My apologies in advance ladies, but I feel all alone here & this is not a question I feel comfortable asking any of my girlfriends...so, I'm 38 yrs old and for the past couple of yrs have noticed that stool sometimes comes out when I'm only urinating. I don't feel it coming out and am not pushing it out, yet it's there...and it's gross! Now I have to check my bottom almost everytime I pee to make sure there is no "surprise poop" there...has anyone else has this lovely experience? If so, any idea how it's happening or how to prevent it? Does your bottom lose it's ability to hold poop in as we age (similar to urine incontinence)? I sometimes have crazy thoughts that this could be a sign of some type of cancer that I should get checked out...UGH! TIA Ladies!
Thanks to all the moms that replied - I really appreciate the insights you shared! I only have 1 daughter and she was delivered by c-section. I also read up on Rectocele...I don't think I have this, but I have my yearly Gyno exam scheduled for 8/3/12 and will discuss it w/my GYN Dr. I'm hoping to avoid a proctologist, etc. if at all possible. Thanks again!
Have you ever been diagnosed with Crohns or IBS? Some people who have Crohns have chronic diarrhea. I believe, (but I'm not a dr.), that cancer is associated with blood in the stool.
When's the last time you had a pelvic exam? Have you asked the doc while you're "on the table"?
There are specific gyn's who work with older woman and incontinence issues - both for bladder and fecal problems. I'd start there. If they say that you don't have a prolapse of some sort, then you need to see a gastroenterologist.
Don't delay - you've delayed enough already. Get checked out so that you know what's wrong.
Dawn
YOu should go see a gastro doc. Urinary incontinence is pretty common - but this isn't unless you are having gall bladder issues. My husband has a problem with this - but my sister who's a nurse practitioner says it's about the gall bladder not processing fatty foods well. Could that be your issue? Does it happen more the day after having fatty foods?
Things do change as we get older - but this isn't the usual standard thing. And it's probably NOT cancer - that presents completely differently.
Unfortunately your best answer is going to come from your doctor. It sounds like you have a rectocele: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rectocele/DS00704/
Well it's probably a good idea to check with a doctor the next time you go in, but I don't find it all that alarming. I mean you're using close muscles to push out the pee so it isn't that far of a stretch that you're going to push out some poop too. I mean I wouldn't say it's "normal" but I don't think it's all that abnormal either.
I would think that by possibly doing some exercises to strengthen your kiegel (sp?) muscles that it could help that as well, but what do I know?! ;)
It sounds like your pelvic floor muscles need to be strengthened. Kegel exercises will help. This happened to me quite after my 4th child and now I do kegels every day every time I think about doing them (like, now lol). But if I were you, I would see a doctor just to be safe, as it could be anything from a hernia to anal fissures to hemorrhoids.
K.:
It's hard to tell. I'm not a doctor, but I'd ask how many children you have had - did you have them vaginally or via c-section? Did they sit low on you when you were carrying them?
When was the last time you had your yearly papsmear and check up? If it's been over a year - go. Make a list of the things that aren't right with your pelvic area.
this is what happens to children who hold their bowel movements and the rectum looses its ability to "sense" when a bowel movement is there - causing bowel movements to excrete without knowing it.
It sounds like you might have rectocile (where your pelvic floor muscles allow the rectum to slide or push into your vaginal area) and your pelvic floor muscles are weak or weakening. I don't know if kegal exercises will help with that.
If your OB/GYN says it's not that - I think you need to see a gastroentertologist or a proctologist to see if there is a problem with your rectum and anus.
GOOD LUCK!!
If it were just stool incontincence it would have been "surprise poop" but unrelated to urinating, I think. If your anus muscles are stretched (giving birth will do that..ugh) then it could be harder to keep poop in if there's a good pressure from the bowel to push it out. But honestly you need to find out what has poop to do with urinating? Or is it that when you go pee your relax your bottom and then, for the above mentioned "looseness", poop comes out too? I tend to think this could be already a good explanation but talk to a proctologist.
