing condition that makes it difficult to go out in public. Treatments are available for fecal incontinence -- including medications and muscle control exercises.
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ABLinfo.org answeredSee All 3 AnswersAccidental bowel leakage (ABL), also known as fecal incontinence, is the accidental loss of solid or liquid stool and mucus not related to temporary illness such as stomach flu or food poisoning. The most common causes of ABL include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic diarrhea. Still, there are many additional causes and risk factors.
In medical literature, ABL can be referred to as “fecal or bowel incontinence." Research, however, shows people overwhelmingly prefer the term ABL. This is a sensitive topic for many, so making people more comfortable is a way to increase conversation and promote care.
Importantly, 90 percent of people who suffer from ABL experience light to moderate volume leakage. While ABL is considered bothersome regardless of frequency, there are steps women and men can take to control it and live well. What many people don’t realize is that ABL, for the most part, is highly manageable and there are things you can do to reduce symptoms.
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Memorial Hospital of Tampa answeredSee All 2 AnswersTo deal with stool incontinence, have it evaluated properly by a doctor.
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ABLinfo.org answeredThere are different types of accidental bowel leakage (ABL). ABL affects different people differently. Some people have ABL only when their stool is too loose; others have it when they are constipated. Some people lose stool and others lose mucus.
ABL can happen with urgency, where someone is rushing to the bathroom and doesn’t make it in time, or it can happen without urgency, after a bowel movement. Sometimes ABL happens without a person even being aware of it.
In most cases, ABL symptoms can usually be reduced or improved. Learning what you can do to improve symptoms can help people with ABL stay more active and increase well being. -
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSee All 2 AnswersIf you have fecal incontinence, you can benefit from keeping your anal area clean and dry. Wash with plain water after every bowel movement, or use alcohol-free towelettes. Use a moisture-barrier cream, or non-medicated talcum powder, to relieve discomfort on the anal area. Wear loose-fitting, cotton clothing and underwear. Some people find disposable underwear or pads helpful, especially when out of the home. As your doctor about exercises (such as those for the sphincter) that might help your condition. Your doctor may also recommend trying a medication like loperamide in small amounts, depending on the cause of your condition; use only under medical supervision. Avoid foods that make your fecal incontinence symptoms worse. Eat plenty of fiber and drink plenty of water.
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ABLinfo.org answeredStool consistency can make accidental bowel leakage (ABL) better or worse. If stools are liquid or loose, they are harder to hold onto (just like it is hard to hold water in your cupped hands). If stools are too hard, like little pebbles, they can slip out easily. It is easiest to control and eliminate stools that are well formed, like logs.
Fiber is an important part of achieving appropriate consistency, and it can be helpful in treating both diarrhea and constipation. When stools are too loose, fiber can absorb excess water to bulk up the stools and make them more formed. When you are constipated and stools are too hard, fiber can pull water into stools to make them softer -- but in that case, fiber has to be taken with plenty of water.
A fiber diary can help you record your fiber, food and fluid intake as well as the impact of those things on your stool consistency. Fiber comes in lots of different forms, so you can experiment to find the sources of fiber that you enjoy. Some examples of high-fiber foods include kidney beans, navy beans, black beans, lentils, peas and artichokes. You can consult online sources to find the fiber content in these, and other, foods.
Cereals and nutrition bars are good fiber sources as well, and you can check their nutrition labels for details about how much fiber they contain. You can also take fiber supplements available over the counter if you don’t enjoy any of these food options.
If stool remains loose even after supplementing with fiber, you may be able to use an over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication like loperamide (Imodium).
If your stools remain hard even after supplementing with fiber and drinking plenty of water, you may be able to use a gentle laxative such as milk of magnesia or MiraLAX. You should not take both antidiarrheals and laxatives at the same time. If you cannot achieve your goal stool consistency with these lifestyle changes, ask your healthcare provider for help. He or she may recommend consultation with a specialist. -
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ABLinfo.org answeredAccidental bowel leakage (ABL) is different for everyone, and for many people diet plays a role in triggering ABL. Tracking your diet, food and beverages with a diary can help you identify things that make your ABL better or worse. You can use diaries to record the timing, frequency and consistency of bowel symptoms, as well as the timing of what you eat or drink.
After you have completed diaries for one week, look over them to see if you recognize any patterns. For example, you may notice more accidents and looser stools after drinking caffeinated beverages, eating spicy or high fat foods, foods with artifiical sweeteners or after taking certain medications. Often people with ABL can begin to recognize a pattern. Whether you do or not, keeping a food diary can be very helpful when you talk to a healthcare provider about this problem.
In many cases, learning how to integrate fiber properly into your diet can be helpful. But fiber is not one size fits all. For people with loose stools and diarrhea, fiber helps by bulking up the stools so fiber does not need to be taken with lots of water. The goal with fiber when stools are loose is for the fiber to absorb the excess water in the stools and bulk up the stools (so taking fiber with lots of water can actually make the problem worse). When stools are hard and constipated, fiber is used to soften stools by pulling water into them. To soften stools, fiber needs to be taken with plenty of water. Learning how to use fiber to maintain better stool consistency often can make a big difference for people with ABL. -
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ABLinfo.org answeredA common misconception about accidental bowel leakage (ABL) is that many people think it is a disease and requires medical intervention. ABL is not a disease. It is a symptom associated with many common conditions and usually does not require medical intervention to improve symptoms.
Talking to your healthcare provider about ABL can help you learn how to improve symptoms. 90% of the time ABL is light to moderate and can be managed with dietary and lifestyle changes. Learning about how ABL affects you and what steps you can take to improve symptoms can help reduce ABL.
Less than 10% of the time ABL requires medical intervention. Don’t be afraid to speak up about ABL with your healthcare provider. -
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ABLinfo.org answeredSee All 2 AnswersMany people mistakenly believe that accidental bowel leakage (ABL) is the result of childbirth and is a women’s health issue, but the truth is that ABL affects women and men.
Many common conditions affecting both genders associated with ABL. Published research shows the most common causes and risk factors affecting both women and men are chronic irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic diarrhea, diabetes, obesity and advancing age.
It is true that childbirth and menopause are additional risk factors for women. And prostate therapy is a risk factor for men. ABL isn’t just a women’s health issue. -
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSee All 2 Answers
Fecal incontinence is quite common. Nearly 18 million Americans suffer from some form of fecal incontinence. Fecal incontinence is most often seen in women and the elderly, but it can happen to anyone, even children.