Coping with slight intermittent anal leakage

[Hetchins1946]

I'm a 65 year old man in the UK. I had IBS diagnosed in 2007, and I have coped really well with it, mainly because I now only get flare-ups (always diarrhoea) three or four times a year.

I've recently had a couple of episodes, brought on, as usual these days, by very hot weather. These attacks have lasted longer than previously, but worst of all, I've had embarrassing leakage of smelly fluid / mucus which has continued long after the diarrhoea has stopped. I've never experienced leakage before.

This is enough to badly stain my pants, but not full on flow. How do people cope with this?

It seems nowhere near enough for an incontinence pad, but I do need to do something when this happens.

I've seen a couple of brands of butterfly shaped pads that sit between the cheeks of your bottom against the rectum, but these seem to be hard to buy in the UK and get very mixed reviews. I've heard that a panty-liner might work bit can't quite see how. Toilet paper just breaks up.

What can you suggest for light leaks, or what can you recommend based on experience?

[Maureen1958]

Hi, I would suggest something like this:

groceries.asda.com/search/m...

I use these:

groceries.asda.com/product/...

You will notice the first product is for men and the second product is for women. But you pay a lot more if you want mens! You pays your money and you takes your choice. My husband always gets mine and nobody bats a eyelid at the checkout.

[Moggiedee in reply to Maureen1958]

I buy Asda brand unisex pants. They come in 3 sizes. Very comfortable to wear.

[KT22]

I agree with Maureen’s suggestions. I use a sanitary panty pad as I also get occasional leakage. I keep some scented nappy sacks to put them in for disposal. Hope this helps?

[Fodmapfella]

Yes, pads seem to be a good idea. I'm a similar age to you &, luckily, have never experienced leaking as you've described. I have slightly changed my own management of IBS (D) recently after reading a thread on this very site.When I'm having a 'bit of a flare up' or even just a couple of days of cramps & slightly worse or more frequent diarrhoea, I've recently started taking a single loperamide (bought over the counter), and it then it does what it says (stops or greatly reduces the diarrhoea), but it also seems to settle down the gurgling, the cramps & the discomfort. The flare up then seems to be reduced & usually stops!

Obviously we are all different - that's the nature of the beast that is IBS - but you may wish to give it a go if you haven't already.

So, in summary, I used to take loperamide only when having really bad diarrhoea, now I also take it even when I'm just a bit bloaty, or gurgly or crampy, and it seems to settle everything down quite nicely. So maybe worth a go. Good luck.

[Mutleyforever]

Hi, I have found the extra long panty liners more useful for leakage in that area, better coverage! Best Wishes Mutley

[Hetchins1946 in reply to Mutleyforever]

Thanks - I've taken your advice and, yes, longer ones do seem to fit the bill. Supermarket own brand - cheap (22 for 99p)!

[mal444]

Hi. I am going through a similar sort of issue and have posted on here about passing mucus before but its never went away.I had bloods done. Colonoscopy done. CT with contrast done and only thing they found was a slight thickening on my colon but colonoscopy never showed it so a ibs contraction they said.

Anyway i get days where i need to pass gas and its explosive mucus with a terrible smell.

It has made me depressed but no one knows why this has happened.

Does your mucus build up and you need to release it as if you had gas or needed the loo?.

[Hetchins1946 in reply to mal444]

No - it's a steady leak that I don't realise is happening.My wife gave me some tiny panty liners, and I've just got some extra long ones as advised above which seem to be much better - or at least are giving me more confidence at the moment!

I just find the whole concept of wearing pads embarrassing.

[b1b1b1]

Call your doctor or urologist. There are easy remedies, such as Metamucil, (I am in the us), but speak to your doctor first.

[debb13]

Hi, perhaps taking loperamide may help the diarrhoea.

[Hetchins1946]

Update!

I may have found the Holy Grail of pads for ABL - I bought a pack of reduced Tena Men light leak Shields (level 2) intended for urinary leakage. Worn 'backwards' they are comfortable and effective. They won't work with boxer shorts. I'd guess they are also unisex worn this way.

The GP suggested Fybogel, which seemed to work - at least for the BMs, although my symptoms are so variable it's hard to tell what's what. I'm going to try a few days without the Fybogel to see what happens.