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How in the world did you figure out you had a prolapse and what were the symptoms?
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Re: Newbi
#335824 - 09/09/08 04:05 AM
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Mary_V
Reged: 05/09/06
Posts: 544
Loc: Grandville, MI
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Basically rectal prolapse is when the rectum kind of falls down. When I would try to have a bm and push I could feel something coming out...and I could see it in the reflection in the toilet. I actually used a hand mirror once to verify that it was not just stuck poo. If it gets really bad it can get stuck out. Mine wasn't that bad yet. It would go back in when I wasn't pushing. But it was kind of blocking the opening...which made me think I had C, when I really didn't. I just couldn't get the poo past the rectum. I had lots of trapped gas and spasms (the gas couldn't get out either, especially with the stuck poo), and I had a really hard time having a bm. The biggest thing is that you can feel something protruding when you push. For most people sitting on the toilet and pushing for a bit can help get out gas or a bm. For me it had the opposite effect. If I tried to push it just made things worse/closed things off more. I saw a colon surgeon for a true diagnosis. He had me sit on a toilet and push...and he looked. Simple as that. I also had a defecogram to make sure there weren't any other prolapses. There are also things called cystoceles and rectoceles...more internal prolapses relating to the bladder and the uterus I think. That is not a fun test. But it's worth it to know for sure if there are any prolapses. Do a search online for rectal prolapse, cystocele and rectocele. You'll find quite a bit of info. As far as I know D is not a symptom of a prolapse, so if that's what you struggle with a prolapse wouldn't be my first guess. But it's still worth looking into. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Especially if you end up having one...I can tell you about the surgery/recovery. 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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Thank you so much, Mary for the info. Well, for about 54 years that was all I did have was C- but now it could be either. Well, that does not sound like fun to have someone watch you push, but you did get an answer. I just don't know with me, but I will continue my search for a better way to deal with it. Now, today was a great day. No problems at all. So, I count my blessings when I have those days, and I hope that the spaces with those days grow longer and longer. I do think maybe the Acacia may be helping. I decreased my dose to just 1/2 teaspoon in the evening with some calcium. Yesterday, I had a huge formed movement, before I went to work, so that was good, but then I felt uncomfortable in my stomach, kind of bubbly, so I went ahead and took two Immodium for the commute. I do try to avoid the drugs if possible. So, basically it's been two pretty good days, so I am grateful for that.
You know I was thinking about this situation last night, and I wondered why it has been so difficult for me and others to perform a function that should be as natural as breathing. After all, God made us to eat and eliminate, but if you looked at my medicine cabinet, you would think it was rocket science. I have everything from a stool softener, to gas relief, to immodium, to hemmorrhoid medication...you name the bowel problem and I have it. 
I am a single woman, so were I ever to hook up with someone, he would take one look in that cabinet and know my problems. 
Well, anyway thanks for all of your help.
Lynn
Edited by osbo54 (09/09/08 02:59 PM)
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osbo54,
I believe all of us on this board have had the same feelings of frustration as you are experiencing. I'm just really sorry you haven't found a doctor who has compassion. I can't imagine my doctor saying some of the things I have read on this board. I knew there were some real jerks out there so I did research on finding a good GI. My doc told me that 1/3 of his patients have IBS and that he really tries to work with them so they can at least have some sort of a normal life. He admitted that IBS is one of the most frustrating conditions for not only the patient but the doctor. I too hate running to the doctor, but I do think it's important to find a good, understanding one who believes IBS is real. If you start reading some of the posts here, you will find that most of us have other conditions that sometimes exacerbates the IBS. Sometimes a doctor can at least help with one issue.
IBS has changed all of our lives. I believe the anxiety part of it is probably the worst. I am 55 and like you, I lived a very, very active life up until 3 years ago. I was outgoing and fun, ate and drank what I wanted without a second thought. I've always had bouts of insomnia due to being a worrywort, but never had the IBS issues until later in life. Having major surgery in January kicked in the IBS full force and I was not even able to return to a job I loved. This spring was probably the lowest point of my life and I knew I had to try and understand what was going on and to try and manage it. I would strongly recommend (as others have) the EFI diet and hypno tapes. For most people, the tapes really help with the anxiety. I actually started working with the diet and Acacia last November, but got messed up with the surgery. The diet and Acacia is NOT a quick fix. For some, it has very little impact, for others, works great and then many of us have to tweak it a bit. It's all trial and error.
You say you don't want to "live on drugs" and I too feel the say way. I actually always used to tease my husband how we were spending all the money on his drugs and the only thing I ever used on occasion was Ambien for an insomnia bout. I now feel totally different. If someone has diabetes or MS they must take drugs for that conditon. IBS is a condition and if something helps, I will take it. I have taken Ambien on occasion over the past 12 years and it has been a godsend. I have found that when I'm going through a very anxious period I will take a low dose of Ativan in the evening for a few days and it helps from going into a full blown attack. If they found a drug to take every day that would "cure the IBS" I think we would all take it for the rest of our lives. What I am saying is don't rule out drugs entirely. There is a place and they can be helpful.
I think the most useful thing for you to do is to go thru as many posts here as you can and read about everyone's experiences. It will really make you feel like you are not alone. We all have similar situations with a little different "spin". I have used many suggestions that people have made. It is a challenge and there is no "one path".
Take care.
Sharon
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Re: Sharond
#335895 - 09/10/08 03:36 PM
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GaGa
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 534
Loc: Florida
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Well said & Amen!
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"I Will Survive! :-)... I shall live and not die and declare the works of The Lord..."
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Hi Sharon,
Thank you for the kind and encouraging post. I am finding that it a trial and error and even sometimes that is not set in stone.
Yeah, finding a doc is really difficult. Since I am in the medical field, I beleive I will start using my connections to try and find a good GI doc. All I want is someone to really hear what I am saying, instead of just being another insurance claim.
Again, I have to say I am grateful every day that at least I know that my problems seem to only be in the morning. So, I can at least plan around that now. I really feel for those people who deal with it 24/7, especially the D. I had learned to live with the C, having it most of my life, but this has really threwn me for a loop.
As far as the drugs go, I am not against their use where benefit is measureable, but I usually don't go that route. Now, that is not to say that I won't in the future, but for now, I seem to be able to manage fairly well...you know, good days and bad. Being in the medical field, I have seen what the quick fix of drugs has done to patients, and I know that true and genuine healing takes time. Drugs just seem to mask the symptoms but do not get to the core issue. But, as the wonderful GaGa says, why not use them in a pinch as kind of a bandaid, until you can work through it. I have seen with our patients drug upon drug upon drug, so that one drug is used to treat the side effects of the other drug, and it goes on and on until the patient has a 3 page drug sheet. Do I now use a dose of immodium when needed...sure, but I don't use it unless absolutely necessary. I feel like it locks up my bowels and I believe my body wants to expel the stool quickly for whatever reason.
I have been doing alot of reading on here and elsewhere, because information is knowledge. This site is the very best that I have found so far.
I am so thankful and grateful that so far I have had a fantastic week. I have had morning BMs with a fairly normal stool (as normal as can be with this condition), and I was able to commute symptom-free. That is not to say, that I wasn't anxious and scared the whole way, but I made it with no stops. I have been using 1/2 teaspoon of the Acacia and one 600 mg calcium/ 400 mg D only in the evening, and it seems to have helped. But, every day is a new day, and now I take it day by day. That is the only way I have found so far to get a handle on this condition, because I have gotten confident before and ended right back at square one. 
It most certainly is an individual path and what works for one may not work for another, but I will give it the old college try. 
So, let me sign off now and hope to chat with you again soon.
Lynn
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