Faecal Incontinence | DryForLife Incontinence Advice

Posts Tagged ‘Faecal Incontinence’

What is Double Incontinence?

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

As if suffering from one kind of incontinence were not enough, some people suffer from both urinary and faecal incontinence. When a person suffers from both types of incontinence, they are said to have double incontinence. Double incontinence may affect both women and men and is less common than suffering from one type or the other.

Studies have shown that quality of life for people who suffer from double incontinence is more greatly impaired than in those who suffer from urinary incontinence alone. This may be due to the fact that there is a social stigma attached to faecal incontinence, and faecal incontinence brings more feelings of embarrassment and shame. People who suffer from double incontinence may isolate themselves more due to embarrassment over their condition. Double incontinence is not limited to men or women but occurs with almost equal prevalence amongst both sexes, according to studies.

It is important for people who suffer from double incontinence to speak to their physician about the problem. Faecal incontinence is thought to be underreported in comparison to urinary incontinence, and double incontinence even more so. However, without sufferers acknowledging to their physician that a problem exists, nothing can be done to address their problem. The physician may be able to help determine the cause and explain different treatment options that may be available. Having an understanding of the cause of double incontinence is important in determining the best treatment available. A physician will likely take a thorough history and performing a physical exam. Tests may be ordered to pinpoint where the problem lies. Treatment options may range from self-help remedies to medications to surgery, but until the individual seeks help, the physician will be unable to offer any assistance.

For anyone suffering from double incontinence, it is important to seek help. There are many treatment options available, which can help to improve the quality of life. There are also many incontinence products available on the market today, which can really help to manage the many challenges of dealing with incontinence.

Additional Articles Dealing with Types of Incontinence

Tags: double incontinence, Faecal Incontinence, Incontinence, Urinary Incontinence
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Definitions of Incontinence

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

There are so many terms used in conjunction with the word incontinence that it can be hard to keep them all straight. First of all, it is helpful to have a working definition of the word incontinence. Incontinence refers to the sudden, involuntary release of urine or stool. Incontinence can have many different underlying causes, and it is always a good idea to discuss the problem with your doctor when searching for a solution for this problem.

Urinary Incontinence – the sudden involuntary release of urine

Faecal (or Fecal) Incontinence – the sudden involuntary loss of gas (flatulence) or stool; bowel incontinence is often used in place of faecal incontinence.

Stress Incontinence – urinary incontinence that results from some form of physical activity or stress on the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting a heavy object

Urge Incontinence – leakage of urine following involuntary spasms of bladder muscles or inappropriate contraction of bladder muscles; sometimes called overactive bladder

Overflow Incontinence – in overflow incontinence, the bladder does not empty completely and may become overly full, resulting in leakage of urine; often attributable to nerve damage or bladder muscle dysfunction

Mixed Incontinence – occurs when symptoms of both urge and stress incontinence are present at the same time in the same individual

Functional Incontinence – occurs as a result of a person’s inability to get to a washroom in time to void; incontinence as a result of a physical or mental condition (e.g. arthritis impeding someone’s ability to walk to the washroom quickly enough; dementia causing a person to forget where the washroom is)

Male Incontinence – any incontinence in men, often attributed to prostate disease

Female Incontinence – any incontinence in women, often a result of pregnancy and childbirth Incontinence Pads – absorbent pads that are worn alone or with incontinence pants to absorb urine or stool in incontinence

Incontinence Pants – may be worn alone or with incontinence pads; may be washable or disposable

This list is not exhaustive by any means, but it will hopefully provide you with a working vocabulary when discussing incontinence.

Childbirth and Incontinence in Women

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Women are more likely to suffer from incontinence than men. This predisposition is largely due to the fact that women give birth, which is an act that can bring great joy and can also wreak havoc on women’s bodies. Sometimes pregnancy itself can cause incontinence in women.

During pregnancy, the uterus grows to a point where it applies a lot of pressure to the bladder. This may result in stress incontinence. A woman with a large, gravid uterus may find that she leaks urine when she coughs, sneezes or laughs. Lifting heavy objects may also cause incontinence in women who are pregnant. Stress incontinence during pregnancy is usually transient and ends when the pregnancy does, because the uterus returns to its pre-pregnant size.

