accidents, not making it to the bathroom

i have been on asacol and remicade for a couple years (with a few drugs that didn't work in between) and things aren't too bad

i usually feel sicker as it gets nearer to my next infusion (every six weeks), and i still shy away from things like wandering downtown (philly), going to parades, outdoor concerts, and events like that (totally wish i had the guts to go to the rally for sanity/fear) but overall i am happy and grateful for the health that i have. i know many others have it much much worse.

my question has to do with how many times people here have accidents or incidents where you don't make it to the bathroom in time. what do you do?

i have accidents i guess once a month, maybe an average of 1.5 times a month. it usually happens when im walking on my way to a public restroom, or while im in a store. for some reason some stores make me feel anxious and i have accidents there a bit more frequently.
i have taken to wearing two pairs of underwear at all times. when i miss the restroom i can usually get to one before the second pair i have on gets soiled.

sorry if this has been discussed or is too personal/gross...just looking for support, advice i guess.

thanks.

I've had UC for about 8 years and even though I had some severe flares at the beginning, I never had any accidents until just recently. My UC is limited to the rectum right now, but is severe. Mostly gas pushes out mucous which I can't control. Hate to admit it, but I wear depends now when I will be out and away from easy access to bathrooms for extended periods.

Ever notice that the faster you walk/run towards the bathroom, the harder it is to control?

One way to prevent being 'caught short' is to try and fool your urge.

That is to convince yourself that the targeted toilet is actually further away than it actually is.

You will notice as CJK said, the faster you proceed to the bathroom, the harder it it is to control.   That is because of ANTICIPATION.

Your brain and your rectum nerves are locked in dire conflict, and the proximity of the toilet can often result in an accident brought on by sheer excitement.

It takes a bit of practice, but when you feel an urgency coming on, take deep breaths try and relax as much as possible, walk BRISKLY--DON'T RUN!  And convince yourself that the restroom is much further away.

When you eventually stumble into said stall earlier, (still remaining calm) you will find you have plenty of time to adjust/remove your attire without the embarrassing squelchy mess.

Especially if you failed to bring a change of underwear with you!

If this proves to be too difficult (as it can with most including myself sometimes) then a depends-type product might be the only solution.

 

Post Edited (Mackster) : 11/21/2010 2:24:11 PM (GMT-7)

It happened to me twice. Both times I didn't even make it halfway to the toilet. The second time it happened I was in a storage room I rent. It left an odor, and for a year after that, every time I went to the storage room, I would get the urge to go. Thankfully, the odor finally went away.

Be prepared to make it less stressful!  I also found when I had that problem (have not for a long time) that I would RELAX - breathing slowly and not hurrry!  It worked for me.  AND - sitting in the car on way to restroom do the same thing.  If you feel cramping or urge - RELAX as much as possible!  Try it! 

I also take Imodium in very small doses - slows things down but they still continue to work every morning!

ElaineNY

It's amazing how the mind can control our physical response.
I've learned to talk to myself to calm my gut down when I'm trying to get to a bathroom (you're OK, you'll be OK, you're always OK). It helps to breathe some fresh air, and give myself quiet (turn the car stereo off).

I would wear a poise bladder control pad when I traveled by air, it helped make me a little less anxious. And I keep an extra large ziploc bad and roll of paper towels in the trunk of my car, in case of emergency. Lots of close calls but I've only had a couple accidents -- was foolish and didn't take a preemptive restroom stop -- but didn't ruin my clothes, fortunately. Once I had to go comando at work for a few hours, though, in a skirt!

At the airport, I pay extra for parking that doesn't require me to take a shuttle to my car. It's a gift I give myself, without guilt.

Post Edited (Peety) : 11/22/2010 4:01:16 PM (GMT-7)

While I don't have the UC diagnosis, I struggle with daily bm's, and IBS symptoms. I've learned a lot from your topics on the UC forum. I've had a few minor accidents and one just recently on a trip, in a department store. I hurried to the bathroom just in time. I had been wearing a maxi thin pad, thank goodness, so it absorbed most of it, but if I hadn't been I would have had a mess on my hands. I usually wear these pads when I go to work, when out in public and every time I travel:

Stayfree Ultra Thin Maxi pads, extra long or overnight. With or without wings. They are long enough to cover the back part of your underwear. While intended for women's menstrual cycles, I've read that men wear these because they are extremely thin, highly absorbent and are comfortable to wear.

I hope to never need Depends so I rely upon these maxi pads. Even though I'm long past the need for their actual use - lol. 55 now and those oh so fun days are long gone.

I highly recommend them, for minor drips and accidents when you know you may not make it the bathroom.