new here
#306345 - 05/01/07 03:58 PM
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hi there,
i'm new and i -think- i have IBS, but it's not been diagnosed as yet.
i have PCOS and have been on metformin for the past 6 months. for the first 5 months i had the most terrible diarrhea (caused by the met), but this last month i have had very bad constipation (which came on totally out of the blue), which has now brought the fact that i have a rectocele to light. i feel that i am falling apart at the seams. i haven't even had a child and i have a rectocele 
i am having pains down my left side - my leg hurts and my lower back too. i also feel dizzy and have a bit of nausea. i don't think it's anything else, though i'm wondering whether i might have an ovarian cyst this month. does anyone know if that can make IBS worse? i feel totally backed up, just like i was when i had my gallbladder disease. i remember seeing an xray of my insides and colon was completely blocked up - the doctor was shocked. i was only 25.
also, i had my gallbladder removed 12 years ago. does this make IBS worse too?
i am new to this, so any advice would be wonderful. this feels like one more thing to add to the ever expanding list of things wrong with me. last year i had an elevated sed rate and white blood cell count, which i think was due to a bout of fibromyalgia - we never did find out what it was, but my whole body was in a lot of pain for about 5 months.
the only thing i can think of that might've triggered this constipation is that i had an HSG to see if my fallopian tubes were open. they pushed dye through my tubes and xrayed me. from then on, i've not had a good BM.
anyway ideas would be so welcome.
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possible IBS-C
vegetarian
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Re: new here
#306376 - 05/02/07 04:28 AM
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Mary_V
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 544
Loc: Grandville, MI
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Welcome to the boards!
First off, you must have a doctor diagnose you with IBS. You must not try to self-diagnose.
Second, are you dealing with infertility? I do not have pcos, but am going through fertility treatments. I will be starting injections and IVF in June. I can tell you from experience that the drugs and hormones can have a HUGE effect on your GI system. It is possible to have a cyst. I have not had one, but I'm guessing that could contribute to C. When my C gets worse sometimes I have pain in my back/shoulder. And I get nausea. Hormones can cause that too. I used to get some of those symptoms from taking birth control.
I had rectal prolapse last year, and had surgery to correct it. That has made a big difference for me. I can have a bm much more easily and frequently now. A rectocele could definitely be contributing to C. Before I had my prolapse fixed I really struggled to go. I could rarely even pass gas b/c things were so blocked. I would look into getting that fixed if I were you.
So, I don't know that I have a ton of advice, but I wanted you to know that hormones, cysts, and rectoceles could all contribute to C. I have never done an HSG, but it is possible the dye is causing problems. How long ago was the HSG? Sometimes those things take a while to get out of your system. HTH.
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~Mary
Had surgery for rectal prolapse in Sept. '06 and feeling good now! Loving life with our IVF miracle #1.
 
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that does help a lot - thank you.
i had the HSG a month ago, at the end of march. everything started to go bad from there. i was having regular bm's, and no rectocele problems at all. i was having diarrhea, but that was preferable to this.
i am the same as you - rarely passing gas, though last night was THE most painful experience so far. i had so much trapped wind and when i laid down, it started to shift. horrible pains.
it's very interesting that you got your rectocele fixed AND you are trying for a baby. what did they do to fix you? i know that sometimes they leave things alone if you are wanting to get pregnant. i'd be very interested.
my dr says it's a 'mild rectocele', but i'm not so sure. it's bad enough for me to have to 'help things along' down there, if you know what i mean.
i used to have chronic constipation as a child, and it was miserable. this reminds me of that.
by the way, have you tried miralax?
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possible IBS-C
vegetarian
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Re: new here
#306397 - 05/02/07 08:28 AM
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Mary_V
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 544
Loc: Grandville, MI
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Miralax, yes! I take 2 doses every day. It is a big help. My colon surgeon prescribed it for me after surgery. I have a prescription for a year's supply. I just saw recently, though, that it is available over the counter.
I don't know if rectocele and rectal prolapse are the same thing. But they are closely related. I had pretty major surgery to fix it. I was in the hospital for 5 days and off from work for 2 months. Not fun. But the results are worth it. They removed part of my colon and reattached my rectum. Sorry if tmi. There is no way I could have had kids the way I was before. I could barely function just taking care of myself. The surgeon said that I could start trying to get pg 2 months after surgery. That is when I started seeing a fertility specialist. Anyway, I definitely did not want to wait for surgery. I wanted it over before having kids.
I can totally relate about the trapped gas. That was my worst symptom. It just felt like there was something in the way (which I now know there was). I would have horrible spasms b/c it couldn't come out. And it would be very painful. I hated it when it would move around inside but never come out. I'm so glad those days are over. I can go out and feel like a normal person again.
