March 29th, 2012

Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition caused by too much glucose, a type of sugar, in the blood. It is also sometimes known as diabetes mellitus. Diabetes affects 2.8 million people in the UK. It is thought that a further one million people have the condition but are not aware of it.

Often, diabetics suffer from Faecal Incontinence and suffer the low self esteem that comes with this problem of Bowel Control Disorder, stool leakage and weak anal sphincter muscles.

For patients with Faecal Incontinence, there is a new treatment now available in the UK called Secca Therapy and here at Fico Centre we arrange out-patient appointments for this minimally invasive procedure.

Call Karen on 0844 561 6606 if you have any questions and have a look at our website here for further information.

 

March 22nd, 2012

Our bowels need to be kept healthy and eating a well balanced diet is certainly not only good for our digestion, but helps keep diseases at bay such as Bowel / Colon Cancer.

Food affects the consistency of stool and how quickly it passes through the digestive system. Adjusting what is eaten and when may be helpful in management of FI and the symptoms of Bowel Control Disorder.

• Avoid gas producing foods (beans, cabbage, etc.)
• Foods high in fat and large meals can trigger symptoms
• Certain sweeteners, honey and also some fruits are poorly absorbed by the bowels
• Avoid caffeine, fried foods, spicy foods and alcohol

Bowel Control Disorder/ Faecal Incontinence is an embarrassing, distressful condition that can cause sufferers to have a lack of self esteem, makes them withdraw from society and create the onset of depression.

Fico Centre offers a treatment called Secca. It is a fast, effective, non surgical procedure and is available at one of our centres across the UK. Please call us if you would like to discuss the treatment in confidence on 0844 561 6606.

Below are some guidelines on eating healthily, we hope this is of some help.

A diet based on starchy foods such as rice and pasta; with plenty of fruit and vegetables; some protein-rich foods such as meat, fish and lentils; some milk and dairy foods; and not too much fat, salt or sugar, will give you all the nutrients you need.

When it comes to a healthy diet, balance is the key to getting it right. This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions, and consuming the right amout of food and drink to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

Most adults in England are either overweight or obese. That means many of us are eating more than we need, and should eat less. And it’s not just food: some drinks can also be high in calories. Most adults need to eat and drink fewer calories in order to lose weight, even if they already eat a balanced diet.

All the food we eat can be divided into five groups. Try to choose a variety of different foods from the first four groups.

  • Fruit and vegetables.
  • Starchy foods, such as rice, pasta, bread and potatoes. Choose wholegrain varieties whenever you can.
  • Meat, fish, eggs and beans.
  • Milk and dairy foods.
  • Foods containing fat and sugar.

 

March 16th, 2012

Many people are often too embarrassed to seek help over losing control of their bowels, however it’s really important to seek medical advice to rule out a multitude of other conditions which may cause this.

There are over 100,000 sufferers of MS in this Country, unfortunately for some, bowel incontinence is an added burden for them. We have taken the information below from the Multiple Sclerosis website, but for any further information you should take a look here

Part 1.

What exactly is Faecal Incontinence?

People with faecal incontinence have difficulty controlling their bowel. As a result, they pass faeces, or stools, at the wrong time or in the wrong place. They may also pass wind without control or totally lose control and soil themselves.

What causes Faecal Incontinence ?

It can result from damage to the coordination of the bowel mechanism caused by MS or diarrhoea from overuse of laxatives. Faecal incontinence can also be a by-product of constipation with poorly formed stools overflowing around impacted stool.

How can Faecal Incontinence be treated?

The first step is to obtain a referral to a Continence Advisor via a Neurologist, GP or in some areas of the U.K. a person may seek one out and ‘self-refer’. This will lead to a bowel assessment to determine the cause of the problem, for example if it’s caused by the spilling over of liquid bowel contents due to constipation or faulty bowel mechanism due to MS.

Ficocentre offer Secca Procedure with consultant surgeons across the UK. Secca is a non surgical treatment, it takes approximately 60 minutes to perform and the patient can return home after a few hours. We are happy to have an informal chat with you first to discuss appointments and what to expect, we can be contacted on 0844 561 6606.

 

 

March 13th, 2012

Following a pregnancy, if you develop faecal/bowl control disorder, there is a good chance that you can help the symptoms with pelvic floor exercises. Many new (and older) mums experience bowel control problems, here are some questions answered below on Pelvic Floor.

What is my pelvic floor?

Your pelvic floor is a broad sling of muscles, ligaments and sheet-like tissues. It stretches from your pubic bone at the front of your body to the base of your spine at the back. If it bears weight for a long time (as it does during pregnancy), the muscles or tissues can become over-stretched and weak.

Why is my pelvic floor so important?

