About Incontinence
Many otherwise healthy, active individuals suffer from incontinence. Fecal incontinence (also called bowel incontinence or stool incontinence) affects people of all ages. It may be defined as the involuntary loss of solid or liquid stool sufficient enough to result in impaired quality of life for the individual.
"It's difficult to imagine the devastating impact bowel incontinence can have on a person's life without experiencing it directly. This is a disorder that people feel they must hide from others and talk about only in whispers."
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Frequent or involuntary passage of gas (flatus) without loss of fecal material may also impair a person's quality of life and warrant treatment. The term 'anal incontinence' may be used to refer to involuntary loss of gas as well as solid or liquid stool.
Incontinence is a distressing and isolating condition. Many people fail to report it, even to their own physician.
Incontinence significantly impacts on social and work related aspects of an individual's life.
Incontinence is neither part of the aging process nor is it something that affects only the elderly. Incontinence crosses all age groups from children to older adults, but is more common among women and in the elderly of both sexes.
Damage to the anal sphincter muscles; damage to the nerves of the anal sphincter muscles or the rectum; loss of storage capacity in the rectum; chronic diarrhea; or pelvic floor dysfunction can cause fecal incontinence. Often it is a symptom associated with various neurological diseases and many cancer treatments. Yet, as a society, we rarely hear or talk about the bowel disorders associated with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, Parkinson's disease, prostate cancer, colon cancer, uterine cancer, and a host of other diseases.
There are numerous causes for incontinence. Most importantly, there are ways to treat and manage the condition.
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New - aboutIncontinence Community
Talk with others affected by urgency, soiling, pain or discomfort . Share experiences in a private supportive place in our online Community. Go »
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IFFGD on Oprah & Friends XM Radio
Nancy Norton of IFFGD was featured on Oprah & Friends. Dr. Mehmet Oz talked with Nancy about causes of incontinence and what people can do to find treatment. Go »