Incontinence
#300051 - 02/17/07 05:25 PM
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DianeM
Reged: 12/05/06
Posts: 173
Loc: Kentucky
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Does anyone else have bowel incontinence? I had it occasionally in the past, but in the past couple of weeks, it's occurred several times. I've been pretty stressed, which has affected my sleep. I don't think it can be anything I've eaten because I haven't eaten anything different (still on very limited diet trying to stablilize). Is there anything you can do about this problem. I can handle anything else, but I find this mortifying, as I have a very public job.
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sorry to hear about your problem. i've never had incontinence. however, i can relate to having a public job and embarassment. my ibs gives me a lot of horrible gas that can be SO embarassing. i just want to crawl into a hole at times! anyone else have this problem?
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i alternate between constipation and diarrhea and get the diarrhea when i become very anxious or after a large, fatty meal. there have been times when it comes on so suddenly that i barely make it to the restroom (a few times having accidents). so, you aren't the only one! i don't have so much trouble now that i'm better under control.
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I can relate. I don't have very much sphincter control since I had a paralysis as a child. This in combination with IBS-D is no fun.
The first question for you is, is this only related to episodes of D? Even people with normal sphincter function can have a hard time making it to the bathroom in time during episodes of D.
Number one thing to do about incontinence problems is to try to have regular habits when it comes to meals and BM and to try and keep the stool firm. (Which isn't the easiest thing all the time when you have IBS of course.)
For people with incontinence who don't have IBS the first hand treatment is regular habits, a SFS, and/or if your main problem is not being able to hold back loose stool to use Imodium at an appropriate dose.
If you turn out to have problems with the sphincter and/or rectum too, they can do several tests to check what's wrong. I have just been through 3 of these tests. They do a rectal ultrasound, where they look at the sphincters to see if there is any damage there. They can also do an EMG where they see if the nerves work the way they should. And they can do a manometry where they measure how much you can squeeze the sphincter to hold back a BM and they can also see how big a volume your rectum can hold. None of these tests was hard to go through for me.
If you have minor problems you can get help with incontinence products like pads and there is also a "plug" which works like a tampon.
You can also go through a training program where they help you to train the muscle control and strength through biofeedback.
If you have more severe problems and you have a damaged sphincter there are several surgical techniques to repair it. If the muscle is intact there is also a possibility to use the Interstim technique where they put in a pacemaker to control the sphincter.
Talk to a doctor about this. There are a lot of things they can do these days.
I'm waiting to hear from the doctor now (she will contact me in 1.5 weeks) to hear what the best treatment is for me.
/Ulrika, IBS-D
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Yes, this only happens during episodes of D (it's not a liquid D, more mushy - hope that's not TMI), and it doesn't happen often, but since it's happened several times in the past couple of weeks, I'm getting really stressed about it.
I am in the process of obtaining my medical records from my two previous doctors, as I have lost track of all the tests I have had in the last 7 years. I did have a manometry a couple of years ago (determined I have a weak sphincter, but I could have told them that), but I haven't had the other tests you mentioned.
Where do you find a "plug?"
Have you gone through the training program?
Thank you for all the great info, and I hope that you hear good things from your doctor.
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Can I ask what kind of gas you get? I used to get the "noisy" type of gas every day (rarely smelly gas). It would start early afternoon and continue the rest of the day, getting much worse at night. Although I still have problems with gas, the IBS diet has eliminated a lot of it. Yes, I have had a couple of embarrassing moments also. They say what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. That's how I tried to make myself feel better about it - corney, I know. Are you on the diet?
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Melissa, I know what you mean...I understand the feelings of humiliation, fear of socialising, etc. What's a girl to do?!! 
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I haven't gone through any training program yet. I hope I will not have to do that either. I mean I'd be happy to do that as a part of the treatment but I know I need more. But I have had a paralysis disease as a child so I have weaker pelvic floor from that. Don't have full control, i.e. brain-muscle connection doesn't work the way it should. Therefore I think training would not be very efficient for me.
About the plug, the company Coloplast makes it. I tried finding it on the US site but couldn't find it there, so I'm not sure it's available in the US. If you can get it where you are, you should get it through a doctor or specialized nurse who will determine what size you need et.c. If you see another doctor about this then have them do all the tests that they need to do and then give you all the available options.
Good luck!
/Ulrika, IBS-D
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