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Re: neverending bowel problemsFrom: anonymous@obgyn.netSun, 10 Dec 2000 00:34:05 EST
Hi there, I can say from experience I know how maddening it can be. A few years ago, I had a very similar problem. I'd had continuous diarrhea for four months. I'd have several severe bouts a day, lost a dramatic amount of weight, which wasnt good as I was already in normal range, and virtually nothing could stop the diarrhea. Then it switched to constipation - and like you, nothing, absolutely nothing could seem to get it going normally. I was always a person to go once every day or two and needed that to feel comfortable. Finally after several days, like you, I'd have one, large and painful and very traumatic. My doctor kept me on plain saline enemas, as that was absolutely the only thing that would help. Stimulant laxitives were not safe, and stool softners did nothing and made me feel ill. Gradually after about seven months it went away, and a cause was never found. It may have been due to a system imbalance, or perhaps a side effect due to my endometriosis. It did improve around the same time I had my surgery. Ask your doctor about using saline enemas every few days for a while. Its not a good solution forever, but will help for a short time without causing too much damage. If he/she does ok use of them, here's a few tips on using them from an old pro like myself: 1) Administer them in your bathroom, especially if you're a first-time user. Put a towel down on the floor and lay on your left side. Wearing gloves is a good idea to help guide the enema in. Make sure the room is warm enough. 2) Save the box and cap. You can cap the enema after use, and put it in the box for disposal. 3) Before using, here's a tip that's very important and not normally mentioned on the box: holding the dispoable bottle with the cap off in front of you, very _slowly_ squeeze it until the excess air is out - the bottle will be a little bent, and the liquid will be near the top. This will drastically help to reduce the excess air entering in your system, thus lessening abdominal gas pains that may occur after use. 4) Be sure to guide the enema in slowly, using a side to side motion. Look at some anatomy pictures before use so you will be familar with how to correctly position it ahead of time. 5) Keep a watch or clock with you, and try to hold the enema in as long as possible. It really does help to empty you out better. 6) You will feel cramping and abdominal pains, but this should subside after you're cleaned out. Remember not to use them more often than your doctor recommends, and if you have any questions, call your pharmacist. If for some reason you don't experience a bowel movement within five-ten minutes max, call your doctor or local hospital emergency room immediately. Hope this helps if the need arises. Also try some pineapple, watermelon, canteloupe, and raisan bran in your diet to see if that helps. Drink at least 8 full glasses of water a day, and get plenty of physical exercise such as walking, stair climbing, biking, etc. every day. Try to keep your body on a regular schedule, too. And make sure your doctor follows up on this - she or he may want to order tests if the condition doesn't resolve. You may have an underlying problem that is causing the constipation. If she/he is unable to find anything, you may want to seek a second opinion with a GI specialist at your local hospital or GI clinic. People don't realize how disruptive bodily functions can be until they don't work right. Some doctors don't take it seriously in absence of other symptoms, which can be very frustrating. I still have bowel problems myself with the endo but thankfully not like before. I'm also lucky enough to have good doctors that do take any problem I experience seriously. I again stress that if your current doctor is not being helpful, a second opinion cannot hurt. Take Care Kas
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