Persons with fecal incontinence experienced a variety of GI symptoms over time. Knowledge of symptoms associated with fecal incontinence over time may be of interest to patients newly experiencing the problem, lower uncertainty and anxiety when symptoms occur, and assist with coping. Informing patients about the course of symptoms that may be expected during therapies such as fiber supplementation might facilitate acceptance of the therapy and adherence. The fiber supplements used in this study appear well tolerated in terms of GI side effects, which is advantageous for clinical use. Results inform the development of designs and interventions involving dietary fiber supplements for future studies; for example, an incremental dosing period may not be necessary as GI symptoms in groups receiving fiber did not differ from those on placebo. Investigators should anticipate that symptom severity and emotional upset can influence tolerance to a diet intervention and study attrition and develop a plan to address these responses.