Keeping Control : Understanding and Overcoming Fecal Incontinence (A Johns Hopkins Health Book)

By Marvin M. Schuster and Jacqueline Wehmueller

Book Overview

Keeping Control is a compassionate, medically reliable, and thoroughly informative resource for anyone who wants to understand the possible causes of fecal incontinence, learn about important advances in management and treatment, and do something about the problem. Written by a noted Johns Hopkins physician and an experienced medical writer and editor, Keeping Control explains the mechanics of normal bowel function and describes the latest medical findings about what can cause incontinence, from pre-existing conditions and diseases to accidents and childbirth injuries. It thoroughly explains the wide range of treatment options, including remarkable successes with biofeedback and habit training. It includes special advice for managing incontinence in children and older people. And it offers important advice on how to work with your physician to take control of the problem.

Keeping Control also includes a glossary of terms and valuable information about contacting support groups and using additional resources. An epilogue by Nancy Norton, founder of the International Foundation for Bowel Dysfunction, describes the personal challenge of living with fecal incontinence and explains how she and many others have found the courage to cope with the problem and live life to the fullest.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801849160
• ISBN13: 9780801849169
• Release Date: August 1994
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

The only resource for women with birth injuries resulting in anal incontinence

As a nurse educator, I found this book invaluable; I suffered injured muscles during childbirth of my first child which did not show up until 35 years later as fecal incontinence. I had a prolapsed bowel and had 13 inches of my colon removed. Now a close friend, at 38 years of age, is experiencing the same thing. This is a common experience among women during childbirth yet I was misdiagnosed by 3 physicians. The only help is this book, which I am sending to this friend. There should be more books and magazine articles about this common condition, and these women need the expertise of colon surgeons following childbirth to insure proper treatment that will prevent the occurrence of this condition. An explanation of the condition and how to get expert help and support is contained in this valuable book.

Very helpful and informative; clearly understood

I read this book at suggestion of my therapist. I later purchased this book to be able to refer to it. I am a nurse and am having difficulty understanding what is happening to my body. I found this book basic enough for the lay person and still not insulting to my intelligence. I would recommend this book to anyone who is having problems with anal incontinence.