Blogs

MELANIE C issues a sweet message to her Spice Girls bandmate Mel B after she missed her lavish London wedding.

The popstar was absent from Mel’s happy day at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday, which saw Emma Bunton, 49, the sole other girl group member in attendance.

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Spice Girl Mel C has revealed the real reason she didn’t attend bandmate Mel B’s wedding[/caption]

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Scary Spice, 50, said I Do to Rory McPhee at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday[/caption]

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Emma Bunton, far right, was the only other Spice Girl present bar bride Mel[/caption]

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The Wannabe hitmaker looked stunning on her special day[/caption]

New bride Mel, 50, sealed her wedding to groom Rory McPhee with a kiss outside the architectural landmark.

The Wannabe singer stunned in a gown adorned with dazzling pearl detail around the collar and sleeves and a long flowing veil as she stepped out of the iconic venue.

Ahead of the ceremony, fellow Spice Girl Emma Bunton led the star-studded arrivals in a pale pink frock and matching hat as she rocked up with husband Jade Jones and son Beau, 17.

Yet Mel C, who forged a solo career post-band with tracks including I Turn To You, has now revealed the reason for her no-show.

She uploaded a snap showing the happy couple together with the words: “So so happy for you both and beyond gutted I couldn’t be there.

“Excited to celebrate with you really soon. Yipee!”

In her next slide, Mel showcased a snap of her performing in Stockholm, Sweden.

She added the words: “Bit of a soggy one last night.”

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

It comes after it was revealed that 51-year-old Victoria Beckham wouldn’t be attending the nuptials. 

But making sure that Mel felt the love, she shared an Instagram tribute post ahead of her big day with Rory.

Posh Spice took to her Instagram stories to share a stunning snap of her and her bandmate looking all glammed up.

She added the sweet caption: “Sending love to you @officialmelb!

“@rorymcphee is a very lucky man! xx.”

Victoria, as well as fellow bandmate Geri, were not present at the ceremony.

The MailOnline originally told how Victoria would be out of the country and therefore would not be present to watch Mel walk down the aisle.

A source said: “Victoria has long standing plans out of the country and she simply can’t be there.

“She adores Mel, they get on really well despite their paths going in opposite directions. It’s a real shame.

“There is no issue between them, they haven’t fallen out. It’s just one of those things.”

Meanwhile Geri is said to have been absent because of her tense relationship with Mel.

The two women had a pretty big falling out when Mel B revealed that she had an intimate relationship with Geri when the band was starting out.

Mel made the confession while she was being interviewed for Piers Morgan’s Life Stories in 2019.

Geri was stunned and upset by Mel’s admission, and even more saddened when Mel allegedly did not issue an apology.

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Mel was on stage in Sweden at the time of the ceremony[/caption]

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Baby Spice looked stunning in pale pink attire[/caption]

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Victoria Beckham, far right, was also out of the country[/caption]

FIONA Phillips has opened up about the heart-breaking real reason behind her marriage troubles after “blaming menopause”.

The broadcaster and TV presenter, 64, explained that she and her husband, Martin Frizell, 64, were having the most horrendous rows.

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Fiona Phillips has opened up about the heart-breaking real reason behind her marriage troubles after “blaming menopause”[/caption]

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Fiona Phillips and Martin Frizell were having troubles in their marriage over trivial things[/caption]

Fiona was working three days a week on GMTV and packed other days with work too.

“She explained: “On top of my weekly newspaper column, I was also presenting a radio show, another TV programme and various one-off documentaries.”

“When I became the main presenter on GMTV in January 1997 I felt like the luckiest woman alive

But for for the entire time, Fiona had been combining her role as a TV presenter with caring for her parents.

“My mother had Alzheimer’s and until her death the previous year aged just 66 I’d looked after her every weekend.

“Not long afterwards we discovered my father had also fallen victim to the disease.

“Then I’d dash home to pick the boys up from school, give them some tea and help with their homework before falling into bed and doing it all over again the next day,” reports The Daily Mail.

Fiona revealed that her and Martin were having horrendous rows that spiralled over ridiculous things like emptying the dishwasher.