Childbirth itself can cause trauma to many structures, including the muscles of the pelvic floor, which help to control urination, and nerves. Conditions that may predispose a women to damage to these structures during childbirth include the following:

Use of forceps or vacuum extraction

Large birth weight babies (>4000 grams)

Multiple births

Prolonged labour

Precipitous birth (baby comes too quickly)

Induced labour using drugs

Episiotomy (performed to enlarge the vaginal opening)

Sometimes damage caused by childbirth is not evident for years after a woman gives birth. When a women experiences new-onset urinary or faecal incontinence, her doctor will want to know about the circumstances surrounding her pregnancies and births. Multiple pregnancies and births may make a woman more likely to experience incontinence.

Incontinence in women need not be permanent. There are many treatments and therapies that may improve or cure incontinence. Many women who experience incontinence assume that there is nothing that can be done, and they do not seek medical advice. Seeing a doctor is the first step to curing incontinence, and incontinence in women should never be viewed as a normal event.

More Articles Dealing with Women’s Health

Tags: Faecal Incontinence, Incontinence, Stress Incontinence
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What to Look For in Faecal Incontinence Products

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

If you suffer from faecal incontinence, you will need appropriate absorbency from your incontinence products. You will also likely need a comfortable fit. Most of all, you will want to feel secure in the knowledge that the product you choose will offer security and discretion.

Faecal incontinence is estimated to affect approximately 2% of the population, with more women than men being affected. The social stigma associated with faecal incontinence means that the condition causes embarrassment for the individuals who experience loss of bowel control. However, incontinence products have come a long way, and people who suffer from faecal incontinence can rest assured that there are faecal incontinence products that can allow them to live their lives to the fullest.

Tena incontinence products are known world wide for their supreme comfort and absorbency, even in cases of faecal incontinence. Many people who suffer from faecal incontinence choose to use Tena’s disposable all-in-one incontinence pads. These pads offer many advantages, such as an elastic, comfortable waistband, the ultimate in absorbency and curved leg bands to prevent leakage. They are made of a breathable material that allows air to circulate, protecting the skin. They also have a rustle-free backing for added discreetness. Being disposable, they can simply be discarded when soiled. These faecal incontinence products are popular due to the comfort and security they offer.

DryForLife is proud to include Tena products in their line of superior faecal incontinence products. DryForLife offers decades of personalized service and quality products at an affordable price. Best of all, DryForLife offers an invaluable service to their customers, store-to-door delivery, saving you the hassle of shopping for your faecal incontinence products. To learn more about the products offered by DryForLife, including Tena products, visit online at www.dryforlife.co.uk and see for yourself the difference that quality makes.

Faecal Incontinence Pads Can Help Life Continue as Usual

Friday, March 26th, 2010

If you have faecal incontinence you may be afraid to live a normal life. Going out in public may be terrifying, because you may be deathly afraid of having an embarrassing, public accident. However there are incontinence products like faecal incontinence pads that you can use to help manage your situation, and to help you continue living your life normally, here are 5 easy tips to help you overcome any fear you may have about dealing with your problem.

1.Always go to the bathroom right before you leave your home, even if you do not think that you need to go.
2.If you are afraid of having an accident then wear a faecal incontinence pad. It can be either washable or disposable.
3.Always have a backpack on hand with supplies to clean up, a change of clothes and a zip lock bag for soiled clothes.
4.When you are out and about, make it your business to know where all of the bathrooms are located in your area. That way if you have the urge to go to the bathroom, and you know that you cannot hold it very long, you will know exactly where to go and how long it will take you to get there.
5.Wear clothing that you can remove quickly if necessary.

While these five simple suggestions may help you to make it through your days more normally, if your faecal incontinence continues to plague you, then you need to make an appointment to have a visit with your doctor who will assess your situation and try to determine the underlying cause of your faecal incontinence problem. With the help of your doctor you can find a way to treat your incontinence problem to improve your every day life.

