www.incontinentsupport.org

I was traveling over the weekend with my two (large) dogs on a 230 mile trek, much through “rural” Texas. I wasn’t feeling great before I left but had to make the trip. With two great companions, usually the trip goes pretty well as we make this commute often, but leaving the two, even for a few moments, gets them VERY ANXIOUS! Making a bathroom break is nearly impossible as I cant leave them in the car long and certainly can’t bring them with me. With limited options, a always wear adequate absorbency to make the 4 hour journey, which is normally cloth or an Abena M4 and booster. Well, about 2/3 into the trip, I had a severe cramp and a need to get to a bathroom - NOW, but there was nothing.... Try as I might, I couldn’t keep it in and at one point, I experienced a spasm that I simply couldn’t control. What a mess. Even though I was only in the company of my two canine kids, I was mortified! I got home and immediately stripped and showered.
Well, yesterday on a short commute in town, basically the same thing happened!! I did a U turn and got cleaned up. I had my husband get me amodium and have stayed in since then. Needless to say, I have an appointment with my GP today and a gastric specialist to get to the cause and solution. Having urinary incontinence is one thing but this is such a major distraction to -any- activity! I feel so helpless and ashamed, though I’m sure it’s a virus or something easily treatable, though I’ve never experienced anything like this is severity. Im trying REAL HARD to not go to my Dark Side because of this, but it’s soooo hard! I truly feel for those who live with this daily!

Hopefully, the doctors will sort this out, Bowel issues are by far the hardest to live with and Manage. really the best things are timed voiding, and several evacuation techniques best taught by skilled continence care teams. If your doctor approves, the use of internal deodorants help significantly with odor but because they are supplements they may affect medications so you NEED to speak with a doctor before using them but they really do reduce odor issues a good amount!

bowel management is best not left to absorbent products but dietary modifications, good bowel regime and then protection.

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Hey Ellyn,

sorry to here this and I can feel with you. Thinks like this can happen - maybe you eat something wrong - but luckily you'd wear adequate absorbency - so it's bad but not as bad as it would be without... I remember I did a sightseeing tour thru Italy with my wive and we had booked a one day bus trip tour to Florence. On the way back exactly that happen to a guy a couple of seats in front us. He tried to make it to the board toilet. 20 minutes later someone ask what happen to him and the women next to him nocked at the door to see if he is OK. He did'd want came out until we reached the hotel but if he comes out with a pale white face every one could see and smell what was happened- hell what a mess... So wearing a diaper can be a defiantly a plus . I hope you feel better soon - don't let you get down from a stupid diarrhoea.

Ellyn, I'm very sorry about your mishaps, and hope it's just a temporary reaction that resolves quickly. I've been there, so I know it's distressing and depressing, but you know that what happened is just a bodily function after all, and no reflection on you as a person, wife, mom, citizen, etc. I see you as an adept problem-solver who quickly and efficiently gets to the heart of the matter and gets it handled. I know you will keep focused on the task at hand and that you will get past this bump in the road. Stay strong.

W.

Ellyn,

I reiterate what the others have said and I offer up my sympathies for your bad experiences. I have dumping syndrome following the removal of my gallbladder, in addition to IBS which I’ve had for many years. I have also had multiple incidents where I just couldn’t make it to a bathroom and I had an accident. Similar to you, I was thankful for my protection but it is a mess to clean up and it’s definitely demoralizing. For some reason, I’ve learned to live with the bladder incontinence, but the bowel accidents, while they happen much less frequently, always shake me I hope you find an answer to what’s causing the issue and that it’s easily treatable. Hang in there! You’re among friends

Regards,

Dallas

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"It has been said, ‘time heals all wounds.’ I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”
- Rose Kennedy

It's so very comforting to be able to relate to other people who have similar life issues. I was diagnosed with IBD (Ulcerative Colitis) in 1991 @age 40. My bowel accidents are (thankfully) infrequent, but so much worse than my bladder accidents. Thanks once again, Schoppy, for maintaining this website & forum. Life's challenges would be a lot more difficult without folks like you....

W.

I too have had infrequent(Thank God!) bowel accidents. They mainly stem from chronic constipation which is why I try to stay regular. I once had to turn right around right after I got to Mass on sunday morning due to a bowel accident. It was probably the most humiliating thing for me for a long time for me to explain to the priest why I wanted to get communion after mass was over. Yes, it took that long for me to get cleaned up that i missed mass entirely. Thankfully, my bowel accidents are much less frequent than bladder.. Bladder i can moror less live with with good absorbent diapers... bowel.. whole nother ball game entirely. I would be mortified to go out of my house entirely if i lost bowel control.

Ellyn, keep your chin up, see you doc, and get to the bottom of this. May I suggest that while you figure this out you opt for disposables instead of cloth? Would make cleanup that much easier.
Peace out!

Rob

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"We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love" Mother Teresa

"THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!" - Captain Picard from Chain of Command, Part II

I too, can sympathize with you on this issue. On rare occasions my bowels act up and I have 15 seconds to get to the toilet, Or else. It's no fun and it happens at the most awkward times. I agree with our sociology friend on this- disposables are much easier for cleanup.

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- Tom

Hi Ellyn,
I just want to offer support. I’m sorry this happened and I hope you can resolve it soon.

Hi all!
I made and kept appointments with my GP and gastric specialist that came highly recommended.
Essentially, being these few episodes were isolated in that it’s not a chronic problem, I was given a prescription for what is basically higher strength Imodium. If issues continue, I’ll have a colonoscopy and other GI testing....
My GP recommended diet changes and over the counter antacids, Pepto Bismol and such.
On my own, I’ve learned that citrus is not my friend.