Is Fecal Incontinence Common?

So I just read this article:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/weight-loss-surgery-side-effects-al-roker_n_2441223.html

It talks about a number of negative side effects of WLS.  The one that I hadn't heard before was Fecal Incontinence.  Is this really that common?   I'm considering the Vertical Sleeve Surgery, and I want to know if I will be unexpectedly pooping my pants a lot afterward.  Better to be informed upfront!

I know this is a private subject, so I appreciate you taking the risk to share your experiences.

Kind Regards,Sashi_Kitty

If anything, my bowels are even more regular and happy post-op than they were pre-op, so this is definitely not a problem I've experienced!

I'd think it would be VERY rare with the VSG, since the small intestine isn't disturbed like it is in the RNY and the DS. Even in those surgeries, it's not common, and it seems to depend a LOT of what and how you eat. There's also the increased possibility of developing a bacterial overgrowth in bypassed guts, but again, diet plays a big part, and probiotics can do a lot to cure or prevent this.

Constipation is more likely!!  

I'm almost six months out from sleeve surgery, and diarrhea is still a problem for me.  Haven't been able to pin down the cause as yet.  I've had some VERY embarrassing incidents in public places, and for a while carried a change of clothes wherever I went.  I've found that taking one Imodium per day allows me to have a life, and not be terrified to leave the house.  My surgeon advised that taking the Imodium "as needed" was fine.

My experiance has been somewhere in the middle. While not constipated, I am definitly not as regular as I used to be pre-surgery. I find that wih the reduced amount of food that I eat, and the reduction in carbs (ie fiber), that's its not uncommon for me to skip a day once in a while. However, when the times comes to go, I need to go now. Waiting is not a good idea. 

Pre-surgery I was on Metformin. I didn't tolerate it very well. Post surgery, with no metformin, I'll take this change.

The truth is that it is common.  In my case, I blamed RNY and the rerouting of the intestines, but now realize that it also happens with VSG.  What is not common is people reporting it, because it is embarrassing.  I worked with a colorectal specialist.  He explained that it was a combination of looser bowels from RNY and also that the sphincter muscles can get weaker and less elastic with age.  The anal nerves are often damaged during vaginal childbirth and the effects not apparent until years later when age contributes the nerve and muscle damage.

I am sure that the major constipation early out did not do anything to keep that part of my anatomy healthy.  There is surgery that can be done to the anal muscle to make the opening tighter.  The specialist that I worked with told me that the surgery often has to be repeated in two or three years.

So far, what has worked for me has been a repair of a rectocele and adding Citrucel fiber to my daily routine.  If needed I will take Imodium.   That happens less than once a month, but I keep it on hand.

This was certainly not something that I expected and it took me years to get up the courage to talk to my surgeon about it.  Something you can start doing now is kegels.

That's really ibteresting. I have been on here for nine years and truly hadn't realised it was a common problem. I suppose because it doesn't affect banded people and for many years that band board was where I hung out. 

This is the first I hear of it with regard to VSG. Most people report constipation after. For me there was no change in my BMs after surgery. Same as before. I was expecting constipation but it didn't happen. And no fecal incontinence yet...I was really surprised to read some of the replies - I have literally never heard of this before in three plus years on these forums. Sure people talk about liquid in liquid out during the pre op and liquid phases but nothing longer term. 

I was also surprised to see VSG people post about having to get up and put clean sheets on the bed in the middle of the night when they lost control of their bowels while sleeping.  I was sure that those problems were due to rerouting of the intestines.  I don't know why VSG people also can have this problem.