I do have different bowel functionality now than most people. I go frequently throughout the day...small amounts. They took out the stretchy part of my colon where things can build up for a good bm. So, sometimes it's a pain that I go quite often. But it's way better than how I was before. I don't like to be too far from a bathroom, but it's not too bad. And it's not urgent...nothing like D. I can control it like a normal person.
What kind of test have you had to diagnose a rectocele? I would get a second opinion if it feels like it's bad. I went to a colon surgeon. He diagnosed me in a few minutes! A rectal prolapse actually comes out when you push. So it's pretty easy to diagnose. But I did have to do a barium test too. Not very pleasant, but they could see everything going on and see that I didn't have any other kinds of prolapses.
Feel free to ask any questions. It's nice to be able to help others. At least the suffering is good for something. HTH.
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~Mary
Had surgery for rectal prolapse in Sept. '06 and feeling good now! Loving life with our IVF miracle #1.
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well, i went to see my obgyn about this. of course, i was on my back, legs in stirrups and she couldn't see the rectocele because you can only normally see it when i am 'baring down'. so, i had to be very undignified and squat down on the floor so she could see it. i don't think she got a proper look really, so i'm thinking i might go and see a colon dr and see what they say about it.
do you already have children? everything i have read says that this is caused by child birth or chronic constipation. i don't have children and have just had the constipation, so it seems a bit odd that i should get this. the only other thing is that i do have pretty bad weight issues - which goes hand in hand with pcos.
god, how did i get myself into this mess? lol.
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possible IBS-C
vegetarian
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Re: new here
#306404 - 05/02/07 09:23 AM
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Mary_V
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 544
Loc: Grandville, MI
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I would highly recommend seeing a colon surgeon. He/she will know exactly what to look for.
No, I don't have any children. But I desperately want some...which is why I'm seeing a fertility specialist. You can read my other threads (Baby Making and Infertility). Anyway, so that was not the cause for me. I never had chronic constipation either. I have no idea what "caused" my prolapse. But I think it was probably something I've had all my life and just gradually got worse as I got older...to the point where I noticed it and it caused problems. It was the cause of my constipation (I hesitate to call it that...my stools were fine, just very difficult to get out b/c of the prolapse...which made me feel constipated), not the result of it.
I am at the opposite end of the weight spectrum. With feeling sick for years and then surgery and recovery my weight has gone way down. I'm on the borderline of being underweight...which doesn't help the fertility issues. I'm working on gaining a few pounds. But I haven't been very successful. I have never been and probably never will be a very big person (my mom is smaller than I am!). So I know my weight didn't cause the prolapse either. Sometimes we just don't know why...just lucky I guess :P Are you very old? I'm 27. Most doctors told me I was too young for prolapse. I'm glad I finally found one that would listen to me and check for it. It is more common in elderly people. Again, just lucky to have it so young :P
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~Mary
Had surgery for rectal prolapse in Sept. '06 and feeling good now! Loving life with our IVF miracle #1.
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oh ok, i was just wondering if you'd had them or not. i realized you were getting IVF, but so many people still get that even though they've had one already, so i thought i'd check 
i'm 37, so i guess that's old in fertility years, yes. i feel like i'm 100 right now lol
i swear that this latest bout of constipation has messed up my hormones... or maybe it's the other way around like you said. i don't think i'm ovulating this month.
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possible IBS-C
vegetarian
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Quote:
everything i have read says that this is caused by child birth or chronic constipation.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rectocele/DS00704/DSECTION=3
There are a couple other causes listed here for rectoceles. It also says on the page that lists symptoms that back pain is included among them. Maybe this is the cause of the back pain you mentioned?
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***********************
If you're not dead, you've still got time.
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Mary- I have had IBS for over 20 years. I am miserable. Tried everything. The worst thing is that for all these years I have always had trouble going to the bathroom and expelling gas. Even though I don't consider myself C, because mostly when it comes out it is soft, ribbon like or flat or D. The problem is that I have to force so hard to get it out, and the gas rumbles around and won't come out either without severe forcing and manually pushing on my lower abdomen area. I know I have Hems, but recently I felt something come out when I pushed and then it wouldn;t go back in and I reached back and was horrified to feel my insides outside. Is that a prolapse? I thought it was Hems. Maybe all these years that is why i have had to force so much and have been so bloated I couldn't take it and I could feel the gas trapped and I could push it with my hands and move it around inside, but it would feel like there was no room for it to come out. When it does come out, it takes hours of going in and out of the bathroom. Never felt like I can complete a movement ever. Basically because I can't. Takes me 3 hours to get out of the house every morning for 20 years in order to go to work. Pushing the whole time until I finally get it out. But never ever has it been hard like constipation. I have read all your posts and it seem like it is the same as you. Do you think so? If so I don't know how I will afford that operation. I better just get out the scissors. Just kidding. What do you think?
