Bowel incontinence

@emyliander Around here, when you are referred to someone like a physical therapist, it is up to you, the patient, to call and make the appointment.
I had pelvic floor PT and did find it helpful. I also get emails from Harvard Health and I think I saw the one you mention. I have not purchased it. They do have a lot of good titles and they probably are helpful. Harvard is definitely reputable.
JK

@jackiem95. Hi this is Emy, I wrote a note yesterday but don’t know what happened to it. Just to say I had my first evaluation for Pelvic Floor PT. I will continue with treatment after I return from Spain. I am taking Iron pills as my count was down, and am using that about every other day to keep my stool solid, it seems to be a happy medium. So I am doing well but still take precautions. I have had to increase my antidepressant and anti anxiety meds as all of this, and my vacation coming up was overwhelming.
Thanks , Emy.

Safe travels and good luck with health!

@ jackiem95
Well I’m back, and I don’t understand what has happened but from the day I left on vacation on until now, I have not had one incident of incontinence. I don’t know if it was the iron I was taking, but previously I had problems even when constipated. I have had my third visit for Pelvic Floor Therapy, I don’t know if the exercises helped enough, it seems too short a time to be that effective, but I’m enjoying it while it lasts.
Before leaving for my vacation, my therapist at the Dr.s office suggested that I might have mild cognitive problems, even saying that the quicker it’s treated the better the outcome. I asked my friend what she thought and she said she had been thinking the same thing. She asked me if I was upset about it. I said “ no because I don’t really believe it.
My sister-in-law said she noticed a difference but thought it was because of my antidepressant which was recently increased.
I am very forgetful which causes a lot of inconveniences. Tomorrow I go back to the therapist and will ask him what he based his suggestion on. On Wednesday I see my psychiatrist and will tell him about this and see what he thinks. In the meantime I wanted to go on the MCI group to see if others problems matched up with mine at all. I am a very busy person and have a lot on my mind with sick friends, and family to keep up with, including our handicapped daughter who lives with us. So I’m wondering if I could join that group.
Thanks for your time and the work that you do. Emi.
It’s

@emyliander Three sessions of pelvic floor PT does seem like a very short amount of time for them to help that much. I assume along with the sessions you do the exercises at home also though.

It sounds to me as if perhaps your diet changed when you were away and that's what gave you relief. It will be interesting to see if now that you are home your problems resume. As I have mentioned, when I had these problems I tried eliminating various things, never even dreaming it could be lactose. Then I started noticing that on the days when I had a lot of food with lactose my problem was more severe. I have eliminated lactose and the problem is gone. When I am out and think a smidgen might be hidden in something I am served I take two Digestive Advantage Lactose Defense tablets before eating. I find them to be much more effective than Lactaid. Lactaid did not help me at all.
JK

Glad you were able to enjoy your vacation without problems! I think continuing with the Pelvic Floor therapy would be worthwhile. I am a bit puzzled though about your comments about possible cognitive issues. Are you thinking this may be related to your digestive conditions?

No, not at all. I probably structured my sentence improperly. 🧐

I have had stool leakage for about a year, some weeks better than others. Physical therapy helped for a bit, but now it’s worse again. I have a referral to gastrointestinal at Mayo, but of course they don’t have any openings until the new schedule in 2020. But I do have the option of calling in every Monday to see if there is an opening. It sucks!

Yes, I am lactose intolerant and drink almond milk and stay off other dairy, sometimes when the Celiac is under control you can tolerate lactose, but not me. Up until now I have only had one very small incident with my bowels, so I am amazed. Time will tell if it stays that way. I have a lot of exercises to do and I’m sure that must be helping, besides eating high fiber foods I am going to introduce......slowly, flax meal, per PT. I’m just waiting until I get back from NY visiting family, in case it upsets the apple cart.
I also visited my Psychiatrist for Med update and he said “ you do not have dementia “. I do forget a lot of things but I think I need to 1- get more sleep, and 2- try to be more organized and have less fires in the oven.
It’s good to know about the Digestive Advantage, hadn’t heard of it.
Emy

@emyliander Lactose can be sneaky, there are things that have lactose in them that you would never expect. That’s why if I go out to dinner I will often take 2 digestive advantage pills, just to be on the safe side. It does seem odd that on vacation you would have no problems since you do have some at home. I know someone who actually has problems with some water! They purchase certain brands of bottled water that they know are not a problem.

I’m glad your psychiatrist reassured you that you don’t have dementia. That’s such a scary diagnosis. I too tend to be forgetful about certain things, and I also do not get nearly enough sleep due to having about six bathroom calls a night, plus some nights I have anxiety producing things on my mind. Last night I lay awake for about three hours. 🥺

I am sure if you keep up the good work of doing the exercises and eating high fiber foods you will be fine, at least most of the time. I will be interested in hearing if things continue to go well, I hope they do.
JK