Connect
← Return to Anyone else have severe constipation?
Discussion
Anyone else have severe constipation?
Digestive Health | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (489)Comment receiving replies
@lisalucier. Just jumping in as I also have bowel issues. Since radiation treatment for anal cancer, I also feel like I'm leaving something behind whenever I successfully go. I find, simply moving around the house helps me to go some more and oftentimes throughout the day; or else I don't go at all for days.
Things seem so weird for me from diagnosis of a HPV related cancer that came from nowhere after a 50 yr marriage to today whereby my bowels simply won't cooperate. I think accepting the situation, relieving some of the stress and adapting are all helpful.
Sorry that I am not too helpful for you but know you aren't alone. I'm starting the first retesting of everything now.
I just wish all the various medical folks would be more open about expectations or what we could experience along the way.
Replies to "@lisalucier. Just jumping in as I also have bowel issues. Since radiation treatment for anal cancer,..."
Connect
Hi @bug3 - what you jumped in with here was very helpful. It sounds as though for you, too, moving around helps you to "go" more.
Setting expectations seems to be a very important part of doctoring. I've heard plenty of physicians talk about this when I've interviewed them for articles on topics for medical professional enewsletters, but I'm afraid this behavior may not be present across the whole field of medicine.
From what I've read in this support group and my own experiences with chronic diarrhea and then constipation with taking semaglutide shots, I've only gotten a taste of the emotional toll of these types of things going on with your bowels. However, I sense that an emotional toll is also a significant part of the suffering, in addition to pain, discomfort, mess, etc.
You said that the following have been helpful for you in getting a cancer diagnosis out of nowhere and then having bowels that will not cooperate. I'm wondering if you'd be willing to elaborate on these, particularly in relation to having bowels that will not cooperate, and how you've come to these places/helped yourself get there in order to help other members dealing with these conditions.
- Accepting the situation
- Relieving some of the stress
- Adapting
Any practical tips for how to put these in practice, bug3, would be great if you are up for it. Thoughts?