Bowel or fecal incontinence and how to manage it

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.

Never ever do a fecal transplant at home! People have died under the care of physicians let alone at home and not having the proper testing!! Have you spoke to a GI doctor about it, and if anything can be done?

@fighter ooops, can I change the wording of my post to:

If younger and lived in a bigger City with a hospital that performs it, I would pursue a fecal transplant ... they say it works very often.
I have read that some people are doing it themselves at home but that it is not recommended because it could spread infection from one person to another etc...as fecal matter has to be rigorously inspected for germs etc. from the donor by the hospital..... . plenty of information on Internet about it.
(Thanks for pointing that out, fighter) J.

You're welcome. I hope you can find some help.

Hello @lacy2

Have you ever seen a pelvic floor therapist? If not, consider asking your doctor for a referral. They can be very helpful in dealing with constipation and incontinence (both fecal and urinary). A pelvic floor therapist can provide information on exercises, breathing techniques as well as nutrition to help you deal with these problems.

Seeing a GI doctor who specializes in motility disorders will help put you on the right track as well.

Have you seen a motility disorder specialist or a pelvic floor therapist?

I am 80, male. I have the same issue, plus heavy bleeding from the penis. The issues are brought on by Gelsolin and Fukutin Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. I have to wear pads, front and back, and take Miralax-type laxative, and eat lots of prunes if I can avoid the problems. Sad you have the stuff, but glad to know there are others out there. The new longer and wider pads, up to 7" x 23" help a lot, but no swimming. The bleeding is from the leatherized and fragile urinary sphincter. I have to force a catheter through it because it is so tough. Same toughness with the fecal sphincter.

Hello and thank you .. No haven't seen a motility disorder specialist but was referred to a place where she had me get up on a table and on hands and knees and do some type of tightening of the rectal muscles but unfortunately at 75 at the time and just put on new meds, it didn't work out and I was too wobbly... and I didn't go back or really continue at home.
I sometimes wonder if everything "down there" has collapsed.
When I had radiation to Cervix 1985 the tumour (about the size of an apple) was inoperable so I feel I have been carrying around a radiated uterus and ovaries all these years; plus the radiation damage.... they showed me on a monitor the inside of my bladder and when sprayed liquid on insides it bled; and then the ibs-d... if it was indeed that; and c.diff with fecal incontinence...
I have had blood in urine quite visible 3 times over about ten years, once for 5 weeks; I even took photos sounds silly but alone and wanted proof...
sometimes when I have had diarrhea about 8 times in a row (dont read this, men).. all of a sudden I get anal/vaginal/bladder cramps which remind me a little of my younger sexually active days - sort of like a climax but it is about ten times as strong and actually hurts so much I cry out and family member gets me a heating pad.. it doesn't last long but I get it about six times a year.... haven't mentioned it to a doctor and haven't even had a family doctor for a year. I suppose it's funny in one way but honestly the pain is intense and I have never found much info about it on the web except once a site had a small note that it was from mixup/damage of the nerves in that area receiving signals: all I can say is its embarrassing and very painful.

sorry to read this @oldkarl... its scary too. mine is/was from radiation cystitis/damage when pelvic radiation for cancer... but what actually starts the bleeding is unknown...but the rest of the time I have a lot of bladder infections. *I just remembered one thing.... I used to LOVE sitting in a Sitz bath of warm water... until I wondered if it was contributing to my numerous bladder infections?? Because after sitting in the Sitz bath there sometimes would be a tiny bit of feces in the water which, of course, could enter a woman's bladder... so no more Sitz baths although still have more than I would like UTI's.
Oh that sounds so painful having to use a catheter...... not the type of thing we can chat to a neighbour about about, so glad we can on here! J.

Thanks for everyone's input regarding fecal incontinence. My constipation has returned with a vengeance since I stopped the Miralax for a few days. I will call my doctor tomorrow because I have either one extreme or the other and I cringe when I have to pass gas because I never know if it's just gas or stool. Metamucil alone does not help the situation, even if I add a "Phillips" magnesium capsule at night.

@fighter thanks for your good wishes but have really given up hope of ever being normal in that regard again... and I worry IF I had to go a long term care home, the staff barely have time to clean up patients as it is, let along someone who gets cleaned up and then has another accident and needs cleaning again, over and over... its not going to work and I have mental plans to ensure it doesn't happen to me, and have asked my family to make sure it doesn't if I cannot speak up for myself, at 77 and having this for so long along with other issues, you start to think of this possibility when you see what is happening and how some seniors are treated... it is hard for me to manage in my own home with spouse let along rely on poorly paid, overworked, psw's.... J.