How to cope with bowel incontinence
Coping with bowel incontinence can be challenging, but it’s more common than you might think. If you’re tired of worrying about accidents or are looking for ways to manage your symptoms, you’re in the right place.
In this Incontinence UK guide, we’re going to take a closer look at the treatments and the simple lifestyle changes you can make to better manage your bowel incontinence, so you can improve your quality of life, one day at a time.
In this guide
- What is bowel incontinence?
- Bowel incontinence symptoms
- What causes bowel incontinence?
- Managing and treating bowel incontinence
What is bowel incontinence?
Bowel incontinence, also known as faecal incontinence, is the inability to control your bowel movement. This often leads to unintentional leakage of stool or even a complete loss of bowel control.
It’s a common issue that isn’t discussed enough, likely due to stigma, embarrassment, and shame. But it affects people of all ages, especially older adults and women.
In fact, according to NHS England, it affects:
- Around 6.5 million people in the UK (around 1 in 10)
- 900,000 children and young people
It can arise from many underlying issues, including:
- Muscle damage
- Nerve damage
- Chronic disease
- Surgical complications
In most cases, the anal sphincter muscles and the nerves controlling them are the culprits.
Common symptoms of bowel incontinence
There are a handful of bowel incontinence symptoms to look out for, such as:
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A sudden and strong urge to pass a bowel movement
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Accidental release of stool - from small amounts of liquid stool to complete bowel movements.
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Difficulty passing stools or more infrequent bowel movements
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Increased passing of gas and uncomfortable bloating.
Naturally, these symptoms are quite distressing and can have major effects on your daily life if you’re not prepared with incontinence pants.
They often cause anxiety about being too far from a bathroom, leading people to become more socially withdrawn.
But with bowel incontinence symptoms in mind, you can take the first step to proper management and treatment.
What causes bowel incontinence?
Bowel incontinence is a common condition and has several causes linked to medical conditions, physical changes, and lifestyle factors.
Let’s take a closer look at these risk factors so you can pinpoint your best treatment option.
1. Medical conditions and physical changes
One of the most common causes of bowel incontinence is muscle or nerve damage affecting the anal sphincter and pelvic floor muscles. This damage can come from childbirth, surgery, or spinal injury.
Medical conditions like diabetes and multiple sclerosis (MS) can also have a negative effect on nerve function, leading to a loss of bowel control.
Similarly, chronic conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can inflame the intestines and cause loose stools.
Then there’s irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) which can lead to episodes of constipation and diarrhoea from time to time.
Bowel incontinence can also just come about as you get older. Muscles and nerve sensitivity tend to naturally weaken as you get older, which is why the condition is so common among elderly people.
2. Lifestyle conditions
It’s important to remember that how you live your life has a great impact on your bowel health, no matter your age or overall health.
Poor dietary choices, like a low-fibre diet or excessive intake of spicy foods, can cause bowel movements to become irregular, just like some carbonated drinks and dairy products can trigger symptoms in some people.
Additionally, stress and anxiety can worsen symptoms, which then causes a cycle of worry and physical discomfort.
With these causes in mind, consider what might be contributing to your bowel incontinence. Once you have a better idea, you’ll be able to manage your symptoms and make any necessary lifestyle changes.
Managing and treating your bowel incontinence
Now that you know what causes bowel incontinence, it’s time to look at some common treatments and management options so you can start living a more comfortable life.
Using incontinence pants and protective underwear
If you need some immediate protection and peace of mind from your bowel incontinence, incontinence pants are your best, most accessible option.
They are discreet, comfortable, and designed to contain leaks so you can go about your daily life with more confidence. They also come in a number of different sizes and absorbency levels, so you can find the best option for you depending on your level of incontinence.
For a whole range of incontinence pants to tackle your bowel incontinence, check out Incontinence UK for solutions at lower-than-supermarket prices.
Try to keep a balanced diet
As we’ve seen, what you put in your body has a major effect on your bowel health. Here are some simple dietary adjustments you can make to improve your bowel incontinence symptoms:
- Increase dietary fibre to solidify stools (e.g., wholemeal bread, fruit, veg)
- Avoid trigger food (e.g., spicy foods, acidic foods, caffeine, dairy)
- Keep a food diary to help you understand which food types have the most impact so you can make the necessary adjustments.
OTC medicines and supplements
A handful of over-the-counter medications can help you manage your symptoms.
Antidiarrhoeal medicines like loperamide (Imodium) can help reduce the urgency and frequency of bowel movements, while fibre supplements help bulk up stools.
If you’re unsure about starting a new medication, get in touch with your GP or a healthcare professional who can advise you further.
Pelvic floor exercises
Strengthen your pelvic muscles through kegel exercises to improve bowel control. These target the muscles that support the bladder and bowel, helping to reduce leaks and the overall risk of incontinence.
Stay physically active
Regular exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight which, in turn, improves digestion. A more active life also keeps your bowel regular, which reduces the risk of constipation.
Even moderate exercise, like walking, can have a positive impact on your digestive and bowel health.
Practice good bathroom habits
Avoid straining during bowel movements, as this can weaken your pelvic floor and make it harder to support your bowel.
If you’re consistently constipated and have difficulty passing stools, elevate your feet with a footstool whilst using the toilet. This helps to align the colon so it can do its job easier. A high-fibre diet with plenty of water also helps this significantly.
Take back control with Incontinence UK
Are you ready to become more confident and comfortable in your everyday life? At Incontinence UK, we offer a wide range of high-quality incontinence pants from trusted brands like Drylife and TENA.
Whether you’re after discreet protection from heavy incontinence or comfortable solutions for the day or night, our selection of incontinence pads and pants will meet your needs.
And if you Subscribe & Save, you can even save 10% on every order and enjoy convenient, discreet delivery.
Shop now and feel the difference with Incontinence UK.