Your doctor may take a look at your diet to see if adjusting your fluid or fiber intake affects your condition. Frequently there will be a food that you have developed a sensitivity to as you are ageing. If diet is the culprit of your problem, then you can manage your situation by controlling the types of food that you ingest and the amount of liquid that you drink.

Diet and exercise are both important for maintaining bowel health, and in combination they contribute to maintaining continence. And, amazingly, your mental state can dramatically affect the likelihood of you suffering from incontinence. Some serious mental conditions may require medication, and this is why it is important to work with your doctor to find a treatment for you or your loved one.

You will also want to have access to quality incontinence products like faecal incontinence pads. They are made especially for faecal incontinence so they trap liquids and solids, and they even have a certain amount of odour control to alleviate your fears of a public accident. Make sure to keep your skin clean and dry, and you may want to use a barrier cream to protect the skin. Your doctor may also suggest medication for your problem, and that is why it is so important to make your doctor part of your team as you are searching for treatments for your faecal incontinence problems.

As you and your doctor are working through your problem,you will want to have access to quality faecal incontinence pads and products. At DryForLife we have been helping people to select just the right incontinence products for over forty years, and we are always here to help.

Further Incontinence Products Articles

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Nobody Wants to Think About Fecal Incontinence

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Nobody likes to think about fecal incontinence, but it happens. And when it happens to you there is no choice but to think about it. If you are having trouble controlling your bowels, or if you have stool leaking as you pass gas, you are experiencing fecal incontinence.

While fecal incontinence is certainly more common in older adults, it can occur at any age. However, even in older adults, fecal incontinence should never be considered a natural byproduct of aging. When any type of unexpected leakage from the rectum occurs, it warrants a discussion with your doctor.

Fecal incontinence can severely impact a person’s life in that there may be embarrassment or shame connected with the condition. Many people, who where very social, withdraw from friends and family for fear of being humiliated. The thought of a public accident is enough to keep many fecal incontinence sufferers home. This isolation is a tragic byproduct of bowel incontinence, and it is why you want to discuss this problem with your doctor sooner rather than later.

With the help of your physician many times your symptoms can be lessened or relieved. There are many different causes for fecal incontinence, and your doctor can help you sort out the cause and recommend a course of treatment.

One of the top causes for fecal incontinence is constipation. This condition causes the rectum to become overloaded with hardened stool, and as this mass becomes lodged in place watery stool can seep out around it. This condition can stretch the rectum’s muscles weakening them so that they cannot confidently hold stool, and this results in fecal incontinence. At the other end of the spectrum from constipation is diarrhea, which also causes incontinence. When the stool is loose, it fills the rectum faster and leaks out. While you can suffer from diarrhea as a result of an illness like the flu, when the problem becomes chronic, it is considered to be fecal incontinence.

While constipation can cause muscle damage to the rectum, there are sphincter muscles at either end of the rectum which can sustain damage and also cause incontinence. These sphincter muscles can be damaged in childbirth and hemorrhoid surgery among other things. Along with muscle damage, nerve damage can also cause fecal incontinence. When the nerves, which sense the stool is ready to pass, do not send a message to the brain, you will never know that you have to go to the bathroom. Nerve damage can occur from injury or illness, which can also cause diminished storage capacity and incontinence.

If you are working with your doctor to manage fecal incontinence, there are some practical things that you can do to make your life a little easier. Always have a backpack with a change of clothes with you. Hopefully you will not need it, but if you ever have an accident, it can be a lifesaver. Know where the restrooms are in your day to day travels, so that when you need to relieve yourself, you know exactly where to go. Then to reduce the likelihood of needing an emergency toilet trip while you are out, always go to the bathroom just before leaving your house.

When you think an accident may be likely, wear disposable incontinence pads designed for fecal incontinence. By having the proper incontinence products available, you will be able to go about your day confidently. At DryForLife we have been helping people choose the best incontinence products for their particular situation, and we are always here to help.

Further Bowel Incontinence Articles

Tags: Add new tag, bowel incontinence, Faecal Incontinence, fecal incontinence, incontinence products
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Continence Pads and Products Pivotal in Leading Normal Life

Monday, March 8th, 2010

All too often when a person begins to experience continence problems they start to withdraw from social activities for fear of an embarrassing public accident. However, with the new continence pads and products that are available on the market today, you can expect to manage your urinary or faecal incontinence problem while continuing to engage in a normal and active lifestyle.

