Diagnosis: Lazy Colon
#140710 - 01/21/05 11:58 AM
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Well, I'm frustrated! After bloodwork, a colonoscopy (right before the holidays...on Dec. 22!), and a batch of other tests, my GI specialist has pronounced a diagnosis of "lazy colon." Meaning, my colon has difficulty "pushing waste matter through." Hence the bloating, pain, and constipation.
Brilliant. After that diagnosis, he tells me that if I'm still having trouble, he'll have to pass me off to another specialist because he doesn't know what else to do with me.
Needless to say, I've blown up to the size of a beached whale and am terribly constipated. I am trying to re-stabalize with the "what to eat when you can't eat anything" eating plan, but I'm very upset. What kind of diagnosis is that? He hasn't offered me any concrete advice, only that I should stay on my citracel "if it works for you" or possibly sign up for long-term zoloft use or a batch of miralax.
Has anyone else out there dealt with this diagnosis or have any suggestions on what to do next? I do have an appointment to see a thyroid specialist in 2 weeks, because the GI guy thought something might be going on with my thyroid, too! Help! I don't know if it's worth pursuing this with doctors or trying to control it on my own through Heather's diet.
Thanks,
sue
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I've always wondered if I have a lazy colon, but have never asked the GI doctors. They just say I have IBS.
Have you ever tried taking Miralax? I think it helps me.
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I think that in Heather's IBS book, there's a section that describes how the colon operates in someone with IBS, and you can either have way too many colon contractions (leading to D) or not enough (leading to C), which sounds sorta like a "lazy colon". I don't know if that helps. I hope you start feeling better soon; staying on the diet should help.
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~Angela
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Sue Angell:
I just did a quick search for you on google and there appears to be a few things about a "lazy colon." One of interest can be viewed at www.gicare.com/pated/ecdgs07.htm
You might want to do some more surfing yourself to see if there's anything else.
My colon is lazy if I don't eat the right things. But, fortunately (?) I mainly have IBS-D so I'm usually okay (in a manner of speaking!)
Belinda
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Sue,
I totally understand your frustration. Doctors are trained for acute care, illnesses, surgery, etc, not for chronic care, wellness or maintenance. One positive is that there's nothing else wrong, like colon cancer or bowel disease of some sort. Thyroid can mimic IBS so it's a good idea to have that checked.
It can only help to continue with Heather's diet whether you decide to pursue this with other doctors or not. It's a healthy, low-fat, diet that can't hurt.
Remember as an IBS-C you should only do the breaking the cycle diet for 2-3 days, then start adding back SAFE insolubles prepared and consumed in SAFE ways. Plus lots of liquids and exercise to get your gut moving.
For the sake of comparison, my doctor, whom I like, did almost the same thing! He said the diagnosis was IBS (I suspect "lazy colon" is medical lazy terminology for IBS!), and told me to try taking Metamucil. Wouldn't you know, that plus Heather's diet has stabilized my IBS to the point where I haven't had a single attack of IBS-D in over a year.
So hang in there, doctors are only human, and you can always make a little voodoo doll of him and stick pins in him!!
Vent away, any old time, that's what we're here for! Good luck, sweetie and hope you feel better soon.
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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Thanks, Laura Sue!
My aunt (a nurse) seconds the thyroid possibilities, so I will keep that appointment (in a week). I've had to stagger all this medical stuff, though, since money is an issue...which is hard! I'd love just to have stuff resolved or at least know what is going on. Then maybe I wouldn't feel so angry or depressed toward my "lazy colon."
I upped my intake of liquids and citracel this weekend, which helped, and I know I need to "cheat" less with Heather's diet. It's hard, though...with a little one who likes snack food and a fiance who's a total food lover...if I buy them little treats, sooner or later I will break down and have a snack. I have to be a bit more disciplined, I guess.
So, here I go...trying to "behave" better this week and prepare sweet potatoes and carrots to go along with dinners and lunches to help the tummy out!
Thanks for your support. I really, really appreciate it! It's good to know my doctor just simply isn't off his rocker.
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Thanks, Belinda!
I think this at least "defined" what may be wrong with me. I don't agree with a lot of their food suggestions; I already know what triggers my stomach and makes me uncomfortable. But understanding what exactly may be going on is helpful.
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I had the EXACT same diagnosis, and felt exactly the way you do! Thanks a lot- that's brilliant. My doctor didn't even mention things like thyroid or celiac disease, both of which I had a lot of classic symptoms for. I have found that if there is going to be a treatment, its going to come from me doing tons of my own research, and thankfully finding boards like this. We seem to be kind of on our own with this!
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Taroh...what did you do after your diagnosis? I did do some googling, and now I know what a lazy colon is...it's one that stays constricted too long around the waste, making it difficult to "go." So, essentially, the colon doesn't like to move, or spasm, the way it's supposed to. All of the web sites suggested a lot of the same things that Heather's board has suggested, you know...fiber, veggies, hot tea, exercise, SFS, etc...Doesn't make it any easier, though!
I see my thyroid doctor on the 4th...I'm hoping, hoping, hoping that I have a metabolic disorder that can be "fixed." I do have some other symptoms of hypothyroidism (according to my aunt, the nurse), and it would be lovely if that was the culprit behind this condition.
Till then...I think I'm going to try the massaging techniques that tia mentioned yesterday! If it works, I'm all for it!
sue
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Well, after my diagnosis (which I politely told my doctor was a nice way of her telling me she didn't know what the hell was wrong!)- I pressed on and got tested for everything under the sun (celiac, thyroid, allergies) - and basically ended up at the same point I am now. She was more or less lumping lazy colon and IBS as the same thing. I just didn't accept it b/c she didn't test me for anything else. But, it seems she was right. I have IBS. Since then it's been the same daily struggle of everyone, trying meds and supplements, acupuncture, relaxation, diet tweaking, and finally this website. I've done it all. I have found that eliminating ANY IF is the only thing that helps so far, and that is causing me tons of new probs. I'm just trying to find a balance now!! Just trying to hope that someday life will be normal and I can date and have kids and have a social life. UGH
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