John Davis

Welcome CJ.  You clearly are coping very well.

--John

Those who have a well-informed and supportive PCP are very fortunate.  However, Iken's PCP may be taking support to a new level with his diaper checks.

--John

Welcome Popcorn.  Staying positive is very important.  Read the old messages as they contain a lot of useful information.

--John

Scarth, that is a very good tip.  To keep the tape very small for my bag, I sawed off a section of pencil and then rolled several inches of duct tape around it.  It is not a lot, but it is enough to fix a broken tape or cover a tear and does not take up much space.

--John

Re tape problems, although we have commented on the shortfalls of the tapes on some current diapers, our tapes now are much better than they were years ago.  When I began wearing diapers - about 10-11 years ago - the tapes frequently popped on all the brands of diapers I wore (quality diapers).  

The problem was so pervasive that I routinely reinforced the tapes with a thin strip of Duck brand duct tape.  I was able to quit doing that several years ago.  Please note that during the interveening years diaper capacities increased significantly, so the weight of the wet diaper went up accordingly, placing more strain on the tapes.

Today, it is unusual for me to have a tape fail and I wear premium diapers to near their capacity.  During the rare occasions that a tape pops, it is not a disaster as I always wear a diaper cover reinforced by a onesie.🙂

--John

Scarth, that is so true.

--John

Welcome Scarth, and glad to have you with us.  As you have been dealing with incontinence for so long, I am sure you have some tales and tips for us.

--John

I am like Scarth - I use SoSecure.  It is a well constructed reusable swim diaper.  I highly recommend it.  However, you need enough agility to be able to put it on very snugly with its velcro attachments.

All reusable swim diapers are engineered to contain fecal leaks, not urine.

Please be responsible and don't take chances by just buying the cheapest product advertised as a "swim diaper."  If you contaminate a pool with a fecal leak💩, they have to drain, clean, and refill the pool.😱  Also, they will not be happy to see you again.

Nullo is available OTC from your local drugstore or online via Amazon, etc.  It can be almost 100% effective, but this will vary from person to person.  In my case, to achieve a high efficiency, I had to take the maximum dosage.

Nullo (and Devrom) have been around for a long time and have been thoroughly tested.  You can search this online.

I do not take it every day, just for special occasions when I think I may be at a higher risk than normal of having a bowel accident and in a public situation.

I should add that it takes several days to become effective - about 3 days for me.  So, if you think you will need it, plan ahead on starting the first dose.

--John

Yes, bring many more diapers.  You will not need high absorbency as fecal material will tend to clog the diaper's mat anyway.  Don't forget plastic pants (multiple pairs) as you probably will have to deal with one or more leaks.  Good luck.

I am have had several colonoscopies.  As I have nerve damage to my anal sphincters, that makes it very difficult to hold anything in, my problem is very similar to yours.  As I am much older than you, I discussed this with my gastroenterologist and we decided that the colonoscoopy would not be worth it.

--John

Welcome Marks.  As you can see, you are among many others who share your situation.

--John

Welcome.  Glad you are with us.

--John

I could be your father!😱

--John

Seriously, can you talk with your primary care physician about your incontinence?  That is a pretty intimate topic and I have had widely varying experiences in that regard.

One of my doctors was so embarrassed about the topic that he almost could not talk about it😱 and could not provide any useful recommendations.

Another was so ill informed on the subject that he could not provide any useful information.  At least he knew enough to say that I needed to see a specialist.

Another said that "we did not learn much about that in med school."

What about y'all?  What were your experiences?

--John

Now retired.  Previously had a private office.

--John

North Carolina.  The Raleigh area.

--John

Internal deodorants can be very effective in reducing fecal odor.  Products such as Nullo or Devrom have been on the open market for many years and are very safe to use.

I used Nullo during a 31-day trip to the Mediterranean with back-to-back cruises back to the States.  I am paranoid about being caught in a confined situation with others and having a bowel accident💩, such as when ferrying back and forth to the shore on a ship's tender.😱

One downside is that when the higher doses are used, internal deodorants can cause signficant constipation.  If you already have a constipation issue, that can become a problem.

I know that several of our members here have used internal deodorants and hope that they will share their experiences and observations.

--John

For odor containment, vinyl or rubber diaper covers do a better job than a breathable cover (like PUL) of similar thickness.🙂  A snug fit around the legs and waist is necessary to prevent venting of odors.  

I may wear a PUL diaper cover with a pair of rubber pants or bloomers on top.  My PUL pants are best at stopping leaks and the rubber pants or bloomers catch leaks (very rare) and help reduce odor.

All this presumes you began by selecting a good diaper to contain stool and reduce odors.

Of course, if you have sensitive skin you may need to use a breathable diaper with a breathable diaper cover and not worry about fecal odor.

--John

In addition to good leg gathers, I would stress the need for very tall internal standing leak guards.  MegaMax is a good example.  Internal standing leak guards keep stool away from the leg gathers and also keeps urine in the main channel of the diaper to give it more time for absorption.

I usually (but not always) choose a plastic-backed diaper to help contain odor.  Of course, it will be impossible for the diaper to contain fecal odor.  Vinyl or rubber "plastic" pants will help.

--John

Emily, having a "clean" diaper in the morning may be an unrealistic expectation.  That may be adding to your stress and we know that stress contributes to incontinence.

For nights you need 1) a premium highly absorbent diaper, 2) a booster pad in the diaper to increase the absorbency, 3) a diaper cover or "plastic" pants in case of a leak, and 4) something to help keep the diaper in place like a onesie or spandex shorts.

I will note that a premium diaper like MegaMax will have very tall internal standing leak guards which will reduce fecal leaks and help keep urine in the main channel of the diaper's mat until it is absorbed.

Emily, it is normal to wake up during the night to find that you have used your diaper.  I emphasize the word "normal."🙂

--John

I remain somewhat skeptical about Interstim.  In many instances where they claim success, user satisfaction did not correspond. Perhaps unrealistic expectations were encouraged prior to the implantation.

--John

Welcome Emily.  You have lots of company here with similar issues.

Feel free to tell us more about yourself and ask a question.  There are sure to be folk here who can help.

--John

And I am another.  Welcome and tell us more.

--John

Which diaper covers are best for fecal incontinence?

What features do you look for - or avoid?

How does this differ from the best features for someone with only bladder incontinence?

Should you wear a breathable (PUL) diaper cover with a plastic-shell diaper?

What about a breathable diaper with a vinyl plastic or rubber diaper cover?

Many of you have years of experience experimenting with the various solutions to this problem.  What were your findings?

--John

What is the best diaper for fecal incontinence?  What features do you look for and why?  What features should you avoid?

--John