uncontrolable bowels - Bowel Disorders Message Board

maahern · 09-06-2002, 11:45 AM

Home bound, Does anyone knoe why all of a sudden a person looses all control of there bowels. My friend she is 73, all of a sudden has lost control of her bowels. I can`t get her to go to the doctor as she is afraid they will do surgery and she says there is no one to take care of her. I would but she says No Way. Is there anything that can be done to slow down the process of elinination. She chooses not to eat. In order to slow it down. she is not loosing any weight at yet. Does anyone out there have this problem. Thanks Margaret

Katie G · 09-06-2002, 12:00 PM

Hi, there. I can really feel for your friend because this same thing was happening to me - and I'm just 40 years old!!! Talk about humiliation and wanting to hide away. Anyway your friend needs to be evaluated by a doctor to rule out serious digestive disorders that can cause explosive bowels.

Is this a new condition? Does it happen daily or under certain conditions? It is impossible to advise what would help her without the doc diagnosing her first. After years of this problem, I finally found out about Colestid (prescription drug) which helps bind bile and form stools. However, it's not the right cure for everyone, and only a doctor can determine what she needs.

Tell her the fear is worse than the actual answer. At least with a diagnosis, she'll find some help. If she continues to not eat, not only will she hurt herself nutritionally, the body will begin to react negatively to anything she does eat, and her bowel problems will only get worse.

Good luck to her,
Katie G

maahern · 09-06-2002, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by maahern:
Home bound, Does anyone knoe why all of a sudden a person looses all control of there bowels. My friend she is 73, all of a sudden has lost control of her bowels. I can`t get her to go to the doctor as she is afraid they will do surgery and she says there is no one to take care of her. I would but she says No Way. Is there anything that can be done to slow down the process of elinination. She chooses not to eat. In order to slow it down. she is not loosing any weight at yet. Does anyone out there have this problem. Thanks Margaret

maahern · 09-06-2002, 12:57 PM

Dear Katie, Thank you for responding. She has a problem for a few months but it has gone from bad to worse. She now goes three or four times a day. And has know idea when it comes. Until it is too late. Margaret

prin123 · 09-06-2002, 02:34 PM

she needs to see a physician; there can be any number of reasons for loss of bowel control (incontinence); it could be neurological or something minor but she needs to be evaluated as soon as possible.