“II need more help around the place, Martin!’ I’d yell. ‘You expect me to do everything.

“And then he’d come back at me: ‘Well, what do you want me to do? Give up my job?

“No, I just feel like it all comes down to me.

“Well, let’s get a live-in nanny then!’ he’d yell.

“I don’t want a live-in nanny taking over my house!’ I’d shout back.

Fiona was caught up in so many conflicting emotions – she knew the job was destroying her but it also gave her security and purpose.

“I knew I wasn’t giving the boys the attention they needed but I didn’t want to pay someone else to do that when I’d been brought up to believe that was my job.

“And I loved Martin and our family, so why couldn’t I just stop yelling at everyone?”

In summer 2008, Fiona agreed a deal and left GMTV almost 12 years after she’d first sat on that famous red sofa.

Martin explained: “In 2008 Fiona left GMTV. Television can be a brutal world and things keep changing.

“If a new boss comes in and wants to shake up the format then that’s what happens – there’s not really much a presenter can do about that.

“It was a massive knock to her pride and confidence. Fiona really doesn’t have a big ego, unlike so many people in the world of TV, but it was still a jolt.

“During that time she spent a lot of time with her dad. She went down to see him every weekend and also during the week when she could.

“When Phil passed away, that was incredibly hard for her.”

In 2014, Martin took over at ITV’s Loose Women and, after a spell sorting that out, became Editor of This Morning with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby the following year.

Fiona said: “But my TV career didn’t recover in the same way. Bits and pieces of work came in but I never felt completely right.

“Was I worried that there might be something sinister lurking beneath the surface? That Alzheimer’s could one day be coming for me too?

“On one level I did think I would get the disease, but there was also another part of me that was in a strange sort of denial about it all.

“This illness has devastated so much of my life already, surely it’s not going to come for me too?’ I’d tell friends.

“Lightning doesn’t strike twice. Well, even if it does, it definitely doesn’t strike three times.’

“Was that wishful thinking? Maybe, but there were times when I truly believed it.”

Meanwhile Fiona and Martin’s marriage was coming under increasing strain.

Fiona is now sure the disease was at least partly responsible, but at the time neither of them could see it.

Instead she revealed that she just became more and more disconnected from Martin and the boys.

“You’ve totally zoned out of our family and our marriage,’ he would say to me.

“Don’t be so bloody ridiculous!’ I’d yell back.

“But, if I’m honest, I think he was right. I just didn’t seem to have the energy for any of it any more.”

Martin eventually moved out and the couple separated for a few weeks but then reconciled.

“You’ve been so distant for so long,’ he told me. ‘I just need to know – is this going to work or not?’

“Well, I want it to work,’ I said.

“And so do I,’ he said. ‘But things have got to change.’

“And I knew he was right. The only problem was I didn’t know how to change things.”

In 2020 Fiona decided that, having caught Covid earlier that year, she was now suffering from Long Covid.

“Or was I using that as another excuse to the world for why my behaviour had changed? I just don’t know,” she explained.

Around then Fiona also lost her confidence around driving and even popping to the shops, which she’d done a million times before, became terrifying.

The simplest things like going to the bank would induce anxiety attacks.

Fiona added: “There were mood swings too, which meant even I was finding my behaviour unpredictable.

“And yet, despite not wanting to be like that, I couldn’t do anything about it. I felt I’d lost control over my life”

During 2021, Dr Louise Newson had been appearing frequently on Martin’s show, This Morning. She had become known as the UK’s leading expert on menopause.

Martin explained to Fiona that if the way she was feeling was down to menopause, then Dr Newson was the person to diagnose it.

Louise took blood tests and put Fiona on a course of hormone replacement therapy but things didn’t improve.

After a series of further investigations and tests the pair received the devasting results.

Fiona revealed that the consultant said: ‘Yes, so your results are back,’

“And yes, I’m afraid to tell you that you do have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

“Martin and I stared at him. Neither of us said a word. We sat rigid, locked in suspended animation between everything our lives had been before this moment and everything they would become beyond it.

