Bowel or fecal incontinence and how to manage it

Hi @hopeful33250, no I don’t have more problems when I’m tired. Because it was mentioned that weak muscles are difficult to fix, I’m not sure I can be helped, but I will call my MD Monday for a referral, I’ll probably have to go see her first. The only time I have a problem with urine incontinence is if I have a drink in the evening, I end up having a dream that I am out somewhere desperately looking for a bathroom and can’t find one. When I do finally find one, I sit down and with great relief go to the bathroom. That’s when I wake up in a wet bed. It’s happened about five times so now I wear disposable briefs to bed.
I will let everyone know when I have an appointment. Thanks for your help and encouragement. I don’t like to talk to my friends much about this.

Hi JK, we do have a Urogynecologist here in Maine, one in Lewiston, and in Portland. That’s a lot of liquids to drink, it must be tiring to get up so many times a night, but at least you do wake up. Thank you for writing, I’ll keep all informed when I make any progress.

@emyliander I understand completely about not talking to your friends about these problems, they can be embarrassing. I don't talk to many people about it either, and even my son and daughter do not know I have fecal incontinence, they do know about my urinary incontinence. They had to so they would understand when we are out why I have to stop so frequently.
Ahhh, so you are basically right next door, in Maine! We have a small, rustic lakeside cabin on Lake Thompson. We used to be there every summer weekend and for vacation but it's getting to be a lot to do for my husband and myself so we are trying to disposition it to our kids right now but that's not an easy thing to do. Lots of complications.
JK

I have had that same dream, usually I woke up soon enough to make it to the bathroom. Good luck.
mlmcg

@mlmcg, thank you, I never knew so many people had the same problems, my best wishes are with you all. Emy

@contentandwell , hello, we are lucky we don’t live in the 1800’s when they didn’t have disposable pants and pads, sometimes, no indoor plumbing. Always something to be thankful for. Good luck with the cabin. Emy.

Every home had a chamber pot in each bedroom so no one went outside at night. However, someone had to empty them in the morning.

Our Grandmother said that she wanted to live, once they retired, as they stared out married life on the farm. It gave the grandchildren, and those who visited, the chance to know how an outhouse worked, how to use the pump at the sink and cook on a wood burning stove. They did not have an icebox, no one had big blocks of ice anymore, so they did have electricity and a refrigerator, no phone for the first few years. (The disposable pads were called "rags", and they were rags, which were rinsed out, washed, and dried to use again.)

mlmcg

I suffer from an "urge" incontinence. Almost every day I get the feeling (an urge) that I must find a toilet immediately. I have two to 10 minutes and if I don't make it I load my pants with the main bowel movement of the day. A gastroenterologist told me I don't have fecal "urge" incontinence, but "probably have IBS". He told me to take 2 tablespoons of Metamusel psyllium fiber) three times each day. After 3 1/2 week I still have the "urge" problem, in addition to now having 4 to 5 healthy bowel movements each day. Has anyone had a "diagnosis" and a "cure" for this kind of a problem: an strong urge once a day that must be attended to or one loses bowel control. I need help as I cannot travel in fear of the urge problem. Usually between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. it happens, and after that I am okay for the day.

@dnikulas I have not had your problem, but because of having gallbladder out and stomach surgeries I sometimes have dumping syndrome. You have probably read this article or others like it: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fecal-incontinence/symptoms-causes/syc-20351397

I would keep a food diary to see if any foods contribute to your problem. Diet with me has helped a lot for the urgency of loose bowels. Another thing that helped me is taking a probiotic. I tried several, but the only one that helped me is Align. Instead of a daily problem it is now once or twice a month.

I would also get a second or even a third opinion of what is causing your problem.

Best of luck,
Zaroga

@dnikulas I have fecal incontinence also. Thankfully, I did not pass large amounts of stool with no warning, but I did pass small amounts without knowing until I went to the bathroom and discovered some stool on my pad. I had an anorectal manometry which confirmed my muscle problem. When my son was born I tore through my anal sphincter and they tell me that has contributed to my problem. After having a large bowel movement I would continue to leak for a while and that was a real problem. It was discovered that I have a rectocele (sort of a hernia) that apparently catches some of the stool and then it slowly discharges after having a bowel movement. There is surgery to correct rectocele and also surgery to tighten the anal muscle but I have been told the success rate is not great so I opted to not go that route. There is one other treatment that involves an anal sling for fecal incontinence that holds the muscle up so that it does discharge when you are not prepared. If you google " anal sling" there are a number of articles about it. I am considering it but so far giving up dairy and the PT has helped enough that I have chosen to not have any surgery.

I have been to pelvic floor PT for urinary incontinence and that included PT for the anal muscles, and has helped. I also became aware that my soft stools that were leaking out were a result of my being lactose intolerant. It took me quite a while to pinpoint that but since I have given up eating anything with lactose it has helped tremendously.
JK