As I am both bladder & bowel incontinent ,the one thing going for me is IBS-C & OIC they cause severe constipation , i do use special medications and laxatives/stool softeners ,it kinda allows me the ability most times to predict my bowel movements so my aide can get me on the commode wait for my bowels to move and done ,its "artificial continence"
You might say ,i keep myself constipated enough that my bowels don't release on there time , yes there are occasional unpredictable accidents probably due to illness or food choices ,its very rare that i have any awareness of a need to go ,and my doctors long ago told me if you have an awareness don't try and resist ,thats what diapers are for ! .
There are times that my medication has been lost in the mail, that then screws me up and I at that point don't have a choice ,i have to increase the dose of one of the medications I have on hand always that results about 6 random bowel movement a day ,in people who use this medication that are continent they have to wear diapers,because attempting to resist going intensifies it's action(its the medication version of the Borg "resistance is futile") ,so even in continent normal people once you take the medication it has full control you don't have a vote or choice in the matter( since most times i dont have any sensation ì am a sitting duck literaly) it certainly beats the pain and discomfort of impaction which is guaranteed, if I don't regulate my bowels the chances are great for bowel perforation which is life threatening and i cant afford that happening. So my aide gets to do a little more diaper laundry, i am fortunate the pharmacy & post office don't do that often, before there was a treatment for OIC specificaly , this medication was our only option for everyday use.