When will I regain control?

Well, I wish I could say to you that you will get it back soon. But, for me, I've never gotten it back! I've had control issues for the past 3 years now- to the point where I have to carry a car kit in my car, & my DIY port-a-potty! Which has actually come in REAL handy! It's a square plastic tub, about 10x10 inches, & I just stick a plastic grocery bag inside it. It also has a tight fitting snap-on lid. Used it this morning, in fact, on the way home from dropping my daughter off at school. My car has tinted windows..... I don't know what it is- people claim it's rectal inflammation, maybe so. My scopes always show some measure of inflammation, thruout the colon, not just in the rectum. Enemas may help. For me, the urgency waxes & wanes- some days I have 1-2 minutes time to get to the bathroom, other days it's literally 30 seconds max. I've learned to live with it, & manage it by when I eat- I wait until I'm at work, close to the bathroom, before I eat anything in the AM. If I have to be up & out early, I don't usually eat a big dinner or eat too much too late. It sucks. In my car kit, I have ziplock bags, baby wipes, extra underwear & a pair of decent pants. The only time it's ever really been in halfway decent control has been after my first course of pred, which worked wonders. But then I couldn't get off it, & the effectiveness lessened, & the urgency returned. I haven't taken steroids in any great amount in a very long time, I take a lot of other meds though. I have anywhere from 3-8 bm's a day, my baseline. But yeah, the urgency is the worst of any/all UC symptoms- I can deal with blood, discomfort, numerous trips to the john.... but accidents are a bummer! The easiest way to deal with them is tor ealize that they will happen, and plan for them. And not get too upset when they do happen- seriously, with my DIY port-a-potty, I coudl care less these days- I haven't had an accident while out of the house since I stuck it in my car, & I've used it a bunch of times- I just pull over, hop in the back, & go!

Lomitil, Bentyl. Anti-spasmodics... I wouldn't be able to work all day without them.

I have found that using rectal meds, especially Canasa, helps get better control over urgency. Also, taking a fiber supplement such as metamucil bulks up BMs and makes it easier to control the movement then.

Yes there are exercises. They are called Kegel Exercises. Look them up.

They use them for bowel retraining. They make that area stronger and may give you more confidence.

Good luck,
John

Thank you, all. I will employ some of your suggestions. I am halfway through my PRED regimen. Started at 40mg/day and am now at 20mg/day, doing about 10-14 days each step.

I am going less and my stool seems to be firming up a bit. I can already feel differences with control. I just hope to keep moving in the right direction.