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- What is Fecal Incontinence?
- What are the Symptoms of Fecal Incontinence?
- What Causes Fecal Incontinence?
- What Are My Treatment Options for Fecal Incontinence?
- Fecal Incontinence Outlook and Steps to Take
- Schedule an Appointment
- Fecal Incontinence FAQs
- Meet the Doctors
- Please Leave Us a Review!
- Contact Us
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Losing control of your bowels can be distressing. It is a common problem but patients don’t always seek treatment due to embarrassment. It can negatively impact your day-to-day life. Finding treatment can help you do the things you love again. At ACE Clinic, we can help explore your best options with an understanding and professional approach.
What is Fecal Incontinence?
When you hold a stool or pass a bowel movement, it requires the synchronization of many different muscle groups and nerves. Fecal incontinence can happen when this process doesn’t work as it needs to. This can result in a loss of control of your bowels. Fecal incontinence can range from occasional leakage to complete loss of control.
What are the Symptoms of Fecal Incontinence?
It’s common to sometimes lose control of your bowels if you have severe diarrhea. However, people with fecal incontinence can have more frequent accidents along with symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, or cramping. Episodes of fecal incontinence can range from stool leakage (either undetected or during certain activities), an inability to hold gas, or even being unable to reach the bathroom in time. In severe cases, you may completely lose control of your bowels.
What Causes Fecal Incontinence?
There are many different causes of fecal incontinence, but they generally come down to an inability to control the pelvic floor muscles. For example, the sphincter muscles may weaken as you get older or as a result of childbirth. Conditions like Crohn’s disease or anatomical problems with the rectum or anus can also cause incontinence.
What Are My Treatment Options for Fecal Incontinence?
Fecal incontinence is very treatable with the help of your colorectal expert.
Initial treatments are conservative and include medications and avoidance of certain foods (like caffeine, dairy, spicy foods, artificial sweeteners, or greasy foods). Incorporating more fiber into your diet can help too.
Additionally, your doctor can recommend certain exercises that can help strengthen the anal muscles and train your body to recognize the urge to pass a bowel movement. If conservative management fails to improve the symptoms your colorectal surgeon can discuss further diagnostic modalities and surgical approaches to treatment of fecal incontinence.
Fecal Incontinence Outlook and Steps to Take
Although it can be embarrassing to seek treatment for fecal incontinence, our team at ACE Clinic is always here to help.
Schedule an Appointment
Fecal incontinence doesn’t have to negatively impact your daily life. To meet with our team and learn more about your options, we invite you to contact us by calling or filling out our online contact form.
Fecal Incontinence FAQs
What are the first signs of bowel incontinence?
What foods can cause bowel incontinence?
Does bowel incontinence go away?
What kind of doctor do you see for bowel incontinence?
How can I firm up my bowel movements?
How common is bowel leakage?
Are there adult diapers for fecal incontinence?
How do I tighten my sphincter muscle?
What is a common cause of fecal incontinence?
What foods prevent bowel incontinence?
How do you stop bowel incontinence naturally?
Does caffeine worsen fecal incontinence?
How do you stop fecal incontinence?

Meet the Doctors
Drs. Hekmat Hakiman and Arpit Patel are leading colorectal surgeons in the greater Phoenix area. As part of our experienced team at ACE Clinic, they can provide exceptional care with a compassionate and friendly approach to colorectal health. Drs. Hakiman and Patel are dual board-certified in general surgery and colorectal surgery, and both completed their fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX before founding their physician-owned practice in Chandler, AZ. We hope you’ll feel exceptionally welcome during your time at Arizona Colorectal Experts and look forward to helping meet your health care needs.
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Leave a ReviewContact Us
Please do not hesitate to call us at 602-844-5157 or fill out our online form if you have a question, or would like to schedule an appointment.