Really embarrassing problem

[Helph]

I’ve googled and can’t find an answer, my GP is in two weeks but wondering if anyone else has experienced this. Hugely embarrassing and this is not a troll post, I have name changed as don’t want it linking to my other posts :(

In the last couple of months I’ve noticed that I’m more bloated, farting a lot more, have a real urge to poo more frequently and have pressure in lower back more so than usual and it’s quite loose and it takes me ages to wipe clean now. I don’t have pain though in stomach.

I wipe until I’m clean but every time I go to the toilet I notice stains on my underwear, I’m absolutely mortified but it’s happening most days now despite me cleaning as I can and it seems like I’m clear but it keeps happening.

im only mid thirties, im so embarrassed its awful. I’ve never had this before. Its making me feel like I’m not clean but I am. Could it be diet? I had a child three years ago could it be linked to that? I’m so confused.

Could be food intolerance, possibly FODMAP too?

This might sound stupid, but could you actually be constipated and the stools you’re having are actually overspill?

otherwise I’d be thinking more gut issues like IBS, food intolerance, colitis

id have thought most of these would have accompanying stomach pain though but not sure

if you’ve got the gp booked in a couple weeks, might be worth starting a food diary now so you can both work out if there’s any links to certain foods being a trigger?

Hi OP,
You could ask your GP for stool tests - there are two types as far as I know. One looks for parasites/bacterial infections and also one called calprotectin which looks for inflammation. Inflammation levels can give an indication whether you should be investigated for an inflammatory bowel disorder like Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis.

Blood tests can also show that your body is reacting to inflammation and prompt further tests being carried out.

From my own experience mucus could be a sign of something inflammatory.

You could also ask whether this could be allergy such as lactose intolerance, wheat allergy, coeliac etc what you can do to rule those out.

Encopresis

Do you have a lot of fat in your diet and/or have you started taking any diet pills/injections?

I was going to say this. Last year I had a faecal impaction with overflow, and it was horrendous! I had to stay at home as I was experiencing overflow every few minutes. In the end, I was prescribed two short doses of Movicol and that resolved the issue. I then had to wait a few days until my bowels got used to working normally again.

Oh that sounds awful for you! Glad you’re sorted now

my daughter had it when she was young, gp just kept prescribing laxatives which didn’t help, just made the overflow worse. It was only by chance speaking to someone who mentioned a stool softener rather than laxative that got her ‘moving’ as her issue for the constipation was just that it was too hard to pass. (once in hospital when she was 3 the nurse took her poop to show everyone how big and impressive it was 🤣🙈)

so that’s another thing to try if no joy OP, did look like I was feeding her spoonful of vegetable oil though 🤢

could be threadworms. Have you checked?

Yes, that's why I was prescribed Movicol because laxatives don't work for an impaction. The most frightening thing was that initially I had no idea what was wrong with me! It wasn't until I spoke to the third or fourth clinician on the phone who said she thought I was suffering from overflow. I had to wear continence knickers, and as fast I changed a pair, I needed to change again. Also, my appetite disappeared and I lost a stone in two weeks!

As someone with Crohn’s disease, I’d recommend water wipes for cleaning yourself up afterwards. You can’t flush them obviously, but it’ll make a big difference in both the time and cleanliness aspect

urge to poo more frequently and have pressure in lower back more so than usual...
... have you had a urine infection recently?
How's your pelvic floor?
Any lower back injuries/conditions?

Agreed. Use nappy bags to dispose of them.

I’m wondering if it could be diet and pelvic floor, I had an episiotomy when i gave birth but that was nearly three years ago and this problem is more recent . When I go I feel like I’m never completely empty. I’ll keep a food diary, I do drink a strong coffee every morning and I want to go immediately after, my dairy has increased lately as I was only drinking oat coffees but having the odd milk one and more cheese, especially over Christmas. Will use some wet wipes.

Try the NHS Squeezy app for pelvic floor exercises

This sounds very much like constipation in the form of incomplete evacuation.
Maybe try to up your fibre? Eat all bran for breakfast?
I saw Wype recommended on here and it's pretty good. A gel you put on toilet paper to make it like a wipe but flushable.