Has anyone experienced uncontrollable bowel function

Stop using the stool softeners or cut the dose in half.

Definitely see a Gastroenologist though.

And since the medical world is always quick to take meds, can you try changes in your diet instead, to reduce the constipation? Drinking more water, adding increased fiber into your diet, just eating a bran cereal with fresh fruit in the morning might help. Also whole wheat (stone ground) bread and products. Exercising too.

justanotherone,

The stool softeners are doing too much softening, I would cut them out.

Add metamucil fibre to you day. Start small 1tsp and graduallly increase your dose mixed into a glass of water.  It helps to pass the stool and make things regular.  It helps with diahrea and constipation.  Just drink plenty of water with it and throughout the day.

Probiotics would help to add good bacteria into your colon that have been taken out with the loose stools.

What does your diet consist of?  Fresh vegetables, grains and lean meat/fish.

Do you exercise daily to help regulate the colon?

I too have had uncontrollable bursts for six years. Nothing seems to control it. Getting desperate as have had some very demoralising accidents. Have had Gal bladder removed. Tried calcium, did not help. Had lots of tests and hospital suggested medication but the GP did not think it was necessary. Have been told it is my age and not very happy. On the verge of changing doctor as I feel like a hypochondriac when I complain about having the runs.

Feeling exhausted but batting on to try to get some welchol to see if that will work. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Except for the blood sounds like Ulcerative colitis. I am in remission from this due to a drug called LDN, Aloe Vera juice and probiotics.. Go to the Ulcerative Colitis forum and read some of the posts there. I used to be in the bathroom 20+ times per day for over 1.5 years, some much longer. Absolutely no control. Just liquid and blood. Lost 80 lbs. I believe the reason as you will read that so many different things work is that although symptoms are similar causes can vary.
I do not buy into the medical worlds feeling of "stress". Stress becomes the cause whenever "they" do not know the cause.

I had pretty big solid stool, not any real constipation prior to the UC.

portaloo,

Many doctors out there for some reason don't give referals.  You need to keep insisting that you need one or find a walk in clinic that maybe could refer you.  Having accidents in public is not normal and things should be checked out.

In the meantime ask for a perscription for LOMOTIL it is better than immodium, by slowing down the colon it should stop you from having accidents while you are out.  It was a life saver for me, I dont worry now when I;m out about finding every washroom.

Do  you currently take probiotics?  If not you should take a high quality one to put the good bacteria back into the colon.

Metamucil is beneficial as well to bulk up the stool and absorb the water from the colon, start with a small dose and gradually increase.

Have you ever tried eliminating gluten/bread/flour products from your diet to see if that helps, it does wonders for many of us.

portaloo,

Yes metamucil(psyillium) can be bought at the grocery store, and  pharmacy.  The probiotics that I take are in my signature and both work very well.

A food journal is also helpful to see what symptoms you are getting after eating.

Portaloo, 

Metamucil is a different ty tpe of fibre it is beneficial for all bowel issues, its not like eating a piece of whole wheat bread (that I try to avoid) can cause more problems.  I take the powder with sugar (dont use the sugar free one because it contains aspartame and that is a problem).  I always take it before bed, just in case it causes gas.

The probiotic is a good start.

Did not find Metamucil in the chemist but would not stay in there too long as was not sure about tum.  However did manage to get a small bottle of entrocalm in a supermarket, as another member said to try.  Was not sure if I had the right one but will give anything a go.  It can't make it worse.  got the one for heartburn and indigestion  as it has a high percentage of calcium carbonate.  It said do not take with Ace inhibitors but will risk my blood pressure increasing because if it cures or helps the D my blood pressure will go down with not worrying. lol

I could have cried in blessed relief this morning.  I had a good nights sleep and my stomach, no pain normal BO and my stomach feels like part of my body instead of an alien species attacking my middle.  It could just be a fluke but if it is mopping up acid and acid seems to be the problem, hallelujah!

Don't know as yet if it is ok to take this stuff all the time and will still go for the tests but will keep you posted.

One night free is like being let out of prison to see the hills!

LOL @ comments on this topic !

You are still constipated, Fecally Impacted would be a bettor term. It is similar to what sometimes happens to young children when they withhold their stool, the loose stool leaks out around the hard stool. No sensation that they are going no control over it, it just happens. This is called Encopresis. There is a different term for this when it occurs in adults, but none the less.

Stop any laxatives you are currently taking, stop any anti laxatives that you are currently taking. Increase the amount of fiber in your diet, and dont forget to keep eating plenty of vegetables, especially the green ones. cut back on fruit and fruit juice, you can still eat fruit and drink fruit but just once a day. All fruit contains natural laxatives. Cutout caffeinated drinks, cola's and try to avoid taking paracetamol as it contains high levels of caffeine.

Medically you need to start with an X-Ray of your abdomen the impacted stool will show up on X-Ray with out the need to drink Barium as it has probably been sitting there a while. Once you have the X-Ray pictures of your intestines the doctor can write you up a prescription for Miralax which you will be taking for about a year before everything is back to normal. The dose is 500Ml and it taste gross I would suggest adding a bit of fruit juice or some kind of flavouring to it before drinking it. It is milk based so dont add anything that is acidic as it will curdle !

And just like a kid in school continue with the diapers or you will poop in your pants and everyone will know and thats 4 times more embarrassing. A bulge can be explained away with a deformity a stain in the wrong area can't.

I know this because I have been Bowel and Bladder incontinent my whole life and wearing diapers 24/7 gets easier over time. I actually grew to love my diapers simply because they keep me safe from embarrassment, but I ain't no baby wana be like some folk on the net. So dont worry we all started out with poop in our diapers, than we all moved to having poop in our pants, we all pooped our pants at one point or another as we grew up, for some of us (1 quarter of the global population) we end up with poop in our diapers again as we continue to grow and for most of us we pass away with poop in our pants but the lucky ones get to pass away with their poop in their diapers.

So you see there is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. I am not suggesting you do this but here is an idea to contemplate. Go door to door up and down your road, with a clipboard paper and pen, ask every one if they have ever soiled there pants, the results might surprise you !
Something I would suggest you do is visit the site misterpoll and such pooped pants or adult diaper, again the results might surprise you, especially if you look at the results of some of the polls on the site from the search's.

So dont feel bad