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Fecal Incontinence
Tips for Caregivers for Managing the Condition
By Kelly Burgess
Dr. Zutshi says it also will be helpful for the caregiver to be able to track what the patient has been eating, as many issues with the bowels can be traced to the patient's diet.
The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders recommends the following dietary changes for reducing the incidence of bowel incontinence:
- Eat smaller meals more frequently.
- Drink liquids 30 minutes before or after meals rather than with meals.
- Add fiber to the diet, either through food or with supplements.
- Get plenty to drink to prevent dehydration and constipation.
Add fiber slowly to avoid constipation, gas and bloating. If the care receiver suffering from bowel incontinence is bedridden, Dr. Zutshi recommends an enema several times a week to keep the colon as empty as possible.
Virginia Morris, author of How to Care for Aging Parents (Workman Publishing, 2004), says some of the methods used to treat urinary incontinence work for bowel incontinence as well, such as setting a regular schedule for sitting on the toilet (she recommends about 30 minutes after breakfast). Other strategies that can be tried are biofeedback and exercising the sphincter muscles to help regain control, which is similar to doing Kegel exercises (pelvic floor exercises designed to help improve urinary incontinence).
