Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

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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