IBS Accident in Public Place ( some graphic details)
#326137 - 03/05/08 05:40 PM
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Susie2
Reged: 08/07/06
Posts: 158
Loc: Pomona California
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Well, it happened. Our most dreaded thing. Pooping in my panties away from home. I was staying at the hospital overnight with my daughter who had surgery and had an IBS attack. First day just tons of gas, bloating and some embarrassing expelling of gas. I was in pain but at least I wasn't pooping. Then this morning after I got some breakfast at the cafeteria - egg white omelet and toast - I pooped in my pants and didn't even know it until I went to the bathroom. Now, I am partially incontinent because of poor sphincter muscles. I'm IBS A and go through long periods of C and have to take Miralax (just started Natural Calm) and then I go through a bout of D and the cycle starts over. I hate to imodium for the D because it just leads to worse C after. A vicious cycle. I had just finished a C cycle and had a good poop the day before I went. Didn't take anything preventive and thought I'd be fine. I always carry imodium, pepto bismal, gas x, hyoscopine, tums, peppermint tea bags and pain killers. I am a walking tummy pharmacy. Plus pads and wipes. You know the routine. And I always wear a pad (light poise pads). My BM was a pasty mass and went beyond the pad. But I was prepared and I kept thinking of all you guys and how we go through this thing together. I cleaned up, threw out the soiled panties (had 2 more pair with me). Took imodium immediately. Then hyoscomine (anti-spasmatic). Another accident. Moved into pepto bismal and finally a vicodin. I kept it together by thinking of our great support system here. You guys are the best!!!
Finally after a couple hours of bad cramping it subsided somewhat. The second shift (my daughter's stepmom who happens to be an RN) arrived and I could go home. Two hours to go 43 miles in LA traffic. I just kept repeating "calm produces calm. So what if I poop in my pants again. So what if I get on the wrong freeway. I can cope with all this." My bum hurt so bad and the nerve going down my right leg was hurting and I was worried it would go numb. I did more self talk. "This is just uncomfortable. I can trust my leg to function." Meanwhile I am trying to figure out which lane to stay in for all the freeway exchanges. Somehow I stayed in the right lane to make all the transitions. I seldom go into Los Angeles. The traffic here is horrendous. And I just knew you would all be here when I got home, had my IBS safe meal, lied down a bit and turned to you all.
We can survive IBS mishaps. You all prove it to me through your examples in how you conquer your fears of going to work, going on long drives, staying other places. Thank God I did not have explosive D. I have left trails to the bathroom at home. Yes, many times I am limited by my IBS and incontinence, but when I have to really, really come through I do manage to do it. Not with comfort, but I can. I might have to go back to the hospital tomorrow and I go to help her when she comes home (50 mile drive). I will have to drive back and forth for that as her house is so tiny and she has two kids and only one bathroom. And I can really smell up a bathroom which would gross out the kids. My daughter sick as she was complained about my gas. So please think about me - prayers and support greatly needed and appreciated.
Oh, and last July I was diagnosed with diabetes. This January the endo put me on once daily (in the night) insulin. She said with my IBS I wouldn't tolerate the oral meds. So I have to eat regularly and a certain balance of protein and carbs. It's kind of like a double whammy. I so often get sick eating out.
Love to all of you. And may we have more good days than bad.
Susie
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Susie, I'm so sorry to hear what happened to you but what a positive attitude you seem to have towards everything you're dealing with. Your post was inspriring and it brought tears to my eyes. I will keep you and your daughter in my prayers. God bless you.
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I'm sure so many of us can relate! I pooped my pants once at a BBQ! This was well before I even had an inkling that anything was really wrong with me, so needless to say I had to high tail it out of there to get fresh undies! I also crapped my pants once when I got stuck on the freeway on the way to work. Just called my boss, feigned car trouble and turned around to go home and change. Don't even get me started on the near misses.
The thing that made me feel better was hearing all my friends tell me about their pooing their pants stories. And none of them have IBS. It happens to the best of us and to most all of us at some point or another. Hang in there and way to go on the positive outlook! You're such a trooper!
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Ditto, Susie. I haven't had it happen, but I have come so close that I also wear the Poise pads and when I am going to have limited access to a restroom for long periods of time I wear Serenity Disposables. It does help to be prepared. Thank you for sharing and know that you are not alone.
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IBS-D, Gas & Bloating
Barbara50
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What a fantastic attitude you have Susie! It has happened to me, I'm afraid. Three times. The first time was when I was only 13 or 14 years old. I had walked to the mall and I was about halfway home when the cramps hit me. I tried to run but... well... I didn't make it. I was mortified. I tried to hide it from my parents and all I could think was, thank GOD I was alone when it happened.
