That’s why diarrhea is such a common cause of fecal incontinence. Even individuals with strong rectal muscles and sphincters can find it difficult to hold in stool in this state. With diarrhea, the stool becomes very loose and watery. Some typical causes of nerve damage in this area include: Nerve damage, like muscle damage, can also harm the body’s ability to pass stool regularly. Then, even though the impacted stool cannot get out, watery stool from above that mass can still release, causing inopportune accidents. This is when stool that cannot be released from the bowels forms a dry, hard mass, stretching the intestines and rectal muscles until they weaken. If you are constipated often, a condition called impacted stool occurs. This type of damage is most commonly caused by issues in childbirth, such as the need for an episiotomy or forceps delivery. If the muscles in your rectum are damaged, it’s a challenge to properly hold back stool. Typically, a variety of factors combine to cause fecal incontinence. If you find yourself regularly experiencing an urge to pass stool that comes on suddenly or is unable to recognize when you need to make a bowel movement, it’s a good idea to talk it over with your doctor. This often leads to them experiencing fecal incontinence because they simply have not recognized that they need to make a bowel movement.Įxperiencing symptoms of fecal incontinence occasionally happens to most people. Some of the most common symptoms of fecal incontinence include:Ī related condition, called urge incontinence, can also occur when the urge to use the bathroom comes on so suddenly that a person cannot make it to the toilet in time.Ĭonversely, people who do not recognize the urge to go to the bathroom have a type of incontinence called passive incontinence. Regardless of whether you temporarily experience fecal incontinence or live with this condition regularly, there are a few common symptoms that may affect your life. What are the symptoms of fecal incontinence?
#Functional incontinence how to#
By sharing more information about this condition and its most common symptoms, causes, and potential preventative measures, we hope to shine some light on fecal incontinence and how to communicate about it with your doctor. While the involuntary leakage of fecal matter can be embarrassing for some people, the truth is this condition is normal, especially as we age. In fact, doctors estimate that 1 in every 3 people who regularly see family doctors have experienced this problem. This isn’t uncommon, especially if we’re ill and have a related condition such as diarrhea or constipation.
Sometimes, the urge to defecate hits, and we simply can’t make it to the toilet in time. We’ve all had moments of discomfort associated with our bowel movements.