-Avoid foods or activities known to worsen symptoms. E.g. avoid fructose, lactose, caffeine.
-Keep a food and symptom diary to identify factors that cause diarrhea and incontinence.
-Keep the area clean and dry, without excessive wiping or use of strong soaps or cleaning agents.
-Barrier protection: Apply a barrier cream like zinc oxide (Desitin) or Calmoseptine (Menthol and Zinc Oxide topical) cream BID to protect the skin.
-Incontinence pads may be used to protect both skin and clothing from fecal soiling.
-Have regular, soft but firm bowel movements: Eat more high-fiber foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. The goal is to get stools that are soft, but well formed, and easy to clean with one wipe. If stools are still soft or too frequent, use a fiber supplement like Psyllium husk – Metamucil or other fiber types. The goal is 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day.
-Drink lots of water with the fiber supplement. At least 2 liters or 67 oz. That is eight 8 ounce glasses.
-Exercises to increase anal muscle strength (Biofeedback). You will learn how to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, sense when stool is ready to be released and contract the muscles if it’s not the right time or place for you to have a bowel movement.
-Bowel training. Make a conscious effort to have a bowel movement at a specific time of day: for example, after eating. Picking a time when you need to have bowel movements will give you greater control.
Resources
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fecal-incontinence/home/ovc-20166830