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Re: prolapse
#309411 - 06/20/07 04:39 AM
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Mary_V
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 544
Loc: Grandville, MI
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Yes, it definitely sounds like prolapse. You sound just like I did. I always said I was C, but I wasn't really. When things did come out they were very normal. It was just so hard to get the bm out b/c it was trapped. And the gas...that was the worst! It could be stuck for hours and be so painful. I would push so hard on my stomach to try to get it to come out. It would just move around and feel worse. Anyway, you've read my posts so you know what I went through. I would HIGHLY recommend seeing a colon surgeon. He can diagnose you very quickly. The surgery is not fun at all. But it has completely changed my life! I eat everything now. Not that every day is perfect, but it's unreal how much different it is than before. No spasms and hours in pain and doing everything possible to get a tiny gas bubble out. No being afraid to go out. I can live. DH and I just got back from Spain! I never would have done that before. Anyway, I know it's scary, but at least see a surgeon and see what he says. Do you have inusrance? My insurance covered a lot of it. I think we paid a couple thousand. I would have paid way more than that to have my life changed so much and to feel normal again. It really was worth the cost and the difficult recovery. Good luck. I hope this helps. Keep me posted.
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~Mary
Had surgery for rectal prolapse in Sept. '06 and feeling good now! Loving life with our IVF miracle #1.
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Mary- Thank you very much for responding. I am going to my regular yearly physician tomorrow and I will talk to him and maybe get a name of a doctor from him. I haven't been to a gastro since I moved to a new state 6 years ago. I just never wanted to go because after miserable test after test, it was always the same thing, IBS. But after reading your posts I felt some kind of hope that this is what I have been battling. I believe I have IBS, but I think from having it for so long it has caused this condition to occur. I do have insurance, but have a $1000.00 deductible and 80% coverage after that, but still thats alot for me. Anyway, if it would help me live instead of exist, I would probably sell my soul to feel better. After all, I have sat on that toilet for 20 years and begged to god to make it stop, but he won't listen to me. Thanks you again, and I will see what happens. So glad I read your posts.
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Re: prolapse
#309415 - 06/20/07 06:27 AM
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Mary_V
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 544
Loc: Grandville, MI
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Glad I could help. I hated my GI. I wanted to cry every time I saw him and he just told me I was young, healthy, and there was nothing wrong. Um, no, there IS something wrong or I wouldn't be here. He ran all the usual tests, but didn't find anything. You have to see a colon surgeon. He will know exactly what to look for. DON'T go to a GI. I was referred to the surgeon by my regular Dr. Good luck.
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~Mary
Had surgery for rectal prolapse in Sept. '06 and feeling good now! Loving life with our IVF miracle #1.
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Mary- I hate GI's Too. Did you ever read my poem from the Living Room a few years ago. Here it is.
There's a five alarm fire in my ass oh what class.
Can't walk can't eat, can't breathe
without getting gas
And it is clear to me
my mind and body are not is harmony
and my intestines are my enemy
It's a shame to eat and feel the pain
It's a crime that I sit here all the time
that I sit here making rhymes
It's a shame
I think I'm going insane.
You know I find it quite amusing
doctors fix hearts and lungs while snoozing
I can't simply equate
they can't fix my simple belly aches
So, I guess I will never see
the person that I was capable to be
cause my intestines have control of me
this porcelain throne attached to me
just simply will not let me be
Sometimes I want to yell go to hell
when the doctor says try some citrocel and
you will feel just swell
after 20 years of this IBS History
It's gonna take more than just fiber therapy
This is no longer any fun
I'm calling Dr. Kevorkian
I'd say doctor please oh please
take me from this terrible disease.
He'd say, no you have no deadly infection
just a bad prolapsing rectum
So I guess I will have to wait
and naturally disintigrate
But while I site here waiting
I watch my spirit slowly fading
You know I don't do drugs or smoke
No not one.
But sometimes I feel like going out and having
some old fashion fun
and that's when I reach for
a shot of good ole immodium.
Wait to guarantee no trouble
You better make it a double.
So as your read this poem before me
You may think hey this women needs psychotherapy
But nothing could ever end this great sadness
Except putting and end to this intestinal madness.
You know some people dream of an office with a view.
I dream of an office with a loo.
Some say their prayers on bended knee
I say them while sitting in the office lavatory.
Dear God pleae make it stop
Make it go away
So I don't have to take another sick day.
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Microscopic Colitis, IBS-A, GERD, Hiatal Hernia
Bethany, Ontario, Canada
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Pretty funny
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~Mary
Had surgery for rectal prolapse in Sept. '06 and feeling good now! Loving life with our IVF miracle #1.
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