Bowel or fecal incontinence is the loss of voluntary control of stool, or bowel movements. This condition can vary from being partial, in which a person loses only a small amount of liquid waste, to complete, in which the entire solid bowel movement cannot be controlled.
Bowel incontinence affects more than 5.5 million Americans. Both men and women suffer from this problem, though it is more common in women because of injury to the anal muscles or nerves that can occur during childbirth. Bowel incontinence becomes more common with advancing age as the muscles that control bowel movements (anal sphincter muscles) weaken.
Often, embarrassment and the stigma associated with incontinence prevent people from seeking treatment, even when incontinence affects his or her quality of life. Many people resort to altering their social and physical activities, even their employment, to cope with the problem. In addition, some people with bowel incontinence do not see a doctor because they just don't realize that their problem can be effectively treated. It's important to understand that bowel incontinence is not uncommon and can be successfully treated.
What Causes Bowel Incontinence?
Normal control of bowel movements depends on proper functioning of the colon and rectum, the muscles surrounding the anus (anal sphincter muscles), the brain and the body's nerves (the nervous system), plus the amount and consistency of waste products produced.
There are many causes of bowel incontinence, including:
Damage or injury to the anal sphincter muscles or the nerves surrounding these muscles.
Anal surgery for another condition.
Certain medications, such as some antibiotics or
Neurontin (an anti-seizure medication).
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Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to examine the rectum and the lower (sigmoid) colon. The flexible sigmoidoscope is a flexible tube 60 cm long and about the thickness of your little finger. It is inserted gently into the anus and advanced slowly into the rectum and the lower colon. It is an accurate and simple method of investigating the cause of rectal bleeding, change in bowel habit, and rectal symptoms such as pain and diarrhea. Flexible sigmoidoscopy also is a part of colon screening and surveillance for colon cancer.
What is the preparation for flexible sigmoidoscopy?
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