What I have learned about Fecal Incontinence.

Well, I have written about my side effects of a shortened colon, I go to the bathroom quite often. I don't count anymore, but I will say that the average is probably ten times a day. Some days I have peace for several days, then some days I have all kinds of problems.

Let me try and give those who struggle with frequent BM's some of the things I have learned:

1. I wear pads all of the time. I used to think I could anticipate a BM, or that if I could just find the right kind of diet I would go less frequently and have more control. I cannot seem to find the right diet, mainly because it has not become a top priority for me. I react fine to bacon and eggs, but sometimes ham upsets the apple cart. I have not been able to pin a diet on reduced BM's.
2. I experience some days of peace, no BM's and I don't worry about it. I take Immodium to try and slow the digestive tract down, but quite frankly when I first take Immodium my system seems to respond by trying to eliminate as much waste as possible, then a few hours later it settles down.
3. Lying down seems to enhance the movement of stool through the system. I cannot tell you how many times I want to just lay down in bed, relax, play a solitaire game or three and go to sleep. Not to be, I'll get up between two and four times every fifteen minutes or so to go pass a small stool. Plus because I experience fecal incontinence I sometimes won't feel the passage and find I have soiled my pad which necessitates clean up and a new pad. It can be very frustrating.
4. Tips:
1. I am switching to pads that are called overnight pads, they have a longer tail piece and offer more protection. They are the same price as other pads, $12.58 at Sam's Club for a box of 76.
2. I am moving away from adults wipes to flushable wipes. All of a sudden there seems to be a lot to choose from and flushable wipes mean I'm not trying to disguise a large wad of dirty wipe and make it to the waste basket before everyone spots me in a public restroom.
3. I carry a "fanny pack" with a package of flushable wipes and about four pads when my wife and I go out shopping or out for an evening.
4. I no longer am self-conscious about putting a roll of used pads in the trash in a public restroom. You can use the new pad's plastic wrap to roll the soiled pad in and it usually has some type of adhesive strip to prevent the pad from unrolling. 
5. Traveling is an adventure. I recently went to Chicago and the trip up and the day or two we spent were fine. However I made the mistake of over indulging in chocolate and on the way home it was frequent stops, clean ups and replace pads. It is uncomfortable and humiliating, although I have learned to disguise my problem very well.
6. Frankly, unless you have good control over you BM's I do not recommend travel unless necessary. The unexpected always happens and sometimes its good, but sometimes it is just down right trouble. 

That's it for now friends. I hope you find some help in what I've written. Take care and do the best you can.