Fecal Incontinence Treatment Options
Treatment Options
There are many ways to manage bowel control problems. Remember, if conservative treatments don’t deliver the results you need, you have more options.
Lifestyle Changes
Conservative treatments can help some people but may not work very well (or at all) for others. All of these are relatively simple behavioral changes that you may already be doing.
- Dietary modification: changes may include adjusting fiber intake or eliminating troublesome foods.
- Bowel retraining: also called biofeedback, this aims to improve bowel sensation, coordination, and strength.
- Medication: anti-diarrheal medication may provide some relief.
Oral Medications
When lifestyle changes fail to deliver the relief results you want, oral medications are the next step. These medications can help control symptoms but may cause other issues.
These medications need to be taken daily. Some side effects can be unpleasant, such as dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness or constipation. Other side effects are more serious. Even more important, these medications don't always work. In one survey, 72% of people said they stopped taking their medication after just six months.1
Advanced Therapies
If conservative treatments don’t deliver the results you want, you have more options.
Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy delivered by the InterStim™ systems
- Try it during an evaluation
- Proven long-term success2*
Implanting an InterStim™ system has risks similar to any surgical procedure, including swelling, bruising, bleeding, and infection. Talk with your doctor about ways to minimize these risks. Complications can occur with the evaluation, including movement of the wire, technical problems with the device, and some temporary pain. Your doctor or nurse will provide you with the information regarding how to operate the test device, and inform you of other precautions related to the evaluation and activity restrictions.
Learn More About Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy Delivered by the InterStim System
Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.
* Success defined as ≥ 50% reduction of episodes/week.
1. Yeaw J, Benner J, Walt JG et al. Comparing adherence and persistence across 6 chronic medication classes. J Manag Care Pharm. 2009:15(9): 724-736.
2. Hull T, Giese C, Wexner SD, et al. Long-term Durability of Sacral Nerve Stimulation Therapy for Chronic Fecal Incontinence. Dis Colon Rectum. 2013; 56(2):234-45.
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