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What Causes Fecal Incontinence?
Posted on
Wed, 5 Nov 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 5 Nov 2014
Answered on
Sat, 29 Nov 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : I have a very uncomfortable problem that has been going on for about three months now, the problem is that I continue to pass stool hours after I have used the restroom. I dont understand why, I am a healthy 20 year old guy I eat three times a day, I am attracted to women, and my stool seems normal, and never in my life have I had this problem. It started with me having to wipe myself during the day because I would get dirty as I did daily activities but now it gets to the point to which I have to take a shower every morning because I get dirty as I sleep. Please help me I dont want to get a doctor to see me because I find that part of my body very personal.
Brief Answer:
Encopresis or stool withholding
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM
I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties with your stools. What you are describing is adult onset of a condition called encopresis. This is when you withhold having bowel movements. This can be due to emotional as well as physical reasons of withholding stools. To help get yourself on a more regular pattern of having bowel movements you need to retrain yourself.
First I recommend starting by taking miralax 2-4 tablespoons in water once or twice a day. I want you to have 1-2 bowel movements daily this way. If it takes more then you can take 3-4 tablespoons. But the important thing is to start having bowel movements.
Then once you start having regular bowel movements then start sitting down for a bowel movement every morning and don't get up from the toilet until you do have a bowel movement. Do not strain to have a BM just sit and relax until you have a normal BM
Once you get this pattern down you can then start to reduce you miralax. If you continue with daily sitting on the commode and waiting patiently for a natural BM then you will finally be retrained and have less accidents.
If this technique does not help then you may have other issues including the loss of sphincter control. If that is true you will need to seek medical attention from a gastroenterologist.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your health care concerns and questions.
Encopresis or stool withholding
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM
I am sorry to hear that you are having difficulties with your stools. What you are describing is adult onset of a condition called encopresis. This is when you withhold having bowel movements. This can be due to emotional as well as physical reasons of withholding stools. To help get yourself on a more regular pattern of having bowel movements you need to retrain yourself.
First I recommend starting by taking miralax 2-4 tablespoons in water once or twice a day. I want you to have 1-2 bowel movements daily this way. If it takes more then you can take 3-4 tablespoons. But the important thing is to start having bowel movements.
Then once you start having regular bowel movements then start sitting down for a bowel movement every morning and don't get up from the toilet until you do have a bowel movement. Do not strain to have a BM just sit and relax until you have a normal BM
Once you get this pattern down you can then start to reduce you miralax. If you continue with daily sitting on the commode and waiting patiently for a natural BM then you will finally be retrained and have less accidents.
If this technique does not help then you may have other issues including the loss of sphincter control. If that is true you will need to seek medical attention from a gastroenterologist.
Hope this answers your question. Please contact us again with your health care concerns and questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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