Incontinence (anal leakage)
I have been having a problem with a clear liquid leaking from my rectum. It doesn’t happen all the time, but at different, very inconvenient times. I take Metamucil twice a day, and it isn’t diarrhea or constipation. Does this sound at all familiar to you, and if so, what should I do about it?

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Dr. Joshua’s Answer:

Have you tried stopping the Metamucil to see if that makes any difference? If not, I recommend that you try it, just to rule out Metamucil as the cause of the anal incontinence.?

Apart from that, what you need is a clinical examination and a proctoscopy (a GP can do this) to see if there’s any obvious cause in the perianal region or within the rectum for the incontinence. Also, a sample of the liquid should be analyzed. There are various possible causes for this type of anal incontinence, ranging from diet and colon disease to some less common conditions such as fistulae. See your doctor.