I’m in my 50s and I‘ve suffered from shy bowel since childhood. Recently I’ve developed an added problem which makes me really worried about going out unless I can have a BM before I go, and often that's just not possible. It seems I can no longer hold on for days as I used to. Now, if I fail to go when I really should, some hours later I'll get a desperately urgent need to go. This has happened a number of times now. I have been dangerously close to having a full bowel movement in my pants, which is about the most embarrassing thing I can ever imagining happening.

The problem happens when I have to go out before I’ve had a BM and I don’t have access to a “safe” toilet where I can go. It seems my body gets fed up storing the stuff and decides to expel it all right there are then, whether it’s convenient or not. It’s not diarrhoea – just a very urgent need for a normal BM, which I can’t put off.

I’ve seen a continence specialist who suggests 1) exercises to strengthen my muscles and help me hold on and 2) fennel tea and probiotics to calm my bowel and try and stop the urgency. I've only just started these so dont know yet whether they are going to help.

I’m just wondering whether other readers have problems with urgency and, if so, how they cope.