Stool Leakage

[Zzaque]

Okay, I am a 25 year old heterosexual male.  I am relatively healthy with slightly high cholesterol (157) being my biggest problem.  I am not on any medications and don't have a family history of this type of problem and I don't have a personal history of chronic constipation.  For the past 6 months (give or take) approximately 75% of my bathroom trips involving #2 have been a nightmare.  I normally go every 1 to 2 days and lately I have had to return to the bathroom after 10-30 minutes to clean up leakage that I don't feel until it starts itching.  The stool appears to be normal in color and shape and is typically a little on the soft side.  I will wipe more than should be necessary sometimes wiping over 20 times in one sitting (no pun intended).  Obviously this causes great discomfort to the skin (and my wallet because we go through so much toilet paper) and sometimes I get blood spotting.  I cannot tell if the spotting is from the stool or the excess wiping.  When I finally emerge from the bathroom I do so with the understanding that I will be back before long.  I have to wipe again anywhere from 1 to 4 times and have started keeping baby wipes in the bathroom for some relief.  On instances where the itching or irritation is severe I will use hydrocortisone cream and I used hemmorhoid creams for a while when I thought that may have been the problem.  It helps with the itching but not much else.  I went to my physician who checked the sphincter function and performed my blood work/urinalysis/etc. He could find nothing and referred me to a GI specialist who looked over my labs and decided to try a high fiber diet to bulk up the stool and hyoscyamine to relax the colon.  I am currently scheduled for a colonoscopy and am hoping to find the answer there because beyond that lies expiriments at the local university.  Please if anyone has any idea of what thi could be let me know.  I am going insane.

[RED6688]

Dude, I feel your pain (in the ***-- literally). I experience VERY similar issues.  I feel like I have to wipe 20+ times every time I go #2, and almost every time there's a return trip for more "paperwork".  Ive come up with the analogy that, " i have to check the coast (to see of its foggy)", some times the coast is clear, but Lately (last few days especially) there's a lot of fog.  I'm 42, 6' tall and 205#, decent shape, had a colonoscopy last year (that said I was clean as a whistle).  I was diagnosed as gluten intolerant 18 months ago and follow a pretty strict diet and eat very healthy.  No junk food, all gluten free, no beer, very little alcohol.  When I went GF I thought I was in the clear, #2 required less paperwork, bunt now it's gotten worse.  I'm ALWAYS tired, and have to pee frequently, I drink more water in a day than most drink in 3 days.  

[Zzaque]

Well, I have to say I am a little dissappointed that I have had no response at all.  I went in for the colonoscopy and aside from a small pollyp they were unable to find any abnormalities.  So now I am out a few hundred dollars and am no closer to finding a cure than I was applying various over the counter creams and lotions at home.  Somebody has to have heard of something similar.  I am begging. . . please somebody help me out here.  It is not yet noon and I have wiped almost 40 times since 10:30.  This is no way to live.  I just wanna poop like everyone else.