The reason I say “persisted” is that the first time I used a suppository (in 2011) it was a rather unpleasant experience and didn’t free me from urgently needing a poo later in the day when it was going to be impossible/very inconvenient/very embarrassing. I was squeamish about pushing the thing into my bottom, found it difficult to hold onto it once it was in, and although it did result in a poo, I had to have another poo a bit later which would have been very inconvenient if I hadn’t been at home. So I didn’t try it again.

But my urgency problems have been getting worse and I sought professional help again. I asked the incontinence nurse how people who are paralysed from the waist down manage – they get out and about so presumably they have some way of arranging for a poo to happen at a time that’s convenient for them. She said that many of them use glycerol suppositories to induce a poo. That was enough to convince me I should give them another go – 8 years later. By this time I was ready to try anything. Again I found it difficult (and unpleasant) to put in. It resulted in pretty urgent poo, but this time it was just one poo – I didn’t have to make an urgent visit to a toilet later in the day. I tried it three times on non-critical days ie days when I could stay at home all day if necessary. On all three occasions I had just one poo, within about 20 minutes of inserting the suppository.

So I decided to brave using one on a day when I needed to go out. It worked! I had a controlled poo before I went out (within 20 minutes of inserting the suppository) and felt like a free person for the rest of the day. [The combination of urgency + shy bowel is really very restricting. If I’m out with friends and the urge comes on, but I can’t go in a public toilet because of the shyness, I feel in real danger of having an extremely humiliating accident. So getting it out of the way before going out is highly desirable.]

I’ve now used a suppository on three occasions in earnest, when I’ve had to go out. So far, so good! It’s worked each time – poo within about 20 minutes of putting it in, and then I’ve been “safe” for the rest of the day. I’m so thrilled I thought I’d post something even though it’s still early days. I really wish I’d persisted back in 2011 – I could have avoided numerous embarrassing situations. If it continues to work it is going to be so liberating.

From what I’ve read glycerol suppositories aren’t habit forming and some people use them every day without problems. I did see one article which said there was a risk of becoming dependent, ie not being able to poo without using one. I’ll have to see how things progress (and I’ll take advice from my GP/nurse), but I’m hopeful that this is going to be an effective “workaround” for me. I’m so looking forward to being able to go out on group walks, or even adventure holidays, which I haven’t been able to do for fear of a horrendously humiliating accident.

Hope that helps someone. It seems very odd to post all this in a public forum, but hey, and if it reaches someone who can benefit it’s well worth doing. Thank you Baz for providing the forum.