Your pelvic floor supports your bladder, bowel and uterus (womb). So your pelvic floor gives you control over when you empty your bladder and your bowels. Having a weak pelvic floor makes it harder for you to squeeze the muscles (sphincters) at the bottom of your bladder to stop wee escaping. You may find you accidentally leak a little wee when you cough, sneeze or exercise. This is called stress incontinence. You may find this continues after you’ve had your baby. Postnatal stress incontinence affects up to a third of all new mums.

It’s not just during pregnancy and childbirth that your pelvic floor is important. You’ll need to keep it strong for the rest of your life to guard against problems later, especially after the menopause.

Later in life, if your vaginal muscles are weak, it’s possible for your uterus to sag down and push against the walls of your vagina. This is called prolapse. It’s thought that four out of 10 women over the age of 50 have some degree of prolapse.

The good news is that you can do something about it. If you do your pelvic floor exercises every day, you’ll be guarding against problems later. If you have concerns about Bowel Incontinence, then call Karen now here at Fico Centre and she will talk you through the Secca Procedure.

 

March 8th, 2012

There are many causes for the onset of fecal incontinence.

One such cause being nerve damage in the rectum; responsible for letting the brain know that a stool is present or, damage to the nerves that control the anal sphincter.

Nerve damage can be caused by the disease Diabetes.

Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition caused by too much glucose, a type of sugar, in the blood. It is also sometimes known as diabetes mellitus. Diabetes affects 2.8 million people in the UK. It is thought that a further one million people have the condition but are not aware of it.

For patients with Faecal Incontinence, there is a new treatment now available in the UK called Secca Therapy and here at Fico Centre we arrange out-patient appointments for this minimally invasive, day case procedure.

Call Karen on 0844 561 6606 if you have any questions and have a look at our website for further information.

 

March 6th, 2012

Bowel incontinence can be extremely upsetting and hard to cope with, but effective treatments are available and a cure possible, so make sure you see your GP.

Bowel incontinence is an inability to control bowel movements, which means that stools can leak uncontrollably from the rectum (bottom).

Bowel incontinence is also sometimes known as faecal incontinence.

Some people may just pass a small piece of stool when passing wind, while others may have a complete loss of bowel control.

It can severely affect a person’s quality of life, self-esteem and emotional wellbeing.

Bowel incontinence is much more common than most people realise. This is possibly because many people are unwilling to discuss the condition with family and friends.

Who is affected

Bowel incontinence is not a condition in itself. It is a symptom of an underlying problem or medical condition, such as muscle and nerve damage or dementia.

It can affect people of any age, although the condition is more common in elderly people. It is thought to be slightly more common in women than men. This could be because many cases of bowel incontinence develop as a complication of pregnancy.

The importance of seeking treatment

Many people with bowel incontinence do not seek medical treatment for their condition. This may be because of common misconceptions. Some of these are explored below.

  • Bowel incontinence is not something to be ashamed of. Bowel incontinence is simply a medical problem that is no different from diabetes or asthma.
  • Bowel incontinence can be treated. There is a wide range of successful treatments for bowel incontinence.
  • Bowel incontinence is not a normal part of ageing.
  • Bowel incontinence will not always go away without treatment. Bowel incontinence may go away without treatment in a minority of cases, but most people will need treatment to control their symptoms.

Outlook

In many cases, with the right treatment, a person can maintain normal bowel function throughout their life.

Treatment options include:

  • lifestyle and dietary changes
  • exercise programmes
  • medication
  • surgery

Even if a complete cure for bowel incontinence is not possible, most people’s symptoms improve significantly and they achieve a better quality of life.

Source : NHS Choices

Watch the NHS Choices Video here

Fico Centre are here to help. We arrange appointments with surgeons across the UK for the Secca Procedure. Call us now on 0844 561 6606 for further information.

 

March 2nd, 2012

At Fico Centre we are pleased to help raise awareness of Bowel Cancer & Bowel Control Disorder and offer treatment for Faecal Incontinence.

Q: How many women die from bowel cancer in the UK every year?

A: 7,501 women across the UK die from bowel cancer each year.

Bowel Cancer is the 3rd most common cause of cancer death in women in the UK – after breast and lung.

Q: What are the three most common causes of cancer death in women in the UK?

A: The three most common causes of cancer death in women in the UK are:

Breast: 12,047, Lung: 15,393 and Bowel: 7,501

Q: What is a woman’s lifetime risk of developing bowel cancer?

A: A woman’s lifetime risk of developing bowel cancer is 1 in 19. A women’s lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer is 1 in 54.

Q: Does a woman’s risk of bowel cancer increase with age?

A: Bowel cancer is the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer in women between the ages of 50-74 – after breast and lung cancer

It is the 2nd most commonly diagnosed cancer in women after the age of 74 – after breast cancer.

About Fico Centre

Here at Fico Centre we arrange appointments for the Secca Procedure – this is an out-patient treatment for Faecal Incontinence . It is minimally invasive, non surgical with a fast recovery time. We have consultant surgeons across the UK with whom we arrange these appointments. For further information please call us on 0844 561 6606.

Picture Credit : Armigeress, thank you.