I feel so terrible for my mother, who fancies herself glamorous and fashionable. A few years ago she dealt with a few episodes of FI and was told by her primary care doc that it was a weak sphincter probably caused by age and radiation to her pelvis for cancer when she was 60. This past year, it has gotten worse. She is humiliated and rarely leaves the house. She has made appts with a GI doc, but cancels because she's embarrassed (which I told her is ridiculous since GI docs have seen it all). She's not demented, but is definitely depressed after a year that included a mastectomy and now this. I'm hoping she will get to the dr (yes, I offered to go with her, but she doesn't accept help readily). I'm wondering if anyone has had a parent receive successful treatment for this problem, aside from wearing diapers. I know there are injectable substances and surgeries. Any hope would be much appreciated!
This may be off point, but I have always wondered if a certain component of this problem is anxiety based. Most of the women that my mom knows with it, including her are high anxiety, worriers and nervous types. Her problem gets worse during times of thunder storms (she has phobia) illnesses in family members or some crisis. I have begged her to go on an anti anxiety med to see if it helps. So far, no luck. Has anyone else noticed this?
Wheelchair-bound MIL and I were traveling by plane and had been up since early in the morning. When we arrived at the gate, there was a handicapped bathroom close by and I wanted MIL to use it before we boarded the plane but she refused. By the time we landed MIL had been "holding it" for hours and insisted I just get us to the hotel. En route to the hotel I smelled "it" and "it" was all over MIL and the poor driver's seat. MIL arrived at the hotel covered in diarrhea and the stink was noticed by E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E! She was humiliated and I got the stares and glares of other guests as they covered their noses. That day everything changed and that was MIL's last trip.
MIL continues to be in denial about many things but I don't pretend everything is normal or okay anymore. We go to eat with my inlaws only in the dining room of the independent living facility where they live but now I'm starting to worry that they will be asked to leave because of MIL's FI. Breaks my heart but there's nothing I can do about it.
NYDIL, I too thought of the anal plugs, but I've never heard of anyone who has used them?
I think my approach would be to try to regulate her bowel function. Try to figure out what is causing so much gas, and try to get her on a schedule so she would go at more predictable times.
Diarrhea is not normal. I would take her to see a registered dietician. Perhaps there's something in her diet that she can no longer tolerate. Dairy is often the biggest culprit. Intolerance to diary can happen suddenly and at any age.