I saw a new colo-rectal surgeon who ordered the Sitz marker study as well as an X-ray defography. She had me do a colonoscopy prep a few days prior to the study so I was cleaned out before I had to start the period before I couldn’t take any of my meds. I had also
previously done a Smart Pill, but that only gives total transit time. She wanted to see if there was just one, specific spot in my colon where things slowed down or was it the entire colon.
I’ll admit, I was totally freaked about the defography. I had to do another prep, in a hotel room, no less. But it wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d imagined. And it was so fast. Other than drinking the barium and waiting the 20 minutes, the rest only took maybe 5 minutes or so. And it showed I don’t have pelvic floor dysfunction. Which means, when I decide I’m ready to go forward with surgery I can have a reconnection. No bag! The previous surgeon didn’t even bother to test me. Just assumed I had PFD and would need an ileostomy. So glad I got a second opinion!
I will tell you, in my experience, most doctors do not think much of a tortuous colon. Will tell you every woman with years of constipation has it from straining. A low fiber diet has been helpful to me.