“I’d only turned 61 at the start of that year. And, while I suppose I had always thought I might get the disease one day, I’d hoped it might be when I was in my eighties or even nineties.”

“In those first few minutes after the devastating diagnosis, I was angry, too. Really f****** angry.

“I know you’re not supposed to ask ‘Why me?’ – and I’ve never been a moaner – but seriously, this time,

“Why me?’ What had I done so wrong to deserve this?

“It’s not like I needed any more lessons in how awful this illness can be, I could write a whole book.

“In fact, I had written the book ten years earlier. If it wasn’t so bloody awful, it would be funny.”

“Well, the consultant told us to go home and live as ‘normally’ as we can,’ Martin said flatly.”

“The next morning Martin got up to go to work, just as he always did. I got up and made a coffee, then went for a walk, just as I always did,” wrote Fiona.

“What else could we do? Lie on the floor, weeping and wailing? That wasn’t going to change anything.

“I was determined to keep the diagnosis a tight secret. I hated the thought of becoming an object of gossip or even pity.

“I could imagine in the world of TV some of those people I used to work with saying, ‘Oh, have you heard about poor Fiona? What a tragedy!

“I’d worked so hard to be independent and judged on my merits, so the thought of people patronising me like that was too awful.

“Nat was away in the Army, Mackenzie was out with his mates. Everything was normal. But, then, what was our alternative?

“There was no Plan B.

“This was my life now.”

Adapted from Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer’s, by Fiona Phillips (Macmillan, £22), to be published on July 17.

A TESCO employee has found the perfect set just in time for your summer holiday.

Lacey Louise works at the supermarket and regularly updates people on social media as to what new clothing items are landing in store.

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A Tesco worker has shared her top picks form the new F&F collection[/caption]

Tiktok/@lacey.louise.xo

This striped co-ord is perfect for summer holidays[/caption]

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It can be dressed up and down and costs just £32[/caption]

This time, the young woman said she had found the perfect summer co-ord.

In the clip, she showed her viewers the latest collection and started with her new favourite items, a matching black and white striped co-ord set.

Lacey said: “I’m back at work and I’ve got some really cute new bits in for summer so I’m going to show you all my new favourites.

“How stunning is this matching set, it is literally the perfect holiday set.”

The stripy co-ord was made with a loose knit, so it was perfect for summer.

The vest top had three black bows in the front to tie it up while the trousers had a wide-leg, perfect for getting some breeze on your skin.

The set came in at just £32, with the top being priced at £14 and the trousers at £18.

The co-ord can be worn together for a more relaxed look with sandals, or you can wear the top separately with jeans and heels to look more glam.

Lacey added: “I think I definitely am going to buy this one.

“This is one of the nicest matching sets Tesco has come out with.”

The clip has since gone viral on her TikTok account @lacey.louise.xo with over 107k views and 4,900 likes.

People were quick to take to the comments and couldn’t wait to get to Tesco to find the new pieces.

One person wrote: “I haven’t seen the stripes in Tesco Havant this is beautiful.”

Another commented: “The structured tee, red cardigan & leather jacket.”

“The first set is sooo nice!” penned a third.

Meanwhile a fourth said: “Okay I’m running to Tesco.”

“Slayyyyy I’m going shopping,” claimed a fifth

It was one of those heart-skipping moments for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers alike when a rare black panther drifted into view, as if emerging from the mists of a forgotten jungle tale. This enchanting creature, draped in an inky cloak of shadows, casually sauntered along the road to Panoen Thung Mountain, causing quite a stir in the picturesque expanse of Kaeng Krachan National Park. It was July 5, a date that would imprint itself in eager minds as a day when the elusive beast chose to grace humans with its unbidden presence, leaving a trail of awe and marvel behind. In this enchanting landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its untouched beauty and vibrant biodiversity, the black panther seemed a phantom made real. The cat’s air of relaxed nonchalance caught the attention of onlookers, adding an extra layer of mystique to an already spellbinding scene. Mongkol Chaiphakdee, the…

