Bowel Leakage: Gaining Control Is Possible

Published August 11, 2022 by

Among the list of embarrassing bodily functions, bowel leakage is right up there with passing gas and uncontrollable loud burps. Many aging individuals suffer with bowel incontinence, but don’t give up or stop socializing. Bowel leakage: gaining control is possible.

older woman talking to doctor

Symptoms Of Bowel Leakage

Loss of bowel control can range from sometimes leaking a small amount of stool when passing gas to not being able to control your bowel movements (total loss of control) and not being able to make it to the bathroom in time.

You might see fecal matter in your underwear after a bowel movement or pass some while doing physical activity. No matter how and when it happens, it’s not normal. A lot of people don’t want to tell their primary care doctor, but it’s important to share your issues and not be embarrassed. It is the only path to getting treatment and gaining control.

Some Typical Causes of Bowel Incontinence

The most common cause of bowel incontinence is damage to the muscles near the anus. The rectum, anus, pelvic muscles, and nervous system must all work together to control your bowels.

Some other causes and risk factors include the following:

  • Being older than 65 and female
  • Chronic constipation
  • Dementia
  • After a stroke
  • Injury to the anal area like after vaginal childbirth
  • Severe hemorrhoids
  • Gynecological, prostate or rectal surgery
  • Nerve damage from diabetes, spinal cord injuries, MS

Treating Bowel Leakage

Through Diet

Treating bowel leakage can be as simple as changing your diet. Avoid foods that increase your risk of bowel incontinence like alcohol and caffeine, prunes and some fruit juices, spicy foods, dairy products, beans, smoked meats, and artificial sweeteners.

Then begin to eat more bananas, apple sauce, peanut butter, pasta, potatoes, and cheese. These will slow down and thicken stool.

Through Medications

Avoid using over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications without talking to GI Solutions. Your physician will prescribe those along with fiber supplements.

Through Bowel Training

Try developing a routine. One such solution is to take a daily enema to clean out your bowels and avoid leakage. It is important to speak to GI Solutions before doing this.

A therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen the muscles around the anus.

Surgery

Having surgery is a last resort for bowel leakage if other methods have failed to produce results, and there are several surgical options.

Be upfront with your physician about your bowel incontinence. It may be easier to control than you think.

Contact GI Solutions at (773) 631-2728 if you are having issues with bowel leakage, and discover the treatments right for you.

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