Incontinence

[Eve]

I've got what I hope is a tummy bug though I have a horrible feeling it's a malabsorption condition I have playing up big time.

Sorry for the icky details (look away now if squeamish) but it's like huge amounts of water and very difficult to keep in.

I've had accidents before now, usually only a bit before I can try and hold it to get to a loo but it's been so bad the last couple of days I've had a number of accidents and gone through numerous underwear, nightwear etc... It's also been coming out while I've been asleep and burns the area outside then I tend to get an infection on that. I have, thank goodness, still got some of the creams my GP gave me from the last time, a few weeks ago.

I've been using sanitary pads which aren't much use and I think it's time to give in and get something more suitable. Are you able to buy better pads in chemists like Boots? I will speak to my GP about it about a better solution but, at least in the short term. I don't see my gastro consultant again until June. My OT suggested a commode for at home as I have difficulty getting upstairs in a hurry due to mobility issues.

I'm also worried about facilities for changing them, say if I need to change one when out or at work. I remember from my volunteering days we had facilities to dispose of them (I did a lot of residential work with the severely disabled) but not sure for personal use.

I'm on quite a large dose of codeine regularly for general pain relief though this doesn't seem to have helped matters. Going to see if I can get out tomorrow to get some stuff and redydration sachets, stock up on cordial such or see if a friend can bring me some stuff up if still bad.

Sorry for the icky topic but if anyone has any ideas or tips it would be greatly appreciated.

[woofgang]

can you use loperamide?

[Buenchico]

See if anything on this charity's website helps at all:
http://www.bladderandbowelfoundation.org/
(Click 'bladder' and/or 'bowel', as appropriate, at the top of the page to be taken to lots of relevant information).

Chris

[carrot99]

My mum wears pull-up incontinence pants - like paper knickers but completely padded. They are strong and although she has to have the night-time strength ones on all the time, they are not too thick when new on and for her they hold a full bladder (maybe even two) which is fair amount not a dribble.

As for disposal just buy pedal bin liners and pop them in the sanitary towel bin in the toilets when you are out.

I buy her Boot's own make and the night ones cost £7.39 for ten. You can see them and buy them on-line.

[Sparkles62]

Hi Eve, there is a relly bad dose of gastroenteritis going around at the mo, me and Mr Sparkles just getting over it, ( the Queen has even had it). it just comes away from you like water.
My first day in over a week when I have eaten solids, and not just fluids and dry toast.
I also have crohns disease. this has the same sort of symptoms unfortunatly but they are usually kept under control with medication.
If you have this prob all the time ( leaky bum) you could ask your GP to prescibe some Cholestyramine sachets, you mix it with squash and water and drink it each day, it helps to keep everything down below on a solid basis.
It is used in the usa to lower cholesterol but they found that the side effect was that it bungs you up, so now they use it to stop long term diarrhoea.
Hope this is of some use to you.X

[murraymints]

You can buy tenna pants in most chemists ..pull on pants like the kid's night huggie things....May give you peace of mind at nights...speak to gp you may be able to get them or similar on prescription...hope it improves for you soon..

[craft1948]

Why, when you click on Eve's avatar does it not show her profile?

[Psybbo]

Craft, how very odd

[Sparkles62]

it is also a good idea to carry an emergency pack withyou when you go out,
clean pants
small pack of wet wipes
few pieces of kitchen towel
couple of nappy bags, or dog poo bags to dispose of what you take off.
this can be rolled tightly in a small bundle and put in the bottom of your handbag, an absolute lifesaver if you have these problems.
Another thing the crohns clinics suggest is that if you suffer mild leakage, you use a pantyliner ( not in the usual place, but between the cheeks of your bum) and held in place by a thong, under your usual underwear. X

[furrypusscat]

I am sure the practice nurse at your surgery should be able to help with incontinence pads, I would have thought.

[tenrec]

Could it have anything to do with the fact that there is a full stop after Eve?

[Peter Pedant]

Oh God Eve you poor poor thing

If you are getting burns - damned painful - then this is small bowel contents and I think you need to go back to your GP and tell him. I managed to stand in some and burnt the soles of my feet which was a shock but not to the People Who Know. [who just said oh small bowel contents]

Think about a bidet - lone standing or as a lavatory seat combined.
Otherwise a shower attachment and hang your butt over the edge of the bath.

Clearly I am speaking from experience.

Sudocreme is soothing and survives one or two 'goes'
dont apply sudo with a dirty hand or else you are just putting sudo and poo poo back on raw skin and making probz

and ASDA sells inconty pads - and I think mine were L50s.
go in and ask.....

Going regularly I found useful (2am and 5 am) - after all it beats changing the bed at those times. The dog even started nudging me.....

if this goes on.... then your GP can activate the community incontinent service and they can give advice and prescribe pads - but not as good as you buy of course.

If you are already on codeine - I think you need an early consult with your GP as you already have probs "down there."


You can and will get over this: it is just a depressing episode which can and will pass.


(During this [May to Jul 12] I started getting bed sores.... It was just an awful three month period of my life )

[Eve]

How weird! Maybe it is the full stop, I was Jenna before ad when I asked for my name change I put the full stop at the end of the sentence and they put it on my name too!

Thanks for all of the advice. I had Questran sachets though found them faffy and inconvenient to use so changed to the Cholestyramine (coleveselam) tablets you can get which are much easier. They usually keep it pretty much in check but this weekend has just been horrible. I'm wondering whether it could have been a big kicked it off (felt awful yesterday, hot head an shivery and feeling sick) and it's sent the malabsorption into overkill.

I've been investigated for crohns etc... though they haven't found anything (yet as my consultant cheerfully put it!).

It's all bowel related. I've been wearing santitary towels but not much use.

I've got a load of stuff from the last bad time, sudocrem (big and small bag size), this yukky yellow ointment my GP gave me (and clotrimazole cream as I get yeast issues which take hold when it gets burnt down there), vaseline, moist wipes (also for home and bag).

I do worry about disposing of pads at work in a sanitary bin, wouldn't it smell?

I'm hoping to get out tomorrow to get some pads. Nothing will stay in me so keeping off so I can get out without worrying if possible though will ask friends if they are about if not.

Thank you again for all your help!

[Eve]

That's really odd, can others see their profiles? I could see mine earlier and can't see it myself now.

Sorry Woofgang, I haven't got loperamide though will pick some up tomorrow hopefully. I've taken some extra codeine in addition to my malabsorption meds to hopefully help too though no joy so far.

[Eve]

Oh, I can see it when I click on my profile but not if I click on my picture or name, that is odd!

[Old_Geezer]

I can see mine, but not yours. Maybe the full stop is causing issues ?

[Eve]

I wonder if it is that, my username doesn't come up when I click on the my profile thing.

I was going to ask them to knock the full stop off when they did the next change your username round of things or if I catch him when about I could get the attention of Ab Editor.

[Eve]

Managed to get out today, still issues but much better than it has been. Trying to stay off food as much as poss and keep hydrated.

Treated myself (pfft) to some better pads, proper knicker like protection things, rather unfetching plastic pants and some nappy sacks so hopefully more prepared now and can make myself a little stash to stick in my bag (rucksack thankfully for walking with stick so lots of room). Ahh the glamour!

Most things seem to be tailored to bladder rather than bowel though but have supplies to tide me over before I can have a proper chat with my GP/one of the practice nurses about things.

Thanks all for the advice, much appreciated.