Help with my Doctors Visit and Referrals

[PuraVidaDip]

Help! I may have screwed this up. Went to the doctor today. Note I’m 100% self paying for any medical visits, procedures, pills etc. I have been having IBS and started messing in my sleep after my colonoscopy a few weeks ago. I had an appendectomy last year and had continence issues after. I wet the bed and wear diapers to remedy. I have embellished the daytime wetting and BM accidents, although I use diapers for everything now. There is some control. 

My wife made me go to the doctor. I’ve told my parents and friends of the issues. I’m ready at work.  Now the medical community…

I told the doctor I’ve had a few daytime BM “accidents” and have been having “urge incontinence” as well. She was caring and understanding. I got the colonoscopy because of my stomach problems but when I went in today I told her I wasn’t honest when she asked if I had had accidents and then embellished the daytime wetting and messing accidents. 

The doctor gave me an RX for Oxybutynin that has some scary side effects including dry mouth which I already have. Of course this won’t solve the bowel incontinence which is the real issue. Now I’m scheduled for an MRI and getting referrals out to urologist and going back to my colon doctor (had a polyp at 37). 

Any advice on what path I should take now? I’m concerned the specialists will read through it, especially the urologist considering it’s not entirely true on that front especially during the day. 

[sparklezBear]

Can I ask, did you approach your doctor in the context of seeking help? Or did you approach them in the context of, I have problem x, and have done y about it?

From the sounds of it, your doctor is concerned and going to be looking for any reasons for nerve dysfunction.

I might add, it's not normal to experience faecal incontinence following an appendectomy or colonoscopy, although IBS could certainly be an explanation too. It certainly has been for me, although mine appeared to be caused by certain foods that disagree with me. Avoiding those particular foods has greatly reduced it.

In terms of the Oxybutynin, it's completely fair for you to decline to take this given the side effects. It's evidence for stopping bed wetting is poor according to google, although it is prescribed for OAB. In your shoes, I would decline the medication (it's documented that I hate taking medication).

With respect to the MRI, if you endured this then it would probably find no abnormalities. It's entirely your choice to go through with that or not.

I think in your position, I'd likely decline the medication, MRI and follow-up referrals, describing that I feel this is the result of IBS, and prefer to use nappies for management while trying to figure out IBS triggers myself.

[PuraVidaDip]

46 minutes ago, sparklezBear said:

Can I ask, did you approach your doctor in the context of seeking help? Or did you approach them in the context of, I have problem x, and have done y about it?

From the sounds of it, your doctor is concerned and going to be looking for any reasons for nerve dysfunction.

I might add, it's not normal to experience faecal incontinence following an appendectomy or colonoscopy, although IBS could certainly be an explanation too. It certainly has been for me, although mine appeared to be caused by certain foods that disagree with me. Avoiding those particular foods has greatly reduced it.

In terms of the Oxybutynin, it's completely fair for you to decline to take this given the side effects. It's evidence for stopping bed wetting is poor according to google, although it is prescribed for OAB. In your shoes, I would decline the medication (it's documented that I hate taking medication).

With respect to the MRI, if you endured this then it would probably find no abnormalities. It's entirely your choice to go through with that or not.

I think in your position, I'd likely decline the medication, MRI and follow-up referrals, describing that I feel this is the result of IBS, and prefer to use nappies for management while trying to figure out IBS triggers myself.

Thank you so much @sparklezBear for your caring and thorough response. I’ve been worried about this since posting waiting for a reply. 

I definitely went in seeking help, asking for any advice. The whole series of events resulting in a precancerous polyp, and I have stomach problems so I am seeking solutions. I guess it would be nice to just double check everything just to be sure. 

I didn’t realize the bowel IC isn’t common but I do have issues just not to the scale I’ve presented. I guess I have nothing to worry about there.

After doing some more research it looks like there is something called CP/CPPS https://www.verywellhealth.com/ibs-and-chronic-prostatitis-pelvic-pain-syndrome-1945199 that is common concurrently with IBS and I have similar symptoms, though that’s probably my just trying to validate things. My doctor actually has this picture on the wall of her office. I try and obey the rules. 

My doctor is actually a PA that I’ve only seen once before for the colonoscopy scheduling so this is tons easier than a doc I’ve been seeing for here. 

I’ll have to sleep on this more.