It took about 10 years for it to happen again - I was about 24 and my boyfriend (now husband) and I were at the grocery store picking up a few things. We were standing in the checkout line when the cramps hit, and since there was no bathroom in the store, I told my husband I would go wait in the car and just sweat it out. There wasn't even a fast food restaurant nearby. Well, it felt like he took FOREVER though I'm sure it was only 5 minutes or something. Again, we were about halfway home when... well. 
The third and last time was in December of '05. I was at my friend's bachelorette party. We went out to Applebee's for dinner and then to a nightclub for dancing. Now, this one was pretty much my own fault. I wasn't feeling well before I even left - but she was my good friend and I wanted to be there for her on her special night. So I went. I had STEAK and MASHED POTATOES for dinner (dummy!) But, even though my tummy wasn't feeling 100%, I felt that if I could make it through dinner then nothing was probably going to happen. I proceeded to the nightclub with everyoen else. About half an hour after we got to the nightclub, I knew the D was finally iminent. I went to the bathroom but there was a HUGE line - typical women's washroom in a crowded nightclub! Things were getting serious - I knew I couldn't stand in that line. I told my friend that I was very sorry but I HAD to leave. I got in my car and started heading home, thinking thank GOD she picked a nighclub that was at least in the neighbourhood (about 10-15 minutes from my apartment). I kept thinking, "I'm going to make it, I'm going to make it, I'm going to-"... and then it happened. And it was BAD. I started to cry and I felt so humiliated. I knew it was partially my own fault, but still.
I won't even go into the near misses. I don't know how many times I have been shaking and sweating and practically crying, PRAYING that I would make it.
But your attitude is inspiring! I've been getting more of a positive attitude myself lately, thanks to this diet and thanks to this board. It is so wonderful to know that you are not alone with this awful condition.
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IBS-A since age 12, and fructose sensitive; with the exception of my pregnancy, have been following Heather's diet since Nov. 19, 2007.
Taking 12g of Acacia per day. Relatively stable since March 2008!
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Thanks for sharing your incidents. It helps so much to know we are not alone. And it was not you're "dumb fault" for eating steak and mashed potatoes. Sometimes we just don't have acceptable choices, or we really want to fit in. And sometimes I can eat a lean small steak with no problems. I was not eating properly at the hospital plus I had so much anxiety that I was just ripe for an attack. Usually I am not that positive but I just had to be this time or I would have had a meltdown and I just couldn't.
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At least we are generally prepared with products while a non IBSer probably doesn't carry stuff. Yeah, I've had to turn around and come home, change, then go back out when running errands. If it's a bad one I might not go back out. And I can't tell you how many times I've cancelled non urgent stuff because of IBS stuff.
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I prayed a lot. I kept thanking God for every little thing. For bringing my daughter through surgery safely, for her recovery, for helping me help her. For not having explosive D. For the driving. And I'm not usually a very prayerful person. And I'm not usually so positive about the IBS stuff. I just suddenly realized that things could be a lot worse.
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I'm happy you have not had a mishap. Are the Serenity Disposables panties? I had some of those huge Depends diapers years ago but they are just too big and bulky. I really need to further explore the incontinence aisle. Most of the stuff seems to be for urinary incontinence.
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I know it wasn't really my own fault. I mean, it's not exactly my fault I have IBS, right? And back then I wasn't doing the IBS diet. I actually was aware of this site in those days, but I was sort of in denial, I guess. My symptoms always seemed so random and I couldn't always associate them with food. But... that was then, and this is now! It's all a learning process. 
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IBS-A since age 12, and fructose sensitive; with the exception of my pregnancy, have been following Heather's diet since Nov. 19, 2007.
Taking 12g of Acacia per day. Relatively stable since March 2008!
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Serenity Disposables are nice small panties. They are hard to find. I went to a medial supply house to find them first but then found them at a pharmacy near my house.
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IBS-D, Gas & Bloating
Barbara50
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I seem to be an IBS A and not always prepared for the D part! I fell and hurt my ankle really bad a couple of years ago and was on crutches for almost 3 months, ever have explosive D while needing to use crutches????   Not a good combo and many accidents ensued!
Congrats on keeping it together and avoiding the meltdown. High way driving gets me worked up as well!
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}
What a mature, introspective in-control description of your ordeal! I'm very impressed. You handled your attack perfectly! I know exactly what it's like to be short of meds when you have an attack, and I must say, my tummy dropped a little when I read that part of your post!!
After reading the replies to your post, I'm reminded of several attacks I had as a kid. I remember hiding my soiled panties 3 times before I was 10 years old... Once when I was 7 at an outdoor picnic area by a lake I threw them in the woods! Once in my father's car when I was 8 1/2 (he busted me later... and I was mortified. Don't know why I thot I wouldn't get busted for that!!  ).