You can find continence care products in any number of places, so being able to get your hands on the right products is not usually where people run into problems. The problem occurs when trying to choose the right product for your particular situation. Discussing your symptoms with your doctor or medical professional is a great place to start, because they can advise you on the basics of what to look for in your continence care products. They are usually aware of the newest products on the market, so they can keep you updated on any innovative new developments in products as well.

For many people pads and pants are the best choice, and they come in all shapes and sizes. These products are available in disposable and washable styles, and they are also manufactured in gender specific designs to suit the differences between the male and female anatomy. For many people, different continence pads are appropriate for different activities throughout the day. For example, if you are working out, one type of pad may work best, and then for your day at work, another type of pad may be more comfortable and effective.

Especially if you are just beginning to deal with a continence problem, it may be a good idea to get a sample pack of products, so that you can try several different styles and absorbency levels to see which work the best for your situation. You may find that you like the convenience of disposable pads and the cost of washable products, so using a combination of the two may be the perfect solution for you.

While most pads are designed to be low profile, generally the larger the continence pad, the more urine it will absorb. Other pads are designed for bowel incontinence and have a special built in odour control. When selecting pads, you want to look for a snug, yet comfortable, fit, so that your skin does not become chafed or irritated. Continence pads are built to hold large volumes of liquid and quickly wick it away from the skin to keep any type of rash or skin infection from developing.

You can also find mattress covers and furniture protection, which can be used alone or in tandem with other continence care products. So as you are working to find the perfect combination of continence pads and products to properly manage your situation, remember that DryForLife has been helping people deal with their continence care needs for over forty years, and we are here to help.

Further Continence Articles

Tags: Continence, Faecal Incontinence, mattress covers
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Leaking Bowels Can be a Lot to Manage

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

If you are experiencing a decreased ability to control gas or stool, poorly controlled bowel motions or leaking bowels, then you are dealing with faecal incontinence or bowel incontinence. The symptoms for faecal incontinence can vary from an involuntary passing of gas to a complete loss of control. Affecting both women and men this type of incontinence can cause a great deal of anxiety in those suffering from it.

It can adversely affect your daily life and cause problems with your social life, your work life and your life in general. In elderly people, it is one of the most common reasons that they are placed in a nursing home. Even though this condition is relatively common, there is still a lot of reluctance discussing it, so many people never find the proper help that they need to manage the condition to their best advantage.

Passing a stool involves two sphincters, which are the muscles that hold the stool in the anal canal. There is an involuntary internal sphincter, which you do not consciously control, and there is a voluntarily external sphincter, which you can control. You can consciously squeeze the external muscles to prevent leaking bowels when you sneeze or cough for example. While ageing is certainly a contributing factor to faecal incontinence, there are other factors that can cause this condition as well. For example, in women childbirth is one of the biggest contributors to this type of incontinence. Small injuries to the sphincter muscles can occur from tears, infections, eposiotomies or a prolonged labor and may not show up for years. Then as the muscles weaken with age, the injury becomes an issue causing leaking bowels.

Abnormalities of the rectum can also cause this type of incontinence, whether from disease, genetics or injury. Other injuries like spinal cord injuries can also result in leaking bowels. Any time the nerve function is damaged, you can lose the ability to feel when you need to have a bowel movement. Suddenly it is impossible to tell the difference between the need to pass gas or a stool. As with any type of incontinence the treatments depend on the causes of the condition. Sometimes just a change in diet or simple medication can take care of the problem, and in other cases physical therapy to build muscle strength or to sense a stool can take care of the problem. Even surgical repairs are successful in correcting injury to anal muscles and restoring faecal continence.

So the first person that you want to consult, if you are having problems with leaking bowels, is your doctor, because your medical professional is the one who can help you efficiently resolve your problem. While you are working with your doctor to manage your bowel incontinence using the proper incontinence products can help you to stay active and engaged socially. DryForLife offers a complete line of incontinence pads and products, which can be ordered online or by phone and delivered discreetly right to your front door.

