Bowel or fecal incontinence and how to manage it

@maisy3 I prefer the old days too. Now, virtually all of the doctors work for the hospitals and I find there is less connection. I had a condition where I was inpatient a number of times and my PCP never once came to the hospital, they leave that to the hospitalists. These days being a physician is like a 9-5 job with no overtime or having to work on off-hours as people in regular 9-5 jobs because off hours a different doctor handles things.
I know many people do see nurse practitioners and NPs can have their own practice (Physician assistants cannot) but I still insist on seeing the doctor most of the time.
JK

Hello everyone,
I'm 67, first had a bowel leak about seven years ago. My doctor thinks it may be result of a D & C for a uterine fibroid. I start thinking I'm OK now, but then I leak a lot and I'm flummoxed. Now on Linzess but it's either too strong (145 mcg) or not strong enough (72 mcg). I do enemas but then they cause me to leak some more. Just took a couple of buses to an event and had to stop in a bathroom, threw out my underwear (I was wearing a pad) because it was so messy. I have been working with a GI doctor's PA and have gone through several pelvic floor therapists. Basically I have constipation and the leaks are overflow, but it's hard to balance everything out. I think the constipation is from taking so many meds for other conditions. I need to get the exact amounts of Linzess (or stop it), psillium, bisacodyl, and maybe Miralax, but I haven't found the right comb. UGHHH.

Have you tried a pelvic physical therapist?

oh was going to answer question posed at top of page but see its 4 years old? am i best to get time/date for discussion? thanks - (have same problem as top post - no easy answer from me/rules my life.

You are not alone. I'm 71 and I have been dealing with fecal incontinence for years. It's absolutely horrible and I can't seem to find the balance of diarrhea and constipation either. But I found it's best to try to keep the stools hard. Physical Therapy didn't work for me. Let me know if you find something that does…

A good pelvic floor therapist. It takes awhile but they really do help.

Both spouse and I have same issue as originally posted. It is life changing. So you drive 4 hours to see a specialist, half way there, fecal incontinence... what do you do? Diapers do not soak up bowel movements, especially when soft an mush (sorry) and where do to stop side of highway to take off clothing and wash your body.. ? Answer: you don't... you just cannot travel, period. Yes take Imodium and too much its rabbit pellets and they pop out! Dont take enough and its 8 visits a day to bathroom and between us one roll of toilet paper... plus the cramps... so yes not life-threatening and we both have other illnesses, but this is such an icky problem and then we are even worried abut what we eat so hardly any fruit or veg... there is no "cure" wont even take out our colons are nothing wrong with them... radiation damage to pelvis. At least this day and age things like this can be discussed openly , thanks!

Boy, I had no idea so many people have what I have. I’m 76, female. I’ve had bowel incontinence for over 10 years. It’s become daily for the last 4-5 years. I’ve discovered some things along the way: products can help a lot. I’ve found Northshore Supply dot com which has been a Godsend for all kinds of very high quality incontinence products. I’ve just ordered a bowel deodorant called Devrom. I’ll let you know if it works; I’m hopeful because it’s been around for 50 years. Another learning is be prepared. I carry several products in a separate bag so I’m prepared. Although I’ve had several really bad explosions in public places during the last 3 years. People can be very kind and supportive. I’m going to continue to read this blog or whatever it’s called because hearing others experiences calms me down. But.. I. Wish none of us had to go through it.

Are you taking Creon?
I ask because with E P I and needing to take Creon, it is a constant struggle for me to manage bowel "behavior." It becomes difficult-to-impossible to tell whether it's the underlying E P I (in my case believed to be the result as a pancreatic adenocarcinoma which Chemotherapy failed to reduce in size). Or whether I just don't have the d'd Creon dosage right. This situation leads to what seems like a never-ending cycle of anxiety and stress, neither of which are helpful in calming the watery "explosions."

Maybe some of you may find these 2 products helpful. I purchase them via Amazon.
For diarrhea - BHI DIARRHEA (Great to use if you feel something coming on. I keep them in my car and in my pocket when I go out.)
For gas -GASALIA by BOIRON (Great to avoid embarrassment)
The 3 traditional docs I see knew nothing about these homeopathic products which I found via consulting with a biochemist.

Of course, you should still talk to your doctor but I've had absolutely no side effects from them. They are very light and don't clog you up. I absorb them sublingually (under my tongue) and take up to the maximum recommended dosage when I am getting into serious trouble.

I've read just about every book in our local library about digestion and frequently refer to the internet (e.g., Mayo website, National Institute of Health, etc.)

My bowel incontinence has taken a toll on my life as many of you have posted here. I've kept a detailed food/mood diary for years. I don't have alot of fat in my diet. (I also have random bouts of intestinal blockages if I have too much fiber.)

Right now, I am experimenting with CREON under the direction of my nutritional MD and my gastroenterologist (even though I don't have EPI).

My vitamin levels for fat soluble vitamins are fine.

My stool test for fat malabsorption was "normal" with an "increase" due to "small bowel disorder". I intend to write to both my nutritional doctor and my gastroenterologist to find out why they did not talk to me about the "small bowel disorder" notation.

Its been one week on CREON (36,000 strength for lipase) and there have been no improvements. In fact, I think the CREON has made matters worse with 3 urgent full BMS.

I am told by the nutritional MD that if the CREON doesn't help, my next step should be to take cholestyramine which she already prescribed for bile acid malabsorption.