Hugely embarrassing problem

My unprofessional guess is that it is back-related. It could be a nerve in your back or arthritis near your spinal cord or a pinched disc? The specialist will determine the cause, I am sure. Embarrassing symptoms happen to us all.

Thanks. I do have a strange lump on the bottom of my spine which I am worried about, so this sounds likely. I also have a trapped nerve.

I am sorry to hear this and hope you get to see a specialist soon.
soon.
Not meaning to sound harsh, but speculating as to possible causes doesn't help in my opinion. Best to leave it to the experts, only they will know all the facts and have the appropriate expertise.

Do you normally suffer with diverticulitis?

I think you are very brave to share this as it may encourage others to get help with a similar problem. Maryville has already given the best advice. I hope you get sorted out soon.

Only a medical professional can identify and hopefully sort out your problem. Don't feel embarrassed. They are used to dealing with these things.

I dont think this is the right place for this not because it’s yucky but because no one knows except a specialist and anything else is going to be speculation and could be downright dangerous Ask your consultant he will guide you

I have been referred but the waiting lis is horrendous. Sorry if not the right place, I’m just a bit worried and also mortified.

Sally it’s not about the wrong place it’s about the wrong advice Make an appointment to see the GP or nurse to ask for more information and how you can handle yourself while waiting for your consultation they might give you some exercises to do

BigBertha1

I think you are very brave to share this as it may encourage others to get help with a similar problem. Maryville has already given the best advice. I hope you get sorted out soon.

Absolutely, brave. Hope you get good help and understanding.

I know someone that that happened to and it was stress related. There’s a Ch4((I think it’s Ch4 I need to check) called Know Your S**t which I recently rewatched completely, not because any of the advice seemed to help my particular problems in that area but because it was good to know that I wasn’t the only person that suffered in that department and felt embarrassed by it. As they pointed out in the programme it isn’t something that people talk about.There’s probably a ZOE podcast about it, too but being ZOE it will cover diet related problems. I think ZOE were involved in the making of the tv series, too but that covered more than diet. x

Sometimes haemorrhoids can cause the anal sphincter to become insensitive. Incontinence is a very common problem, and there are even specialist incontinence nurses.

I find that after evacuations it's best to put a finger up past the anus so that any small portion of poo remaining at the sphincter is safely tucked away above the sphincter, also clean around and between the haemorrhoids if any.
That can all be done most conveniently while sitting in a sitz bath/bidet but if you don't have one use a little anal ointment or cream.
Scrub finger nails and wash hands afterwards.

You may however require treatment from the nurse or doctor if the anus has lost its muscle tone.

Good for you for asking!

Sallywally this is advice I was given when I had a lot of UTIs and kidney infections by a nurse. Make sure when you sit on the loo your knees and hips are in line . That way you completely empty your bladder and bowel. Also sit after you think you have finished for a few minutes and if like me I find there is still a bit of wee or poo or both to come out.
I have an ease toilet which looks like a normal toilet but taller so I have to use a toddler step to put my feet on .

This may seem a rude question but this happens to me if I haven't had enough fluids I pass what my mom called rabbit droppings . Lumps of firm to hard poo and not a softer line of poo. So I make sure I have 8-10 drinks a day usually 4 just water.

A friend of my late husband had piles and before and after he had them operated on when he farted some poo usually came out not much but he wore a small pad just incase it happened.

I know it's not a nice topic but that's the wonderful thing about GN you can talk about anything . I am not the sort of person that gets embarrassed about anything but lot of people can't talk about things because of embarrassment.

Because of disability and my arms don't alway do what I want and because of my trembling hands . I have to use water wipes some times to get clean . But put the used ones in a nappy bag never down the loo.

I hope you get help soon.

Please, please do not be mortified!

I have a prolapse bowel, Diverticular and IBS, it’s a nightmare and causes all manner of awful things.

I deal with this by always keeping change of clothes in my car, planning routes very carefully and my very closest friends and family are aware of my “issues”

I wish you luck x

Adding to Whiff’s excellent advice…you can buy toilet stools from Amazon. These ensure your knees are a little higher than your anal area to help get complete evacuation. Apparently our internals are geared to work best with the squat position and this is what a stool will help you with. I’m long-legged so don’t need one!
Good luck and I hope the medics sort you out ASAP.

Sallywally1 I have every sympathy with you and admire you for voicing your problem.
For several years I've had IBS and I still need to take wipes, bags etc with me when I go out - and only go to places where there's a toilet available.
I was embarrassed at first but once I started mentioning it and wrote about it I found it easier to cope.
I hope you get proper help and support x

With regard to raising your feet on a stool, this unicorn video went viral a few years ago. It is in poor taste but gets the message across.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYWhdLO43Q
Following surgery on piles I had your problem, but find that bulking my faeces with natural fibre (Psyllium Husk powder) has eliminated it. Obviously you would need to consult a professional before trying the same.

It's more common than you think .
I have friends who admit to peeing and pooing themselves and one who suffers from the worst flatulence that I've ever heard !

Don't be upset nor embarrassed about it .

Sometimes , my long term IBS causes a rush of foul smelling faeces like a thick puree to issue forth !
I have to be super careful what I eat and drink .
I have to take codeine for pain and that has an agreeable side effect !
I take a change of clothes and baby wipes plus some perfume spray if I go out .

I agree, almost everyone I know has had issues at some point.

My friend went out for an Indian meal with her new man, stayed over at his the next day.

She was in his kitchen, coughed, and a chickpea "came out" and rolled under his fridge.

I am so sympathetic towards you regarding this matter . I am also a long term IBS sufferer & have to watch what I eat . Though sometimes it can be something that has never triggered before . I don’t get stomach cramps , when I need to go I need to go & always have to do as others have mentioned have a change of clothes & wipes etc on me in car .
I have had mire than a few embarrassing moments . One involved walking across the field from my DS to our home & all I can say is thank heavens I had a jacket I could tie around me . Another time 🕰️ was in a dog walk & had to call dh to collect me . On holiday in France recently I literally had to leave the beach & make use of a doggy poo bag ! !
This is no joke , I also get the little pebbles & & have to tease them along .
The other thing is if I sneeze 🤧 it seems that it has become worse in the last year . I finally got a GP appointment whereby he ordered blood tests & a fit test ( that is a specific poo test ) he advised if it came back normal he’d request a camera .
The blood test came back as low folate level & I’ve been prescribed Folic Acid , which I haven’t started as yet due to the side effects causing amongst other things yes Diarrhoea!!
The FIT test was recorded on my record that I accessed via the NHS app - all was normal in the 6/7 tests , however I have had no further GP contact which is quite bad .
I will contact them at some point .
But living with this is wholly a nightmare

Wasn’t she wearing any knickers missA ?

Heavens don't be embarrassed... my bowels and bladder are always letting me down one way or another! I just treat it in a matter of fact way. We are all the victims of our frail human contribution and wear and tear over the years can mess with the engineering!
Hope your appointment is helpful.
I know this is not great ... but could you afford a private appointment just to get some basic knowledge or reassurances. I did this with my heart problem then transferred to NHS ... via A&E, which was not quite what I had planned!

Contribution!! ... constitution.

NanaTuesady I take 1 folic acid every day Boots own . Few years back found out I was low in folic acid so had to have 3 months course. So to prevent further problems decided to take them everyday. They have never given me diarrhoea. I do take a variety of tablets everyday as I have a rare hereditary neurological condition and PAF and small hole in the side of my heart. I take combined vit D,vit K calcium just 1 a day and 1 of the follow B12, vit C, cod liver oil, and the folic acid.