And once when I was almost 10 years old, in a caravan on my 4th grade overnight fishing trip (my *male* teacher found and produced my panties in class as a lost item!!-- I never fessed up to it, and in the end I don't think anyone suspected they were mine. I remember one thing tho: he had some class-- he actually washed them before he took them into school that day, and never revealed the condition he'd found them in!) To this day, I am in horror of getting stranded with D in the outdoors!! Not an unfounded fear!!
I guess it's not weird, looking back, that I don't remember the attacks themselves, as our minds have the tendency to erase the pain. BUT, I definitely remember cleaning myself up and "hiding the evidence" from adults. I guess the attacks wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have to deal with other people!!!!?!
I know the drama a painful and inconvenient attack can wreak on the soul!! {{{{More hugs}}}} to you, and a WAY TO GO for living through it! Hopefully that will satisfy your quota for public attacks for the next few months!!  Take care!
~nelly~ So glad we can share aabout this stuff! Name one other person who'd understand!!!
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Susie,
I am sorry that you have had such a rough experience. I have had the same thing happen to me several times and it is a very upsetting.
When I have to go on long drives I find that helps me if I think of all the places I could stop if I had to go to the bathroom. Also knowing exactly how long it is going to take me to get there helps. Somehow planning in my mind the places I can stop if I need to makes me feel that I have more control. I think just knowing that there are places I can stop if I have to makes me feel a little calmer about traveling.
I always worry about going to people's houses that only have one bathroom too.
Lots of hugs to you.
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Janey
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AWWWWW!  I'm so sorry this happened to you. I think we've all been there, though. I've had it happen twice at work. And you're right about the wonderful support we have here. I had a very strange attack yesterday, no C or D, just extreme pain. The whole time all I could think about was getting home & checking the message boards for similar experiences. This site is such an amazing place & so are the people on it! Including you & your strength!
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IBS-A...I can never make up my mind
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Hugs to you Susie2!! Wtih reading this I feel the same way. I may not post as much any more but do read as many posts as I can when I can. It is great that you are there for your daughter even though you are going through your own issues. I too had similar events (accidents)as I believe most of us on here do. But we do what we can when we can. So again sending hugs to you for being there and hugs for your daughter to get better. take care Sue p.s. I carry immodium,gas-x, extra undies and light day pads, and extra snacks every where I go, I smiled when I read that part.
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I'm sitting here sipping peppermint tea while my tummy continues to cramp. Today was going to be my day. Hair, a few errands, get some chores done. Yesterday was at my daughter's. Going again tomorrow. Every other day now. 94 miles round trip. AM had a hair appointment for the works, cut, color, highlights. Nice, huh. Then I stopped at Costco. Bought too much as usual. I was going on to Target but I was starved and needed lunch. It was 2:30. Came home, went potty and there it was. I think I have lost all sensation in my rectum. Not the colon though! Too much sensation there. Another pair of panties in the trash. I don't dare take imodium. I will be blocked for days and the whole vicious cycle with start again. My mood is getting less positive.
I decided I will go see the colorectal surgeon. I can't go on like this with the poor sphincters and rectal prolapse (not a real back one, but still). One GI said manage it medically. One general surgeon said ditto. One GI said see the colorectal guy at USC (University of Southern California - Go Trojans, Go). Hmm, real guy school. Neither GI will actually do a proper referral. I have to make the appointment, get the records, etc. Plus I will probably have to get one of these GIs to do another colonoscopy as it has been almost 2 years. I wonder if my insurance will pay so soon after the last one. But, I can't do anything until my daughter is better. She is doing so well. Yesterday we went on a rather long walk. Too long to my way of thinking, but her doc says it's okay.
I did go back out to get disposable panties. First I went to the surgical supply and bought what they had. Then I decided to go to Rite Aid as it was only on the other side of the street. They had the Serentiy panties, which are much nicer. They run large. I bought medium and I usually were a size 7 panty. I also bought cheap panties at Costco. More baby wipes. And I bought too much food. I don't know why I do that. Well, I can bring half the fruit to my daughter. They have these big packages of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and two are individually packaged in freezer ready plastic. I also bought a couple of books, but when I'll get to read them I don't know. Something to look forward to.
You guys are the greatest. You know what it is like. Plus so many of us also have anxiety and depression also. I am so tired, but so geared up. If I take something, I won't want to cook dinner and I bought fish (tilapia). Sometimes I wish I could just pick up already cooked food, but I know I'll get sick. I get so tired of cooking. And we don't eat out much. Just isn't worth it. Plus decent restaurants are rather pricey.
Well, I think I've finished ranting. Thanks all for being here.
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Great. Glad you found them. You are correct on size. I wear a size 5 panty and the mediums are too big and the smalls are almost impossible to find--when I find them I buy them out.
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IBS-D, Gas & Bloating
Barbara50
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