A recently unveiled letter from Cambodia’s permanent representative to the United Nations has caused quite a stir, shedding light on a critical endeavor: Cambodia’s appeal to add the prevention of armed conflict with Thailand to the United Nations General Assembly’s agenda. Dated June 16, this document paints a poignant picture of Cambodia’s diplomatic maneuvers, chronicling their approach to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) just a day prior, as they seek a resolution to the simmering border dispute with Thailand. Yet, there’s a twist—Thailand staunchly refuses to recognize the ICJ’s jurisdiction, advocating instead for bilateral discussions through their Joint Boundary Commission. A central theme of this letter revolves around persistent border tensions. Referencing significant treaties from 1904 and 1907, and landmark rulings in 1962 and 2013 that asserted Cambodia’s sovereignty over the Preah Vihear temple, the document highlights a deeply entrenched historical conflict. Embedded within its lines is an alarming…

THERE was a time when, such was his form in the League of Ireland, there was talk that Kevin Hunt could play for Ireland.

Back then, the Englishman — who qualified through residency just over halfway through his decade-long stint with Bohemians — did not do much to fuel the speculation.

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Chatham Town

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But he did observe that he had perhaps developed more of an affinity with the country than some who had pulled on the green jersey who were eligible through the ancestry rule.

That connection was underlined last week when his daughter, Sisi, took part in an Ireland Under-19 training camp, allowing coaches Dave Connell and Keith O’Halloran to run the rule over the Chatham United player.

Whether anything comes of it remains to be seen but for the 18-year-old — who, like her dad, wears the No  4 shirt for her club — to be in the mix is a reminder of how far she has come.

In July 2008, at his request, Hunt cancelled his Bohs contract as he and wife Faye decided to return home after 13 years on the road between Hong Kong, Singapore and Ireland.

The plan had been to settle here but with Sisi and her elder sister Holly — both born in Dublin — suffering from auto-immune conditions, trying to cope with two health-compromised kids without family support proved too much.

Holly is now studying law in University College London, with Sisi following in her father’s footsteps and brother Miller, 11, also a keen footballer.

Hunt celebrated his 50th birthday last Friday with his family in Barcelona. And the former Gypsies defender told SunSport: “Sisi is a central midfielder too. She will run all day. She’s got the best attitude you will ever see.”

Bohemians fans would probably conclude she did not lick it off the stones.

But Hunt — who has been working as an agent for the past nine years after time spent as part of Manchester City and Liverpool’s scouting teams — admitted that the thought of her also becoming a footballer never occurred to him when she was younger.

He explained: “When they were younger, girls football wasn’t really seen as a thing but it’s so popular now.

“It was only really when they were 10 or 11 that they started playing for their local team and Holly was playing until a year or two ago.”

The growth of the female game was evidenced by the fact that she was part of the first intake of girls on a two-year scholarship in 2023.

That meant full-time training as well as obtaining a BTEC in sport qualification, with Chatham Town narrowly failing to win promotion back to the English third tier.

There are plans for dad and daughter to establish some sort of coaching school for girls in the area, with Bohs’ 2001 Double-winning captain insisting he is a reserved parent on the sidelines.

He said: “I am very quiet, I wouldn’t want to embarrass her. A few dads shout and scream but I just encourage her once in a while and we can have a quiet word afterwards. That’s the way to do it.

“I was not desperate for my kids to play football but you see parents who really want it for their sons and daughters — and particularly for their sons.

“But the percentage of kids who make it is so small and, in the women’s game, it’s almost harder because there are so few who get to make a living from it.

“I just wanted — and still want — my kids to enjoy their football and see where it takes them.”

‘LARGER THAN LIFE’

For Hunt, that was halfway across the world and back again, ending up at Bohs with compatriot Dean Martin after Barnet manager John Still tipped off Roddy Collins about their availability after they had initially come to him on trial.

After their first month, Collins could only keep one of them, with Martin gone after three games.

Hunt lasted considerably longer, featuring in three title-winning teams.

Although the former Gillingham player maintained contact with many of his ex-team-mates, visits back to Dublin were relatively infrequent.

