MyHealth.Alberta.caNetworkHomeHealthInformationandToolsMyHealthVideosFindHealthcareAboutMyHealth.Alberta.caHealthierTogetherMyHealthRecordsMyHealthAccountHealthA-ZHealthyLivingTests&TreatmentsMedicationsFindHealthcareHealthAlertsPatientCareHandoutsMyHealth.Alberta.caHealthInformationandTools > PatientCareHandouts > DietforFecalIncontinence:CareInstructionsMainContentAlbertaContentRelatedtoConditionsRectalProblemsMoreAlbertaContentImportantPhoneNumbersTopicContentsYourCareInstructionsHowcanyoucareforyourselfathome?Wherecanyoulearnmore?TopofthepageDietforFecalIncontinence:CareInstructionsYourCareInstructionsFecalincontinenceisthelossofnormalcontrolofyourbowels.Youmaynotbeabletoreachthetoiletintimeforabowelmovement.Orstoolmayleakfromyouranus.Thisproblemcanbecausedbyconstipationordiarrhea.Anxietyorotheremotionalstresscanbeacausetoo.Itcanalsoresultfromnerveinjury,muscledamage(especiallyfromchildbirth),lackofexercise,orpoordiet.Whatyoueatcanhelpyoumanagefecalincontinence.Whichfoodsyoueatoravoidmaydependonwhyyouhavetheproblem.Follow-upcareisakeypartofyourtreatmentandsafety.Besuretomakeandgotoallappointments,andcallyourdoctorornursecalllineifyouarehavingproblems.It'salsoagoodideatoknowyourtestresultsandkeepalistofthemedicinesyoutake.Howcanyoucareforyourselfathome?Keepafooddiaryofwhatyoueat.Thiscanhelpyoufindoutwhichfoodsmayhelporcausethisproblem.Eatsmall,frequentmeals.Ifyouandyourdoctorfeelthatconstipationispartoftheproblem:Includefruits,vegetables,beans,andwholegrainsinyourdieteachday.Thesefoodsarehighinfibre.Drinkplentyoffluids,enoughsothatyoururineislightyelloworclearlikewater.Ifyouhavekidney,heart,orliverdiseaseandhavetolimitfluids,talkwithyourdoctorbeforeyouincreasetheamountoffluidsyoudrink.Getsomeexerciseeveryday.Buildupslowlytoatleast2½hoursofexerciseaweek.Takeafibresupplement,suchasBenefibreorMetamucil,everyday.Readandfollowallinstructionsonthelabel.Ifyouandyourdoctorfeelthatdiarrheaispartoftheproblem,trytoavoid:Alcohol.Caffeine.Thisisfoundincoffee,tea,coladrinks,an