FECAL INCONTINENCE

DOES ANYONE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS? NOT SURE IF IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE RNY, DIET. OR STRESS.. WOULD SURE APPRECIATE SOME INPUT.

I am 5 years out from RNY and have not experienced that. I remember someone else posting about that recently but cannot remember which forum. What does your doctor say??

This is fairly common to have happen after RNY.  It is very uncommon to see anyone admit to this or be willing to discuss it on this forum.  Due to embarrassment and stigma associated with this it is not talked about and most people are too ashamed to even discuss with their doctors.  Once in awhile someone will post things like "Never trust a fart" or will talk about having "messy farts".   Most people will deny ever having had this happen to them personally.  That denial keeps the medical profession from having to deal with it.  As long as it stays hidden it can be a non-issue or reported as a rarity.

The problem is caused by loose stools after RNY and also by having less muscle tone in the rings of muscle surrounding the anus (anal sphincter muscles).  Age, diabetes, damage from childbirth are a few of the risk factors.  Women are more likely than men to be affected. Many people simply alter their lifestyles to accommodate this and to reduce the risk of being embarrassed in public.

There are many tests that can be run to determine the state of the anal muscles.

If the anal muscles are determined to be too weak, there is surgical correction available.  Often that is disappointing and in about two years the condition is about as bad as before surgery.

Diet is a factor and fruit and vegetables run right through many people causing a leak soon after eating.  Lactose intolerance can be another factor and so can eating sugar alcohols.

I went to my weight loss surgeon when this happened to me and he referred me to a colorectal surgeon.  He told me that he could do all the testing and do surgery if needed. 

His suggestion for me was to start with kegels and to have two doses of fiber in a drink twice a day.  He specifically said to choose either Fibercom or Citrucel.  I use the Citrucel.  It mixes in water or other liquid and tastes like Tang.  I also do kegels.  I have not had a leakage problem since starting that regimen.

It is not easy to talk to the doctor about this and to seek help.  Suffering in silence not only is a disservice to yourself, it keeps the stigma alive and keeps others from getting the treatment that they need.

Thank you for taking the time to reply with such complete information.  I originally thought it was IBS, though I have never had any problem with bloating, pain, excessive gas. Due to a large amount of stress I have to deal with, I of course contributed a lot of it to that. Thinking back prior to to  RNY, I did have bouts of the uncontrollable urge, but again was under tons of stress. 

I googled bowel habits.. and came upon fecal incontinence quite by accident. Reading all the stats I almost positive that is my issue. It is hell to live with. I commute 40 miles to work, and barely make it to the fwy without having to stop. If that isn't bad enough, I carry extra clothes in my car and bout it and am sure is not helping.  I addressed the issue with my  PC physician thinking it was IBS and she prescribed dicyclomine 20 mg,  honestly I do not think it is helping.  She advised me to see a Psychiatrist, while i am not against it,  and learning ways to handle the stress would be beneficial , I really don't think it is all my dead. I go back and forth from praying to breathing exercises all the way to work just hoping I can make it to the bathroom, which presents another problem. I have to punch a time clock, being late for work is not an option.

I will purchase citrucel this evening and I am kegeling as I type.. ha 

Can't tell you how thankful I am that you replied to my post.. I do plan to see my physician as soon as I can regarding

my diagnosis.

Robyn

http://www.birchlabs.com/bsure/bsure-absorbent-pads.php

Here is a special pad for it. I kept the name because I had three leaks the first month after surgery and I have had IBS my entire life.

I suffered with this for a couple of years until I went to a proctologist who said it is common, and probably the result of interaction between meds. He told me to get Konsyl fiber supplement. (Other brands didn't help -- I tried a cheaper one first). Within two days the problem was gone. I take Konsyl daily and it has never come back. My problem didn't start until 5 years after surgery, so I don't think it was related.