But a family trip for Bohs’ opening league game of the season against Shamrock Rovers in the Aviva Stadium in February rekindled the affection for Dublin and stirred memories, prompting him to make contact with the FAI’s coaches about his daughter.

He said: “Roddy was still the same, larger than life.

“When we left, it wasn’t that we made a clean break but we kind of had to start from scratch in building a new life back in England.

“But we had planned on settling in Dublin after I stopped playing and only left because the girls were so ill. We had been very happy there.”

“She had an accident and spilled hot water over her foot and leg and had second-degree burns so we weren’t sure if she was going to be able to make it.”

Life had become difficult because both girls were so unwell.

He recalled: “Looking back now, it was a different life, a nightmare. We were in hospital with them the whole time and never really sleeping because they weren’t sleeping.

“They had a lot of intolerances and allergies but they were different times then and we were almost being told there was nothing wrong with them. Wheat, gluten and dairy, their bodies just reacted to them.

“It was hard to get our heads around it — what was normal food for us was like poison for them.

“But as soon as we saw a professor in Great Ormond Street and he diagnosed what was quite a rare condition, we started to manage it and they became a lot better.”

You never stop being a parent, though, and there was another — thankfully temporary — health scare ahead of Sisi’s international assessment.

He explained: “She had an accident and spilled hot water over her foot and leg and had second-degree burns so we weren’t sure if she was going to be able to make it.

“I told her to leave it for a week and she improved and she got a couple of runs in but it was tough because her season had ended in mid-April.

“But it was a great experience for her considering she was born in Ireland and to be able to come back and be a part of it. It was the first time she had been involved in anything like that.

“She had a couple of days’ training and a game against Treaty United and it was great for her and the coaches were really good to her. She’s a vegan but they made sure she was well looked-after on that score.”

Whatever happens next, it had the feeling of a full-circle moment for someone who was born — and might have grown up — here, had the circumstances been different.

Hunt said: “The girls have always felt a connection here, even though they were only young when they lived here and don’t remember it.

“Faye and I always had a great affection for Ireland almost as soon as we came here.

“It was a massive part of our lives and would be something we’d talk about a lot at home.

“The girls have Irish passports, which is great for them, particularly after Brexit if they ever want to live anywhere else in Europe.”

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Representative Brian Poe has introduced the Philippine Artificial Intelligence Governance Act. This legislation aims to address the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI) by establishing guidelines and regulations to ensure its safe and effective use across different sectors in the Philippines. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape societies, economies, and governance worldwide,

Senator Mark Villar filed a bill that aims to establish the country’s scam prevention center, as one of his first 10 priority measures in the 20th Congress. This proposed center intends to be the Philippines’ first one-stop shop for all scam-related inquiries, complaints, and concerns. Scammers continue to adapt and proliferate as the world rapidly

IF you’re going to spend 22 and a half hours on a plane, give or take, there are a few things you need.

Comfort, entertainment and friendly staff rank high among the list of must-haves. (Also WiFi – but more of that later.)

For these, a seat in Qantas’ premium economy cabin while taking the slog from London Heathrow to Sydney (with a 2-hour layover in Singapore) ticks the boxes.

As a 6ft 2in man mountain, I’ve had my share of uncomfortable experiences on long-haul flights.

So a trip to Australia – the longest I’d ever attempted – did give me a slight sense of dread.

An upgrade to premium economy on the upper deck of one the airline’s Airbus A380s made the journey bearable, though.

The seats were roomy enough to twist one way or another in sleep and also had the all-important extendable head-rest that adjusts from the sides for crucial extra support while dozing.

With a decent pillow from the cabin crew (plus blanket, eye mask and all the usual gubbins) it was about the easiest I’ve found it to get some kip on a plane. 

The food was decent, and staff were more than happy to dig out an extra glass of wine when I was up to stretch my legs.

The usual array of films and TV shows were available to pass the time on the entertainment system, but for those of us who like to alternate movies with in-flight games the selection wasn’t the best.

Which kind of brings me to the biggest criticism of the service – no WiFi.

While I wouldn’t necessarily use it, I know for others it would be an absolute necessity. 

