WHAT IS BOWEL INCONTINENCE?
The process of digesting food is a complex one. There are so many organs involved with their own unique functions to perform. But you are not here to read about digestion, so let’s cut to the chase. What is bowel or bowels? It is a small part of your intestine or gut which controls the movement of your waste. If this messes up in any way, your whole life could go haywire.
Bowel Incontinence or Fecal Incontinence is the inability to control your bowel movements, which can cause you to pass or leak stool or feces unintentionally. It could happen when you’re trying to pass gas discreetly, and some amount of stool leaks out, or it could also be a complete loss of bowel control.
An easy way to manage bowel incontinence is to wear Friends Adult Diapers. We have a wide variety of options that fit your needs. The top layer is super-absorbent and soft, with elastic that stays put and doesn’t hurt you while also making sure there are no leakages. It masks odor like nothing else and is sulphur, paraben, and free of harmful chemicals that might cause irritation. With Friends, you choose to reclaim your dignity and your life!
TYPES OF BOWEL INCONTINENCE
Bowel Incontinence could happen for a temporary period of time when you are suffering from diarrhea. However, for some people, bowel leakage is chronic and keeps happening for a really long time.
If you are suffering from this, you might not be able to control your urge to defecate because it comes on so suddenly and with such intensity that you don’t reach a toilet in time. This is also called urge incontinence.
Another type of bowel incontinence is the one that happens when a person doesn’t realize that they need to pass stool, and it leaks out unintentionally without them being aware of it. This is called passive incontinence.
Bowel incontinence meaning bowel leakage, can happen along with other problems like diarrhea, constipation, gas build-up, feeling bloated, etc.
WHAT CAUSES BOWEL INCONTINENCE?
You now know what is fecal incontinence and what are its types; let us take you through the reasons why it is caused. Some of the common reasons why you might be suffering from fecal incontinence are:
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Diarrhea – It is easier for your bowel to hold solid stool. The loose stool that happens when you have diarrhea can rush out more easily, causing fecal incontinence.
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Constipation – Chronic constipation can cause your muscles to stretch and, in time, become loose. It happens because of the dry, hard stool that is difficult to pass and gathers in some places; you have to put extreme pressure to pass it through. The muscles become too loose because of this, and the watery stool that is farther up leaks out easily.
Nerve damage can also happen because of chronic constipation, which also leads to bowel incontinence.
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Muscle damage – You might be having fecal incontinence because your muscles could be damaged, making it harder to hold stool back properly. Chances of this are higher in women who have given birth or people who are old.
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Nerve Damage – Injuries to the nerves that control the movements of your anal sphincter (opening) or the nerves that sense the presence of stools could cause bowel incontinence. It could be caused by childbirth, stroke, an injury to the spinal cord, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or putting too much strain while defecating.
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You could be suffering from bowel incontinence because you have lost storage room in your rectum (the part that connects to your anal opening). It normally stretches to make room for the stool, but because of surgery, the rectum cannot stretch, and the excess feces, which is there, leaks out.
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In women, bowel incontinence can occur because your rectum sticks out through your vagina.
WHAT FOODS HELP WITH BOWEL INCONTINENCE?
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Include foods that are high in fiber in your diet like beans, lentils, grains, etc.
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Don’t cut down on water; drink plenty of it.
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Have a balanced diet containing all the essential nutrients, including fruits and vegetables.
WHAT FOODS CAUSE BOWEL LEAKAGE?
Now you might be wondering, “what causes bowel incontinence?” Well, the answer is simple, really.
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Cut down your tea and coffee intake. The caffeine in these beverages is not good for your bowel incontinence.
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Avoid alcohol for obvious reasons. It worsens every possible ailment there is on the planet.
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You might also want to avoid all the products that contain sorbitol, a type of artificial sweetener.
FECAL INCONTINENCE TREATMENT
You can do the following to treat fecal incontinence:
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Taking anti-diarrheal medications such as loperamide hydrochloride and diphenoxylate, and atropine sulfate can help in bowel incontinence
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If chronic constipation is causing bowel leakage, try bulk laxatives such as methylcellulose and psyllium.
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Try Kegels exercises to make your pelvic floor muscles strong, as it supports your bowel and bladder.
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Try scheduling your bathroom breaks to help you have better control over your bowel movements.
Treatment for bowel incontinence in the elderly can include a few options such as:
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Cutting down laxatives- Older people often are worried about constipation, and for this, they make use of laxatives or medications that soften the stool. They do not realize that with age, their muscles have weakened. The anal hole is unable to hold the loose stool due to muscle weakness, leading to fecal incontinence.
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Colostomy - It is a surgery in which the end of the large intestine, the channel through which stool passes, is brought to an opening in the abdomen. The opening can be attached to a bag to empty the feces. People rarely choose this option as it is quite scary and disgusting to imagine for them. They prefer to wear adult diapers instead.
And why not, when Friends has Adult Diapers for bowel incontinence that fit your needs perfectly? The top layer is super-absorbent, with an elastic that doesn't dig into your sides but still protects you from leakages. It masks odor like nothing else and is free of sulphur, parabens, and other harmful chemicals that might cause irritation. With Friends, you choose to live a better life!
PRODUCTS FOR INCONTINENCE
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Putting foam plugs in your anal hole can prevent any bowel leakage from happening
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Wearing pads for bowel leakage underneath your clothes
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Adult diapers for bowel incontinence
Did you know Friends also has Adult Insert Pads for bowel incontinence? With a super-soft top layer, it has standing leak guards to prevent any spillage, masks odor, and doesn’t cause rashes or irritation. Azadi Mubarak to you! Just talking about your issues with somebody who understands and supports you can help greatly. You may not be able to cure your bowel incontinence completely, but the accidents can certainly be reduced. When you suffer from something that is looked down upon by everyone in society, it can feel quite shameful and embarrassing. Do things that give you joy and seek all the happiness you can!
