Friday, October 10, 2008 Bozza asks

Q: Bowel control

Hi i'm a 26 yo male from australia i was first diagnosed with u/c about 1.5 years ago then i saw a different more experienced doctor and it was changed to chron's.

I'm having alot of trouble controling my bowels i'm even incontonenet at night.

I'm currently on humira therapy anf methotraxate and gastro-stop.

I'm having formed stools but lots of them throughout the day sometimes i'm really gassy before i pass stools if that makes sense and sometimes i have gas with mucas runny stool and then formed stool i can't leave the house atm because if i don't find a toilet within a minute i might find myself in an embarrasing situation.

Were coming into summer here in australia and i'd really like to get out more atm i'm wearing the adult nappies when i get out to do something but they are so uncomftorble i'd like to be able to put of going to the toilet for abit so i can get a bit things done so at least i can hold it till i find a toilet atm if know theres no toilet close by to where i have to go i won;t go there the toilet is controlling my life please help.

Answers (2)

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Elizabeth Roberts

10/10/08 6:17pm

Hi Bozza,

Welcome to our IBD family. So sorry to hear about the incontinence issue. Wish I could say that it doesn't happen but I think we all have at least one similar story to share.

Have you looked at your diet since being diagnosed? While what we eat doesn't cause or cure IBD it can change how our bowels work and eliminate to a certain degree. May I suggest that you take a look at my older shareposts here on the site? There are quite a few where I discuss different diets and foods that have caused me problems in the past, as well as foods that seem to help.

I assume you've discussed the incontinence with your doctor? If not, I think you should. It's possible it could be a side effect of the Humira, or something else. While urgency is a very common symptom of IBD, I would say that total incontinence is not as common. I would ask him if taking something like Loperamide (called Imodium in the U.S.) is something you might be able to take. It is an anti-diarrheal and can be quite helpful in slowing things down enough that we can get out and about without the 60 second spring to the loo.

Good luck to you. And even though it doesn't stop your problem do know that you are not alone.

Cheers,

Elizabeth

Hope Trachtenberg-Fifer

10/10/08 7:15pm

Hi, Bozza and Elizabeth,

I've thinking about Bozza all day, also wondering if his diet might be involved in his problems; perhaps he's lactose intolerant, and eliminating dairy products from his diet will help a lot. (Keep in mind though, Bozza, you need to be fathful to the elimination diet and allow the dairy to leave your system before you see results, if this is the case. It could take a week or so; try to be patient.)

Some of Bozza's symptoms sound like IBS in addition to his IBD. Since Bozza is already taking loperamide (Gastro Stop) without much benefit, I've been researching if something similar to the U.S. brand name drug Donnatal, which contains a sedative, anti-spasmodic, and a drying agent, is available in Australia--and, so far, I haven't had any luck. Such a drug would particularly benefit him at bedtime and through the night.

Bozza, I suggest that you ask your GI doc about this, and also how to assess if the Humira is actually helping your Crohn's, if you remain on methotrexate at the same time.

My best,

Hope

Q: Bowel control

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