Embarrassing problem

[Bumtrouble]

Name changed for obvious reasons

For the past month or so I've had diarrhoea on and off as well as left sided abdominal pain. Embarrassingly I have actually soiled myself twice while out walking & unable to find a toilet. It's got to the stage where I'm constantly uncomfortable and worried about being able to find a toilet if I need one.

I've phoned my gp & have blood & other tests booked for a couple of weeks time but im just really scared. Im early 50s.

Hope you find the answers from the GP and that they can exclude serious causes. Embarrassing but happens to lots of people. They will talk you through all your symptoms and help you. If the problem continues, ask also for continence advice about how best to manage it.

Can you ask them to carry out a calprotectin test if they don’t do one already?

I have ulcerative colitis and the inflammation never shows on a blood test but the calprotectin level is usually over 2000 when a normal level is under 50.

Sorry to hear this OP. Personally I would ring the GP and kick up and get your bloods done this week - a couple of weeks with these symptoms is not ok. Exaggerate like crazy and insist they fit you in first half of this week. Have they also booked you in for on colonoscopy, or are they waiting for bloods?

Do you have any past experience of bowel issues?

You can get pads from boots which might be useful for now and you can also carry spare pad, wipes, underwear in your bag so you don’t need to worry so much. It’s worrying I know, but once they figure it out they will be able to start treating it.

Thanks. Not heard of calprotectin but I will ask about it. I was thinking of phoning tomorrow and asking if I could have an earlier appointment but I don't want to make a fuss. I'm just feeling really debilitated which is no wonder really.

Do make a fuss.

Could you also collect a stool sample, and drop it into reception. Call them first obviously, but they send samples off regularly, so could check for bacteria, virus etc in advance of your appt, to speed things up.

Rumbling appendix? My appendix ruptured and the only symptom I had was diarrhoea and fever. None of the usual pain associated with it.

They said I'd be given a 'kit' to collect a stool sample at my appointment for bloods. I did have a temperature in early Feb and had a covid test which was negative. No history of bowel problems, either myself or family

Keep drinking water, so you don't dehydrate. Maybe you could go to a walk in centre instead of waiting for your surgery. Soiling yourself is an awful thing to have happen. The anxiety of it happenning too. I really hope you get some help soon.

Thank you. It is awful & yes the anxiety is making things worse. We don't have a walk in centre anywhere near me. I'm going to phone GP again tomorrow.

I know you're scared op, but there are several things that could be causing these symptoms so please don't panic about the worst case scenario.

Of course, as others have said these are definitely symptoms you do want to make a fuss over. Whether it's serious or not, they're debilitating symptoms that take a toll on one's health and it's best to get to the bottom of them ASAP so they be treated. I would see if you can have tests done any quicker to rule out anything nasty but also to ensure they get you better as soon as possible.

Re dehydration, if you're losing a lot of fluid through diarrhoea then water won't be enough, you need to keep electrolytes balanced which mean rehydration salts from the chemist. Or at least isotonic drinks such as lucozase sport.

You can also try immodium.

Have a chat with the pharmacist and they'll be able to make recommendations.

Don't be embarrassed op, accidents happen when people are ill like this.

Thank you. I've been drinking lucozade & taking immodium daily for weeks. Despite this I've still had 'accidents' including once in bed

I understand your worry OP - have recently had a colonoscopy arising from almost identical symptoms amongst others. Cried most nights waiting thinking it was something sinister. It wasn’t - it was diverticular disease which presents as diverticulitis/ diverticulosis (?) if infected.

Hope you get a diagnosis soon and hope all is well

How's youre diet?

There are foods that can help you 'bulk' things up which may help your control. These vary per individual but generally carbs like pasta, rice, potatoes can help.

Also, if you're not vegetarian/vegan, foods that are gelatine heavy - jelly, jelly babies, marshmallows etc.

Keep an eye, if you're not already, on any foods that might be affecting your BMs either way - you might find it useful to keep a food diary.

If you're still experiencing severe diarrhoea even while taking immodium then I would consider graduating from lucozade sport to rehydration salts from the chemist.

Dehydration is the pits and can make you feel very weak and can also cause nausea and headaches etc.

Peppermint can be very soothing for abdominal pain so peppermint tea - either fresh or dried leaves.

How's your appetite and how are you managing pain?

*your
(Sigh)

A diet that doesn’t include a lot of fibre can also cause these symptoms - do you have a fibre-rich diet OP?

Having more fibre in your diet can add bulk to your 💩 and helps slow things down so you don’t have that urgency or risk of leakage.

My appetite is not great. Im nauseous a lot of the time so i just eat what I fancy when I fancy it. Mainly plain things like crackers, cereal, rice pudding, toast.

All of the things you’re eating are ‘low residue’ meaning they don’t stay in the gut for long due to the high carb content.

There’s no fibre here and nothing to hold what you’re eating in your body for long. Add lucozade to the mix and you will unfortunately have diarrhoea

Just seen your recent eating habits, which are very much like my "safety foods" when I had similar symptoms. Mine turned out to be undiagnosed coeliac disease which had made me lactose intolerant. I was therefore unwittingly eating and drinking things that made it worse. Of course this is only one of many options, but worth checking with your GP. I hope you get answers and a plan soon.

I would stop the Imodium immediately- it sounds like you could be severely constipated/impacted from that & getting leakage which you won’t be be able to control.
Until you can see the dr, can you take a few days off work etc (maybe work from home?) to focus on this? Take a stool softener (you need to move anything that’s impacted), drink LOADS, eat very carefully & cleanly & see how you feel after that?
In the meantime, buy some incontinence pants (eg Tena lady) and try to relax about it ... it’s distressing, but fixable.

Pain wise I'm already taking prescribed Naproxen daily for arthritis along with Omeprazole to protect my stomach. I also take paracetamol & have Co dydramol which I only take at night if needed as it makes me sleepy.

Excuse my ignorance but I thought the likes of tena lady were just for bladder incontinence

You need to stop worrying about making a fuss. You need to stop trying to pass it off as an inconvenience and really should be admitted to hospital this week for tests. There are many innocent but inconvenient things that cause these symptoms and there are many less than innocent things and it must be investigated as priority. You need to have your abdomen palpated tomorrow. Do not let your GP pass you off and wait for blood/stool tests to come back. My hospital has a general surgery ambulatory clinic where if you are fit and well enough you head up and are reviewed by a consultant, get blood tested and very often ultrasound or CT scan that day.

At the very least I would be surprised if you weren't severely dehydrated and need IV fluids if your intake is poor and you are having frequent loose stool. Please tell them that you have had multiple episodes of foecal incontinence even after taking loperamide. Does your stool appear different or just loose? Is there a foul smell?

OP has your GP completed a 2 week wait urgent referral? This is an altered bowel habit and needs urgent investigation to rule anything sinister. It’s probably nothing sinister but it does need investigating

@Jent13c

You need to stop worrying about making a fuss. You need to stop trying to pass it off as an inconvenience and really should be admitted to hospital this week for tests. There are many innocent but inconvenient things that cause these symptoms and there are many less than innocent things and it must be investigated as priority. You need to have your abdomen palpated tomorrow. Do not let your GP pass you off and wait for blood/stool tests to come back. My hospital has a general surgery ambulatory clinic where if you are fit and well enough you head up and are reviewed by a consultant, get blood tested and very often ultrasound or CT scan that day.

At the very least I would be surprised if you weren't severely dehydrated and need IV fluids if your intake is poor and you are having frequent loose stool. Please tell them that you have had multiple episodes of foecal incontinence even after taking loperamide. Does your stool appear different or just loose? Is there a foul smell?

Completely agree