Further Bowel Incontinence Articles

Tags: bowel incontinence, Faecal Incontinence, Incontinence Pads, incontinence products
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Comfortable Continence Wear is Worth a Look

Friday, February 19th, 2010

An embarrassing subject for most people, continence health is something that you take for granted until you have a problem, which can be caused by things like age, illness, injury, genetics or medication. Continence problems can range from light to heavy, and it can be worse at different times of the day or while performing certain activities. So it is important to find continence wear that works for you and your situation as you manage your continence health.

As continence health deteriorates, incontinence, which is the involuntary passing of urine or faeces, sets in. The most common type of incontinence is urinary incontinence, and it generally occurs in older adults. It is also more commonly found to occur in women than men. Millions of adults have to manage continence problems daily, and the more familiar you are with products that can protect your skin, clothing and furniture from accidental leakage the easier managing your continence problem will be.

Continence wear is available in washable as well as disposable versions, and you should investigate different styles and absorbency levels to find the ones that work the best for you and your situation. Your doctor or continence advisor is a great source of information about what products are available, and which types of pads, pants or mattress covers would be a likely match for your problem.

If you are very active, having continence problems is no reason to disengage from your active lifestyle. All too often urinary incontinence forces a person to withdraw from their active life because they are concerned about embarrassing leakage. If you investigate the excellent products that are available today, you will find that you really do not even have to skip a beat. There is a product designed for virtually every need, and while you will still have to manage your continence problems, you have all of the tools at your disposal that you need to do it well.

Most newer designs for continence wear are low profile and comfortable. Pads and pants are designed to absorb a large volume of liquid very quickly, trap it and wick it away from the body to protect skin from irritation. The low profile design lets you discreetly wear these products undetected.

By selecting the product that you need when you need it, you can manage your urinary or faecal incontinence problem and still live your active lifestyle. DryForLife offers a confidential resolution for your continence wear needs, and it is so simple to order your supplies from the privacy of your home for speedy, discreet delivery.

Further Continence Articles

Tags: Continence, Faecal Incontinence, Urinary Incontinence
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Choose the Right Incontinence Supplies for Every Need

Monday, February 15th, 2010

The loss of bladder or bowel control is a problem that can be brought on by any number of different things. It should be considered more of a symptom rather than a disease, because there is always an underlying reason that is causing the condition. These reasons can include surgery, injuries, childbirth, genetic abnormalities, infections, diseases and degeneration from ageing. While urinary incontinence is often associated with an older population, it can occur at any age, and while it is frequently curable, it is always manageable with the right incontinence supplies.

When you are looking for the right products to help you manage faecal incontinence or urinary incontinence, choosing the right ones will make the difference between successfully managing your problem or not. When you have undergarments or pads that are comfortable and reliable, it restores your confidence and lets you stay plugged in to your social life and active. Over the last few years product development with incontinence products has made some impressive advances.

Whether you are looking for incontinence supplies for light or heavy incontinence, you will be able to find several selections that will suit your needs perfectly. The most common products that are available are an incontinence pant, an incontinence pad or incontinence bed protection. Both incontinence pads and pants are designed to wick wetness away from the body to help skin from becoming chaffed, and they are designed in varying degrees of absorbency from light to heavy. Unlike a sanitary pad, an incontinence pad or pant is designed to hold a volume of liquid while protecting skin and keeping it dry.

When it comes to bedding you can find complete protection for your all of your bedding. Waterproof mattress pads, covers and protectors let you sleep confidently knowing that your mattress is safe from any leakage during the night. Waterproof duvet and pillow covers are also available, so that you can sleep worry free.

Most incontinence supplies come in a washable or a disposable form, and by selecting the product that you need when you need it, you can manage your urinary or faecal incontinence problem and still live an active lifestyle. DryForLife offers a confidential solution for your incontinence needs, and it is easy to order your incontinence supplies online for discreet delivery right to your front door.

Further Incontinence Supplies Articles

Tags: Faecal Incontinence, Incontinence, Incontinence Pant, Incontinence Supplies, Urinary Incontinence
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