Not sure what started my IBS-D but radiation to the cervix ten years before is my guess as in the 1980s they were not so precise with the gamma rays. I was also working and it started that I just could not get to the bathroom fast enough to have a b..m. and it was diarrhea.
That was years ago and then it went into overdrive and did seem to connect with when I had salads, fruit etc. which I started to stop eating.
Retired.. It continued and does to this day; however, after being given too many antibiotics in 2018 I got C.Diff and then and now when I have an antibiotic the feces just runs down my legs etc., and when on antibiotics are not supposed to use Imodium or other anti diarrhea meds.
During the six months of antibiotics on and off I developed fecal incontinence and that was 2018 .... now it has changed my life.
People do not understand, my adult daughter says Mum wear one of those pair of disposable underwear and go out.... but people don't realize this underwear is usually for urine incontinencne or, maybe the odd passage of a formed stool which would mean just throwing away the underwear; but when you have incontinence with diarrhea it is an awful mess.... I have even had to cut off my nighty rather than try and take it off over my head!!! And as you say, now I do not know when I have gone, all of a sudden I smell something and oh no its me.

Apart form the stomach cramps, and after maybe five bms and a sore anus, it is not the most painful of my illnesses but it is th most life-changing. Even going to dentist I am scared that while having treatment I will have an accident. So now taking more anti-diarrhea meds and then feel pressure in bowel and as someone said, then its rabbit poop. When I am in the shower daily and use a hand held howerhead to clean myself, the pressure of the water can eject feces... its HORRIBLE.
No, paper underwear doesnt work, nothing does. I keep a pail of water and bleach in basement for white underwear and white face cloths which I keep in a drawer for my use only.... my diet is bland hardly any fruit or vegetables, nuts etc., and I think thats not helping my other illnesses, almost malnutrition. I too talk about it openly because more people than you think have this and maybe we can help each other. My neighbour has constipation and terrible pain, I am not sure which is worse.
Others have suggested having bowel removed but weak as I am at 77 cant go through it; also they say as there is nothing wrong with the bowel, they wont take it out anyway. If younger and lived in a bigger City I would pursue a fecal transplant... they say it works very often.... some people are dong it themselves at home!! J.