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What Are The Symptoms And Causes For Adult Encopresis?
Question: Can you tell me the symptoms, causes, etc. for adult encopresis? Am only finding encopresis for children an symptoms are not same as the adult patient in question. She will get quick bouts of diarrhea a half hour or so after eating at various restaurants. That seldom happens when she has a meal at home, but oftentimes she'll awake in morning w/ nausea and bouts of diarrhea whether she has eaten out the previous night or not. These bouts of diarrhea generally happen about 2 or more times a month, and she has kept track of where & what she eats, but can't find a pattern. She is 67 years old and developed symptoms about 6 years ago. Colitis, ciliac(?) disease, Crohn's disease have been ruled out. When she was 38 she had 2nd stage cervical cancer that was treated with radium implants. One dr. suggested treatment may have weakened muscles, another dr, said her muscles in that area were fine.
Brief Answer:
It's Irritable bowel syndrome
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcare-Magic
Greetings of the day
Dear Ms
The above symptoms are those of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Irritable bowel syndrome is diagnosis of exclusion. When a individual presents with such complaints or any gastrointestinal complaint and on thorough examination and extensive investigation no cause is found out its attributed as IBS.
It's usually not related to previous implants. It's due to disorderly movement of the small bowel and large bowel. Normally the parasympathetic output controls the bowel motility.
When the atmosphere is not conducive to an individual, example being in a restaurant or hot weather, certain food stuffs. I such circumstances there is increased overactivity of parasympathetic system causing increased peristaltic activity and bowel movements.
Majority of the time it's not related to any food stuff , but it depends on surrounding atmosphere and state of mind of the individual which provokes the overactivity.
As she has been thoroughly investigated, which ensures that one is not missing a potential organic cause for the symptoms then there seems to be no cause for concern.
I would suggest you the following which will definitely help her to some or greater extent. As the symptoms have been present for quite a long time, there will be slow improvement
1. Explaining the Individual: It's very important to explain her that there is nothing seriously wrong and it's due to over stimulation of the gut. It's very important for her to understand it.
2. Ensure good intake of water: Ensure water intake of 2 to 3 liter a day
3. Consume small quantity frequent meals : consuming large quantity of meals at one time or hurried eating (very common whole eating out in restaurants) causes stomach distension. This distension of stomach causes colonic movements and evacuation of stools by gastro-colic reflex. Preventing this by eating small quantity at a time will definitely be useful. Also frequently eating will ensure intake of adequate nutrients
4. High fiber diet
5. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages
In case you require any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.
Take care
Best Regards
Dr T Shobha Deepak
MBBS, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
In your answer, you said IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Do you mean after other tests show nothing, (my sister said only ciliac test was done, and colitis, and Crohns was ruled out w/out testing) then it must be IBS w./diahrrea? Does the term parasympathetic (output & an overactive parasympathetic system) mean systems are caused by thoughts & emotions that causes the rhythm of our digestive system to be interrupted? She also said she's always eaten small meals at home & splits meals w/ friends & relatives while out. I can attest to that. I've learned how not to overeat when I'm out w/her.
Brief Answer:
Colonoscopy and stool examination required
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Greetings
Symptom which have been present for so long are likely to be functional cause . If Colonoscopy and stool examination have not revealed anything then it's likely to be irritable bowel syndrome.
parasympathetic output does depend on physical state and mood of the patient. Anxiety and stress may lead to increased output and increase intestinal motility.
I hope Colonoscopy and stool examination have been done to rule out infective cause and also malabsorption.
Do take care
Regards
Dr T Shobha Deepak
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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