Bowel Incontinence Pattern

“Make a list of what you eat for a few days.
You may discover a connection between certain foods
and your bouts of incontinence”.1

Umbrella
What may the Bowel Incontinence Pattern Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Accidental Bowel Leakage (ABL)
  • Anal Incontinence
  • Bowel Continence
  • Bowel Control Problems
  • Bowel Incontinence
  • Constipation
  • Faecal/Fecal Incontinence (FI)
  • Incontinence (Fecal/Bowel)
  • Poor Bowel Control

Bowel Incontinence

Is there an association between certain foods and bowel incontinence?

In Dietary Tips the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders explain:

“Certain foods are known to stimulate gut reactions in general, and in those with bowel incontinence, or accidental bowel leakage (ABL), eating too much of these might provoke unwanted reactions.

For example, meals that are too large or high in fat, fried foods, coffee, caffeine, or alcohol may provoke symptoms of abdominal cramps and diarrhea”.2

Foods and Drinks

What are common foods and drinks linked to bowel incontinence?

In Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Faecal Incontinence – What Should I Avoid Eating If I Have Faecal Incontinence? the (United States) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) explain:

Bowel Incontinence Pattern“If your fecal incontinence is caused by diarrhea, you should avoid foods that make your symptoms worse, such as

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Drinks and foods containing caffeine
  • Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream
  • Fatty and greasy foods
  • Drinks and foods containing fructose
  • Fruits such as apples, peaches, and pears
  • Spicy foods
  • Products, including candy and gum, with sweeteners ending in “–ol,” such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol”.3

In Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Dietary Changes – Keeping Track of What You Eat the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“Foods can cause diarrhea or gas and worsen fecal incontinence. Common culprits include spicy foods, fatty and greasy foods, and dairy products. Caffeine-containing beverages and alcohol also can act as laxatives. Other foods that have a laxative effect include sugar-free gum and diet soda, which contain artificial sweeteners”.4

Look for A Pattern

How can I Look for A Pattern with bowel incontinence?Bowel Incontinence Pattern

In Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Faecal Incontinence – What Should I Avoid Eating If I Have Faecal Incontinence? Keeping A Food Diary the NIDDK elaborate on:

“Your doctor or dietitian may recommend keeping a food diary, which can help you find out which foods and drinks make your symptoms better or worse. After a few days, the diary may show a link between certain foods and drinks and your fecal incontinence. Changing the foods and drinks linked to your fecal incontinence may improve your symptoms”.5

In Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Dietary Changes the Mayo Clinic note:

“You may be able to gain better control of your bowel movements by:

  • Keeping track of what you eat. What you eat and drink affects the consistency of your stools. Make a list of what you eat for a few days. You may discover a connection between certain foods and your bouts of incontinence. Once you’ve identified problem foods, stop eating them and see if your incontinence improves.Foods can cause diarrhea or gas and worsen fecal incontinence”.6

Foods

What are some common foods which may result in bowel incontinence?

In Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Dietary Changes the Mayo Clinic also note:

“Common culprits include spicy foods, fatty and greasy foods, and dairy products. Caffeine-containing beverages and alcohol also can act as laxatives. Other foods that have a laxative effect include sugar-free gum and diet soda, which contain artificial sweeteners”.7

Diary

Where may I find a diary?

The website of the (United States) National Continence Foundation includes Incontinence Diaries: Using A Bladder Diary or Bowel Diary.

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help to look for a pattern with bowel incontinence?

If you would like help to look for a pattern with bowel incontinence, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

Together you may identify any patterns, discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Bowel Incontinence Pattern?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

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Links

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New or Updated

  1. 147-Personal Daily Diary (IBS)
  2. Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence)
  3. Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Faecal Incontinence
  4. Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Faecal Incontinence – What Should I Avoid Eating If I have Faecal Incontinence? Keeping A Food Diary
  5. Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Symptoms & Causes of Faecal Incontinence
  6. Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Treatment of Faecal Incontinence
  7. Continence.org.au [Continence Foundation of Australia]
  8. Diet and Exercise
  9. Dietary Tips
  10. Fecal (Bowel Incontinence)
  11. Fecal Incontinence
  12. Fecal Incontinence
  13. Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Dietary Changes – Keeping Track of What You Eat
  14. Incontinence Diaries: Using A Bladder Diary or Bowel Diary
  15. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  16. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  17. Nafc.org [National Association for Continence, United States]
  18. Talking To Your Doctor About Incontinence

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Dietary Changes. 03 November 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fecal-incontinence/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351403 Accessed: 25 August 2023
  2. Incontinence Treatment: Dietary Tips. International Foundation of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders https://www.aboutincontinence.org/site/treatment/dietary-tips Accessed: 25 August 2023
  3. Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Faecal Incontinence – What Should I Avoid Eating If I Have Faecal Incontinence? Last Reviewed: July 2017. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/bowel-control-problems-fecal-incontinence/eating-diet-nutrition Accessed: 25 August 2023
  4. Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Dietary Changes – Keeping Track of What You Eat. 03 November 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fecal-incontinence/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351403 Accessed: 25 August 2023
  5. Bowel Control Problems (Fecal Incontinence): Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Faecal Incontinence – What Should I Avoid Eating If I Have Faecal Incontinence? Keeping A Food Diary. Last Reviewed: July 2017. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/bowel-control-problems-fecal-incontinence/eating-diet-nutrition Accessed: 25 August 2023
  6. Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Dietary Changes. 03 November 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fecal-incontinence/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351403 Accessed: 25 August 2023
  7. Fecal Incontinence: Diagnosis & Treatment – Lifestyle and Home Remedies: Dietary Changes. 03 November 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fecal-incontinence/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351403 Accessed: 25 August 2023
Topic Last Updated: 25 August 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 25 August 2023

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