When to Consider Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy

Finding relief from the loss of bowel control can be a long journey. The graphic below shows an overview of treatment options for bowel incontinence. If you don’t have success with one treatment, don’t give up! Work with your doctor to try another option.

Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy, delivered throught the InterStim^® System, may be an option if you have chronic bowel control problems and have not had success with, or are not a candidate for, more conservative treatments. If your bowel control problem has become bothersome and is getting in the way of your active lifestyle, talk with your doctor about whether the InterStim System is right for you.

Tools for Helping Your Doctor Understand Your Condition

Keep a log of your symptoms, including how often you have bowel movements and leaks, and bring this information with you to your next appointment.

How much are bowel control issues affecting your life? Use the scoring system below to determine your symptom score. Print this page and write the answer that is closest to what you have recently experienced for each question in the score column.

The Wexner Score^*

Choose the number that best describes the frequency you experience, based on the definitions below:
RARELY: Less than 2 per month
SOMETIMES: Less than 1 per week and 1 or more per month
USUALLY: Less than 1 per day and 1 or more per week
ALWAYS: 1 or more per day

Type of incontinence	Frequency
	NEVER	RARELY	SOMETIMES	USUALLY	ALWAYS	SCORE
Solid	0	1	2	3	4
Liquid	0	1	2	3	4
Gas	0	1	2	3	4
Wears pad	0	1	2	3	4
Lifestyle alteration	0	1	2	3	4
TOTAL SYMPTOM SCORE

Add up the points in the score column to find out your total score. The possible total ranges from 0 to 20 points, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. Bring this Wexner Score to your next doctor visit to discuss which treatment options might be right for you.

Also, be sure to talk openly and be up-front with your doctor. Don’t minimize your symptoms or the impact that your bowel control problem has on your life.

*The Wexner Score is also known as the Continence Grading Scale.¹

Reference

Jorge, JMN, Wexner SD. Etiology and Management of Fecal Incontinence. Dls Colon Rectum. 1993;36:77-97.

Next: Benefits and Risks

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.

Last updated: 13 Feb 2013