Hi all! I haven't posted in some time. I'd been going through A TON of GI issues, which I presume were primarily stress induced by an incredibly awful job I had. I got so sick I ended up quitting the job. My issues cleared up about 95% within a week! Luckily, I got a new job which is working out wonderfully 
However, during my bout of almost contanst diarrhea, stomach discomfort, bloating, abstention, the whole nine yards...nothing was working. I'd been on Lotronex for about 3 months and IT even stopped having an effect on me.
About 3 weeks ago, my GI had me do a procedure called a manectomy where they inserted a catheter into my rectum. The catheter had a bunch of electronic sensors in it and there was a balloon at the end which was inflated and deflated periodically. The doctor had me do a series of exercises (squeezing, bearing down, etc) and measured my colonic muscle contractions, pressures and whatnot throughout. She also measured my body's responses to the balloon increasing in size and had me poop the balloon. Interestingly, I was unable to poop it until they made it extremely small. I thought that was odd.
The test results indicate I have something called pelvic floor dissynergia - translation, my rectum does not relax as it is supposed to when I try to make a poo-poo. This causes me to retain poo. Hence, some sort of weird constipation. This would also support the fact I was unable to poop the balloon until it was reduced to a very small size.
To add to the conundrum, I apparently can't feel the retained poo (hence I never feel constipated) because the tests also showed that I have a delayed sensorial perception. My colon doesn't feel poo until about double the amount a normal person can sense has built up. My doctor says this is why I have diarrhea. The only thing that can get around the built up poop is watery stuff.
Wow. Right? For years I have had diarrhea, now I'm being told I have a chronic constipation issue? Even though I suffer from loose stools all the time and poop every single day, multiple times a day? I don't get it!
The doctor wants me to try biofeedback therapy. I am really wary and unsure in this diagnosis and treatment. I guess I'm just super dependent on meds. They are the only thing that ever seem to help. He wants me to stop taking Lotronex when I begin the therapy and I'm terrified as I am just now starting to feel better after months of suffering.
Can anyone clue me in on what I am experiencing? Anyone gone through this or have any thoughts? I am really confused.
An afterthought - he did say that this is just one piece of the puzzle. I have something physically abnormal to pin some of my problems on, however, there are other inexplicable causes, such as dietary effects on my gut. Therefore, even if the therapy works, I'm still going to have some residual IBS issues. Gotta stick to my diet, which honestly, I wouldn't abandon for the world!
Thanks!!
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Confused about Biofeedback Therapy and Test Results!
