John Davis

I was pleased that you used the phrase "live a normal life." That is the sort of positive thinking that all ICs should have.

Keep making it to the toilet as long as you can. It helps to exercise those muscles and nerves. Thanks for sharing.

Welcome Slomo! I remember your name from DD. That is quite a history. I'm sorry you had to experience all that. I can't imagine having 15 surgeries. I'm glad you are with us. --John

Don't forget about wearing rubber pants. They are less common nowadays but should supplement "plastic" pants in the wardrobe of anyone who is bowel incontinent. I will stress that I do not mean rubber pants as a fetish item. Rubber is better at containing odor, particularly fecal odor, than plastic pants (of a similar thickness).😀 Often I wear either rubber pants or rubber bloomers during periods when I think I may be at a greater risk of a bowel accident. In such instances I wear rubber pants over a pair of plastic pants. This gives me a "second line of defense" against a fecal leak and, if I experience a bowel accident, it (hopefully) protects the rubber garment from being soiled. Why bloomers? The legs on bloomers come down the thighs below plastic pants. That helps to catch leaks. It also is easy to change where the legs of the bloomers make contact to avoid skin irritation. I always hand-wash my rubber pants and hang them to air dry. They have lasted a very long time. --John

Good choices, Nicky. Welcome. --John

Brian, very well said. Those who are not incontinent grossly underestimate the importance of stress associated with IC. Then, of course, there is the "loop" where stress increases IC and IC increases stress. For those of us who are bowel incontinent, the potential for stress is even greater due to the inability to really "hide" a bowel accident. Plus, the social stigma associated with bowel incontinence is even greater than that associated with bladder incontinence. The stresses associated with fecal incontinence even push some to thoughts of suicide.☹️ It is difficult to find reliable statistics about this as families often suppress such information after the fact. Socialization via support groups can help reduce stress about a problem. It is difficult to find opportunities to share the challenges of living with IC. Unfortunately, face-to-face groups are very rare. Even more so for fecal incontinence. That is why this forum can be so important for all of us. No one's incontinence is more important than anyone else's. All deserve to be heard and receive help. --John

Brian has "stolen" what I was about to post. We seem to be using almost identical products and have great respect for NorthShore Care. Is there any chance we can get NorthShore Adam to join our little group? --John

My bowel incontinence is total and I estimate that I have as much as 20 -30% bladder control, but only sometimes. Due to nerve damage from pelvic trauma, I shift back and forth unpredictably between voluntary and involuntary bladder control. As I am OAB and a heavy wetter, I wear premium diapers with a booster pad. Nowadays I get a good night's sleep as I void in the diaper and don't worry about it. I already was a sometimes bed wetter (I'n not sure how often anymore). It was impossible for me to get enough sleep if I got up, removed diaper layers, diapered back up, and went back to bed two or more times a night. My doctors agreed that sleep was the higher priority. As I indicated in another post, I manage my bowel incontinence with daily morning old-fashioned enemas.😱 After all, an empty colon cannot have a bowel accident. Over the years I have self-administered about 7,000 enemas. After I get "hosed,"🙄 I usually will not have a bowel accident until the following day, so I am relieved of that form of stress. My SCI rehab docs have approved of my procedures. I'll be glad to answer any questions about enemas as there is so much bad information out there on the Internet. I am not ashamed of being incontinent or of wearing diapers. I am not ashamed of my arthritis, so why should I be ashamed of my other medical conditions? My diapers have become my underwear. It's just private. I like to say "Be thankful for your diapers. Think how difficult life would be without them." --John

Hi Brian. You have company as I like colors. Sterile hospital white diapers are boring. I do not wear infantile prints, but like tie-dye, polka dots, paint splotches, etc. I would wear prints if they were adult prints. --John

Hi all, I'm John. I'm a retired senior and live in an active retirement community in North Carolina (I haven't changed my email address that says "Virginia.") I'm double incontinent due to a bad fall many years ago, plus surgery and just growing older. I manage my incontinence well and no one has guessed my "secret." I see a couple of familiar names, and some of you may recognize me from other forums where I usually post in the incontinence section. My "go-to" diaper is the Better Dry, but I also wear the MegaMax (in tie-dye colors) and Incontrol Elite Hybrid. I normally use a booster pad and "plastic pants." Often I wear rubber pants or bloomers on top as latex blocks fecal odor better than plastic. I'm fully bowel incontinent due to neurogenic bowel (nerve damage). I am OAB but have some limited control of bladder. Most likely I will be unusual in that, with my physicians' approval, I use old-fashioned enemas to manage my bowel incontinence.😱 By enemas, I don't mean the chemical Fleets, but rather the traditional soapsuds enema from a hanging rubber bag. I works extremely well and I will discuss that at another time. I look forward to sharing with y'all and learning as well as answering questions. Feel free to message me. --John

I would like to second what Brian said. Thank you. This is very much needed.😀 --John (double incontinent)