Qantas say it’s in the process of being rolled out across the wider fleet and will be available on A380s in early 2026 (and free to all passengers).

With non-stop flights between Heathrow and Sydney planned for early 2027, it’s a good job it will be sorted. 

With no stopover in Singapore to jump on WhatsApp and Instagram, how would you update your family on what a wonderful journey you’re having?

Return from Heathrow to Sydney from £1475 economy, from £3097 premium economy.

We’ve tried out some other amazing premium economy cabins as well.

The Sun’s Head of Travel Caroline McGuire raves about Norse Atlantic Airways’ – here’s why.

Her’e’s the airline that launched the first ever premium economy seat.

And one airline has revealed plans to ditch premium economy.

LUCINDA Bray was on a Microsoft Teams call when she felt a warm sensation between her legs.

“I was thankfully working from home but I was mid-sentence when I was acutely aware something felt ‘wrong’ down below,” the 37-year-old, from Carlisle, Cumbria, tells Sun Health.

Beth Sunners

Lucinda Bray has lost bowel control, meaning she has faecal accidents when she’s least expecting it[/caption]

The smell that followed left Lucinda certain she’d had a faecal accident – with no warning, and no clue why.

“I remember thanking technology for it being a Teams chat and not an in person meeting and the relief no one else could smell what I could was huge.”

When the meeting finished, Lucinda showered and threw away the clothes she was wearing and the cushion she’d been sitting on. 

“There was no sign anything had gotten to the cushion but I was paranoid there would be a smell,” she recalls.

“Nobody else had any idea what happened but I was terrified of it happening again. I avoided going for in-person meetings for a while after that.”

But it wasn’t the first time Lucinda had an accident, and it won’t be the last.

She is one of around 6.5 million people in the UK who experience bowel incontinence, according to Bladder & Bowel UK. 

The figures are even higher when it comes to urinary incontinence which affects around 14 million people.

Dr Masarat Jilani, Resident Doctor at Jude, says: “Faecal incontinence is when someone loses control of their bowel movements, which can mean small leaks or full loss of control. 

“It’s also more common than people think but is unfortunately rarely talked about due to embarrassment.”

Lucinda’s condition has cast a shadow over everything. Work, holidays, dating, and even taking her child to the school gates are all a dread for Lucinda, who has become isolated in fear of leaking.

“I think people think faecal incontinence is what happens when you actually do a poo in your underwear but mine’s been more about leaking,” says Lucinda. 

“Imagine having diarrhoea, the really water kind, that has a much more potent odour than solid poo, which is bad enough.”

It means every day of Lucinda’s life, she lives in fear of an accident.

Currently she it happens every couple of months. And when it does occur, the persistent odour puts a halt to her day.

She talks about one accident she had on the school run, saying: “There’s a leak, I’m wearing a pad, it should be fine. I can feel all the other parents looking at me, I feel like I can see them wrinkling their noses. 

“And then I have to walk home again and it chaffs and I can smell it, so others must be able to too. So I go and clean myself up and start the day again. 

“But now I think all the parents I passed know. And I’m anxious about going back, thinking they’re all talking about me.

“But I’m single parent there’s no choice. I should be able to manage walking my kid to school, it’s less than half a mile.”

Lucinda hopes that by sharing her experience, the subject becomes less taboo.

I have to use an irrigation device daily that takes around 30mins in the morning. It sounds and smells horrendous. My poor son has to hold his nose to brush his teeth an hour later.

Lucinda

“It’s impossible to underestimate how much it affects my life,” she says.

“I’m a managing director of a company so I can come home and change my clothes if it happens at work but having to factor it into everything I do is really hard. 

“You feel like you can’t get the smell off too even when I’ve showered and changed clothes.

“I keep a change of clothes in my car at all times now too after an incident at a motorway services, before I had reached out for help.

“I was driving for a couple of hours on my way to a work event, my stomach was getting sore. It felt like trapped wind, but, as anyone that has ever had diarrhoea before will know, that’s not safe assumption! 

“So I went to the next services and as soon as I stood up out of the car, I could feel myself leaking.

