Having dinner early is my strategy also. Sometimes, when the incontinence gets worse or acidity increases at an inconvenient time, I fold a single sheet of toilet paper fourfold, apply barrier cream and stick it in. That is a fairly effective plug for awhile. Although it works well for me, I would not do this very often.

Have had the same problem a couple of times doc put me on a med called Cholestryramine I drink this at night befor i go to sleep I still get up 3 times a night for bm but dont have accidents when asleep.

some nights are good and some are not. I might leak 1-3 times in a mounth depending on what i eat and how tired i am.also alchool  makes me leak. I alway wear a pad a night  .

I can totally relate to many folks comments.   I've had my pouch since 1991 and I'm now approaching my 39th birthday.   While the pouch has largely given me a wonderful life, I have dealt with pouchitis (cipro or flagyl to control) and periodic nightly incontinence.   incontinence is definitely worse when pouchitis is flaring but really can happen whenever.   I have a wonderfully understanding wife but it is embarrassing regardless of circumstances.    In the last 10 years I've struggled increasingly with both problems and there have been years where I was rotating the antibiotics nearly all year.   I've tried various probiotics, VSL#3 and the like with no success.    About two years ago I started popping my kids' gummy probiotics as I walk by them in the kitchen and lo and behold - this has made a stunning turnaround in both departments for me.   My theory is the gummy preparation holds up better in the gut and the lower "kid" dose is also a factor.   I generally have gotten by with 4 gummies eaten throughout the day.   That's my maintenance dose at this point.   I believe the manufacturer is Sustenex.   I get them at Target and more recently Costco.  It's remarkable what a change they have made for me in the pouchitis department and incontinence.   I wish everyone the best out there!

I was fine for four years and then gradually became more and more incontinent.  By the time I returned to the surgeon sometimes I would go through 4 to 6 pairs of undies (padded with toilet paper or course) a night.

 

We discovered that I needed to be dilated again and I am now on a self dilating routine where I try and keep it to 15mm.  Not my favorite sport for sure but even though occasional but burn has returned incontinence is once again a thing of the past. 

Another frequent comment I have seen in this thread is the use of toilet paper or incontinence pads are too expensive. There is a very, very good alternative which doesn't cost the earth and most men would not think of this immediately. It's the use of women's  sanitary pads. I can see the ick factor for men but, no-one is going to know except your spouse. I have found these a far far cheaper option, come in reasonable size packs of 8-10 and, if you get the right ones, you can wear them 24/7 without anyone knowing.

 

But there are specific types you need to get which are listed below AND when you wear them, you put them on back-to-front. ie the wider part goes to the back.

 

Look for key words on the packaging...

• Night time - these are generally 30-35cm (12"-14") though, you can also get a longer 42cm (16.5") type. I use the longer ones only if I have night time problems.
• Slim - cost maybe a little more but there is much, much less bulk so the profile is barely noticeable, if at all.
• Cotton - There are always 2 types of surface finish. One is 'dry' or silky and the other is cotton or 'comfort'. I live in the tropics and the cotton are far far far better for constant skin contact and they are just as effective as the others. I find the cotton also handles accidents far better....I won't explain, just trust me on this one.
• Wings - Not absolutely necessary but they do give more of a feeling of safety.

These are much better than using toilet paper as they keep the skin dry and there is much less chance of excoriation. If you need to wear a barrier cream, it won't soak through. There is also the self-esteem aspect of odor control. You don't have to find a toilet immediately nor do you have to change them every time for small incidents.

 

 

I had my surgery 12 years ago and only after a small op to help with a Fischer problem did I start with incontinence as my sphincter muscle was damaged. I now have sporadic accidents especially when sleeping but also while going about my normal daily activities.   

Hi all -I have had my pouch for 16 years. I had colo-rectal cancer and had a low anterior re-section.   I had similar issues, mostly having a lot of gas, several BMs a day and worst of all being "leaky". Wearing pads and constant clean-up, not to mention a general feeling of discomfort *most* of the time became my normal routine and I just had resigned myself to it being a normal result of the surgery.   I had survived cancer, so it beats the alternative.

 

Several months ago on a whim I decided to go gluten-free since friends had reported success with their own tummy issues.   OMG - within a week it all cleared up. No more leaking, no more gas.  Seriously. I am not kidding. 

 

My normal diet included a good amount of pasta, bread, pizza, etc. I had NO CLUE that the food was causing it since I never went enough days without something without wheat to notice a change.

 

SO... what I'm saying is it might not work for everyone, we all have our own issues, but it's worth a try and it worked for me.  If I do splurge and eat something gluten-y, I get the gas and leakage back.

 

Take care everyone - I wish you all the best.