There’s no longer any reason to feel alone when you have fecal incontinence. It’s a common problem these days, and it affects people of all ages, from children to older adults. Muscle or nerve damage can cause incontinence, or it can be the result of various diseases or cancer treatments. Spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes and Parkinson’s can cause bowel disorders, as well as prostate, colon and uterine cancer, among others.

Many internet sites are available to help people with this problem, and all of them are beneficial. However, there’s one that stands out as an excellent source of information written by doctors and other health care professionals.

The site is called aboutIncontinence.org. Run by the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), it features plenty of detailed, useful information written by experts in terms that the layperson can understand.

Find out exactly what incontinence is, how prevalent it is, and the latest treatments, including an entire page on biofeedback. Do you have questions about bowel management, dietary tips, or intestinal gas that you are too embarrassed to bring up with your doctor? This is a place where you can get the answers you need.

All of the knowledge is backed by referenced research, so you know you’re getting fact and not opinion. Still, it’s written in a style that’s simple enough you won’t be left with any lingering questions or doubt. The articles don’t tiptoe around fecal incontinence; every aspect is explored forthrightly. It’s as though you were asking your personal physician all the questions you wish you could, and getting straight answers from a top source.

And what if you still feel like no one understands, that there’s no one you can really talk to about the social aspects of incontinence? New to the site is their community area, where you can talk with others affected by urgency, soiling pain or discomfort. It’s a private, supportive place for you to share experiences with people who get where you’re coming from.

Pages are up-to-date, and the site itself is thoughtfully designed for ease of use. You can take advantage of their library resources, which range from surveys and clinical trials to inexpensive brochures and information in Spanish. Or check out news and events, such as the recent Oprah appearance of IFFGD’s founder, Nancy Norton, who spoke about the many treatment options that are available for people with fecal incontinence.

Finally, explore the IFFGD tab to find affiliated branches that you may find useful. For example, there’s a link to their site dealing specifically with gastro-intestinal issues, including fecal incontinence in children and teens.