Beth Sunners

Beth Sunners

Lucinda is speaking out about her experience to break the taboo – she is one of around 6.5 million people in the UK who experience bowel incontinence, according to Bladder & Bowel UK[/caption]

“I dashed inside to the toilet, thankfully I have a radar key so was able to access the disabled toilets, and it had started running down the inside of my legs. 

“I didn’t have a change of clothes with me and just had to wipe up what I could. 

“My trousers weren’t soaked through, but there was residue on the inside and it has a distinct smell, even after wet wipes. 

“I turned around and went home. This is one of the reasons try to avoid big conferences. The travel there and then all the sitting in the same position, I worry what will happen when I stand.”

‘Can you imagine leaking poo during sex?’

Dr Jilani says a lot of people live with the condition for far too long before seeking help.  But he adds: “Incontinence is treatable and often manageable. 

“The right treatment depends on the cause, so getting advice early really matters. 

“Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a great first step. 

“Lifestyle changes, medication, bladder or bowel training, and in some cases surgery can all help.”

Lucinda’s incontinence started in 2018, but it wouldn’t be until 2022 that she asked her GP for specialised incinonntece helps.

She says: “I have a device I’ve been given by the hospital that basically flushes out my bowel so I can go on about the day and not worry about leaking. 

“I have to do a procedure every morning on myself that’s like a colonic irrigation. 

“It does still happen sometimes though, so there is still a paranoia there.”

It makes dating impossible.

“To be able to go two to three months without experiencing any leaking, I have to use an irrigation device daily that takes around 30mins in the morning.

“It sounds and smells horrendous. My poor son has to hold his nose to brush his teeth an hour later. 

“Can you imagine getting to the point of someone staying over and the options for the day ahead are an hour bathroom routine that will put anyone off their food for a day, never mind anything romantic, or risk stomach pains and an actual pooy leak at somepoint in the day?  

“That’s not touching on how actually having sex impacts everything. There’s pain for one thing, that’s mostly what ended my last relationship. 

“And now I have a huge fear of having some kind of accident. Can you imagine leaking poo during sex? Would you ever want to go near that person again?”

I used to be embarrassed about it and hated talking about it but I know from support groups I’m not alone.

Lucinda

Lucinda’s last relationship was in 2021, before she had reached full incontinence. But the issue was already taking it’s toll. 

“My main issues were stomach pains, bloating and constipation,” Lucinda says.

“I was put on a lot of laxatives and had to start daily enemas. Days became about where and when I could use a toilet.

“They were very caring and understanding but we were both single parents so it was hard enough to find time as it was, without needing to plan toilet access.”

“I’ve decided I won’t have a relationship. It’’s too difficult for people to accept, even my own family find it hard to talk about.”

Common causes of incontinence

Dr Jilani says childbirth is a common cause of both urinary and faecal incontinence. 

“Either type of incontinence [urinary or bowel] can be caused by weak pelvic floor muscles, nerve damage, or pressure from things like childbirth or surgery,” he says. 

“Causes can include muscle or nerve damage, constipation and bowel conditions. Conditions like MS, prostate issues, and chronic constipation and lifestyle habits can also play a role. Often, it’s a mix of factors, so getting properly assessed is crucially important.”

Lucinda doesn’t know the cause of her incontinence. 

“I was told when it first started happening around 2018 it was down to childbirth but my son was born in 2016 so I don’t think it was that,” she says. 

“Initial investigations found a small bowel prolapse but by 2019 I couldn’t evacuate my bowels unless I did it manually.

“I’ve been offered surgery, I’ve had MRIs, X-rays… I’ve had what’s called a defecating proctogram but there’s no specialist that’s been able to tell me what the cause is. 

“I’ve even been told it could be down to a genetic condition too but I’m hoping one day I’ll have an answer as to what’s caused it so I can get it fixed.”

While Lucinda is still under investigation, she can’t access the right treatment that will cure her condition.

“The next investigation is an internal exam under anaesthetic so I’m hoping that’ll give me some answers,” she says. 

“I used to be embarrassed about it and hated talking about it but I know from support groups I’m not alone. I just wish I could have it fixed though.”