Got to be namechanged for, this is the most humilliating thing I have ever had to deal with

[willNEVERtell]

Testing

Well done for making the appt. Hope it went well.

How did it go?

An update-

I took the little one to the doc, and promptly started bawling and wailing and snotting all over the place

But he is sending me to see a bowel specialist.

thank you everyone for making me do this.

WELL DONE YOU !

Now you can get the help you need and move on, get your life back

Got some tablets to take too.

Well done. That was the hardest hurdle. The specialist will be very used to this problem. Hope you feel reassured.

Excellent, well done you! That's the hardest part over and done with, I hope they can sort it all out for you soon

willNEVERtell - it is IBS, believe me, haven't read all of this post but read about the wind & colour/s consistency of your poo, and it is exactly what I was experiencing. I have had an examination and told it is iBS.

Well done you. That really is the hard part. Lots of people must go through this at some stage or there wouldn't be so many gastroenterologists would there?

Well done . Just think how nice it will be NOT to have to worry about this any more.

WillNEVERtell, have just seen this thread now and was so happy & relieved to get to the end of it and see that you have sought some help - that is too much to deal with on your own and hopefully now you are being referred on to specialists they will be able to help you sort it out. How soon are you able to see someone? Good luck and don't be so ashamed - it really could happen to any of us (and a bowel specialist will have seen thousands to whom it has) and it's just such a bugger when your body lets you down like that. Well done on being so brave.

WNT very glad you have taken the first step to getting this sorted. Remember it is a bit of your body that isn't working as it should and absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. You won't feel ashamed of a burst appendix would you?

Well done Willnevertell - the doctor, I'm sure, will be able to help you. Honestly, they are very used to this sort of thing!

(I had a similar sort of issue when I lived abroad and had a nasty run (scuse the pun) of dysentery. More than happy to share the story with you if you like.)

Now this might sound off the wall, but my cousin, who used to be in the medical profession and is naturally rather sceptical had her IBS cured through hypnotherapy. She said she really really didn't think it would work, but it did. Didn't take that long, under 5 sessions I think.
Just a thought.

well done you... as a former IBS sufferer i know how grim it can be. (i don't seem to get it so badly now... think it was very associated with stress for me). i don't think it's embarrassing, though, truly i don't. it's a problem, yes, but one that you can get help with.

You're very brave. Now you're over the worst bit you can get some help and nothing can be worse than how you felt earlier right? Well done.

I've got Crohns so my heartfelt sympathy!

What are the tabs the GP gave you? I've probably used them at some stage...

How have you been?

I didn't read all the posts but got the jist. I don't know how u r now but hope u better. If not I can tell u of my own way of solving the same thing.
I had no excuse to get that bad as I do lymph drainage and know how the bowel is affected by food etc. I got so bad I ended up going for colonic irrigation with a nurse who was properly trained and she taught me SO much about bowels and the liver and herbs and food etc and it not only solved the problem but it took years off my face.
For me bread and pasta and dairy were the last straw for my bowel. It was all gummed up causing EXPLOSIVE diarhoea!!! So I cut out wheat red meat dairy all sugar and salt and junk food and alcohol to the nth degree for 3 months and had regular colonics and had salt baths and drank various herbs and now I can enjoy the occaisional pizza or pasta in moderation with no bowel gymnastics.
A lot of old school bowel specialists poo poo (ha ha!) the idea that food can so badly affect the gut but the proof was undeniable for me personally. Hope you get it sorted.

That is brilliant, well done for going to the doctors

I really hope that everything gets sorted for you

just seen you going to see a bowel specialist. I hope that helps you I'm sure it will. But please be careful if he/she recommends surgery. My friend ended up having most of her large bowel removed which led me to colonics. a lot of bowel specialists can be extremely pro surgery. In a lot of cases there is a gentler more natural way to heal.

i agree with manuka about foods causing them bowel and whole body problems. My ds has bowel problems and via alternative methods it has been suggested that he is intolerant to loads of stuff - the problem is cutting them out. Major ones tend to be dairy, wheat and sugars i think.

Yes thats the hard part finding alternatives. Fabulous Janet the colonic woman told me a horrifying thing. She treated a 7 year old boy who had the uncontrollable poo situation. His specialist wanted to do surgery and give him a colostomy bag. His mother was mortified and through a friend found Janet who discovered it was all because this boy never drank water only cocacola and ate mainly jam sandwhiches and not much else. extremely faddy eater. The specialist had not asked the mother what he was eating. How INSANE??? So Janet taught the mother about healthy eating and gave the poor kid a few bum flushes to remember and he's completely normal now.

Oh Willnevertell, sweetheart, a really big hug and some wholegrain, tasty treat that will not flare up the IBS.

Can I sympatise with you. I have relapsing remitting MS, but one major result of this has been it has damaged the nerves that contol ...ahem...bodily functions. I regularly wee myself, in fact I am medically incontinent (ooh, it was hard to fess that up) and I have lost contol of my bowels on several occasions. Once was when walking home from toddler group with another mum. Sadly I blamed it on my sleeping DS in the buggy

The most important thing I did was talk to my GP about it. Hell it was embarrasing but the GPs have dealt with it all before (it's true) and you will not be the worst/only case they have dealt with. Your GP will be able to offer spport, drug treatments or get you specialist care.
You have a medical reason for your embarrassing predicament, it's not like you do it because you can't be bothered to use the loo is it.

Another thing is to have some coping strategies. Basically, be prepared. I always carry a bag with spare knicks, tights, tena pads, catheters, poly bags (for soiled stuff) Wipes and hell, even jeans - full spare bottom half. Most of the time it is never used, sometimes it's spare tenas I need but that security bag is vital for me mentally. As an eternal student I can get away with having a record bag with me.

I also wrote for a Radar key, the one to give you access to disabled loos. They are almost always empty, clean and you can quietly get changed in one without anyone noticing. It cost 3.50 but it's a life/dignity saver. I also got a card from the MS society that says "Help, I have a non contagious medical condition and need a loo now please' in 4 languauges. I've only had to use it twice but again, it's there if I need it. I've also let oyjer people know that I occasionally need acess tro the loo. Even DS's nursery teacher. It means that I can take him to school and get back without incident.

I know it's embarrassing, awful and undignified but I have to say it's part of you and embrace it as such. It's taken me 5 years to become so blase about it but hiding away is not going to make it go away. It will only cause greater upset in the long run. I;m fairly open about it now and have the attitude of 'If this is the worst this disease can do . bring it on.'

The GP can help. As a reault of talking to them I've got more effective drugs, seen a gynae and a specialist physio and got loads of help to make things bearable. Please go and see them.

All the best and a big hug, remember, you are not alone. Mail me if you fancy a chat.