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Any experience with rectocele? No one EVER talks about this!
My situation: Self-diagnosed rectocele. Have appointment in 4 days to hopefully confirm or R/O. After 20 years on anti-depressants my constipation was so bad that I developed a rectocele. I hope to find out soon how large it is and how to treat it... Have been doing Kegels. Have had no other pelvic issues of any kind - ever (lucky, I know). Am post-menopausal, age 62. After ~4 months I successfully tapered off Venlafaxine down to zero (was NOT easy and that Mayo group was VERY helpful to me). One of the first things I noticed in tapering/ending AD's was being able to poop again! Hallelujah! But 20 years of constipation had taken its toll. Caution The Following is not for the faint of heart/squeamish (but this is a topic no one is talking about and I KNOW I can't be "the only one"...): I am getting too old for the physical contortionism necessary to extract poop from my rectum, not to mention sick of it. I go for annual gyno exam EVERY YEAR. Every visit I have complained about severe constipation. Lately I have even described how difficult it is to completely eliminate and having to use my fingers to get the poop out. Why has NO ONE ever said "rectocele"????? It took me several hours of sleuthing online to even find a word for it. And when I did it seemed like a fairly common physical ailment for women - and yet - there is very little out there about this condition. Most of the sites that mention rectocele do so 'in passing' while discussing pelvic prolapses. I in no way mean to belittle THAT horrible state of affairs... it's just not my personal issue and I want to know more about my personal issue. But everytime I try to find more info I end up reading stories about OTHER pelvic issues because if rectocele is mentioned at all it is in conjunction with these others. Please... has anyone else had this as their main or single issue who would be willing to share diagnosis, procedures, outcomes, what to expect/avoid? If so I would be truly grateful!
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no except for celiac.
I am beyond frustrated! I started Amitiza 4 days ago and have had diarrhea, foul gas, excruciating abdominal pain and the worst nausea I have ever experienced. I have only been able to tolerate dry toast. If I try to eat anything else I feel like I am going to die. I stopped taking the mirilax and motegrity last night. I do not go out of the house unless it's a doctor appointment.
I tried calling my U of M GI's office and the nurse barely let me speak. She asks me her questions and says she has to wait to hear from the doctor which in the past has been up to 21 days! I told her this was urgent, and how much pain I am in. Her solution was for me to go to the ER.
I have been to the ER 5 times this year with no help, and they always send me home to follow up with my PCP. It appears that no one can help me. I am not taking the Amitiza and I feel certain that I will not have any more BMs. I have had 8 colonics this month to treat my fecal impaction and my body is spent. No one takes me seriously and I feel like I am an annoyance.
Any ideas on how to approach this and try to get the necessary tests for something other than SIBO or chronic constipation?
I'm just shooting from the hip from my own testing with gastro and bowel issues. They probably tested for these things but maybe not.
1. Elius
2. Diverticulitis
3. Twisted colon
4. Ulcerative colitis
5. Polyps
6. Celiacs ( although my celiacs doesn't cause any constipation). I hope you can find some answers. God bless.
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1 ReactionI suffered for 30+ years misdiagnosed with IBS-D,
finally diagnosed with EPI at age 67 and my entire life has changed for the better!
Please get tested for EPI as soon as possible!!!
There is hope!
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3 ReactionsNo
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1 ReactionI'm sure that's what I have. I just need my doctor to look at my diagnosis from a new perspective.
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1 ReactionThere definitely could be an issue with your pancreas. You mood two tests: a stool fat test and a fecal elastase. What you are describing sounds like E.P.I. (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency). At least one of your gastroenterologists should have ordered these.
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1 ReactionMy experience has been due to malabsorption
My heart breaks for what you're going through. Lots of stories (including myself, family members, on this site and others) about going to numerous doctors for help and getting no help at all.
I was diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) this past January based on a fecal elastase test. It confirmed my pancreas isn't producing the enzymes to digest food and was put on pancreatic enzymes to help digest food and absorb nutrients. I was suffering from the fatty stools, major weight loss (I lost 42.5 lbs. since mid-November), malabsorption and the inability to eat much food because I got full so quickly.
Have you had a fecal elastase test?
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6 ReactionsI am unable to have a bowel movement on my own, have a rectocele, had stool in my vagina, and an inability to digest food. What other type of specialist should I see, what other tests can be done, and any ideas on other possible medical causes for my condition besides SIBO and chronic constipation? How can I better advocate for myself when no one has been able to help me regarding this condition? Any Diet or treatment suggestions, and how to manage this pain would be appreciated.
Here is my story:
Diagnosed with sibo & chronic constipation 3 years ago
Suffering from:
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Exhaustion and fatigue
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Rib pain
• Cold all the time
• Foul-smelling gas
• Muscle spasms
• 30 lb. weight loss
• No appetite
• Bloating
• Rectocele
• Stool in the vagina
• Fatty stools
• Malnutrition
• Inability to have a bm on my own
Present day:
• No regular bm since Jan 19 after MR enterography & drinking barium
• Diagnosed with fecal impaction
• Have tried:
• Magnesium citrate
• Miriax 3x daily
• 2 colon prep
• enema
• went to Er with no help
• As no one was able to help me decided to do colon hydrotherapy on my own
• did 8 colonics in 3 weeks, felt better
• Went off all supplements and motility meds for 2 weeks in preparation for another breath test
• no bm in 5 days after the last colonic
• Had one small bm on Sunday covered in fat and floating
• I restarted all my constipation meds that night.
• The following morning had diarrhea 4 x which had a layer of grease floating and bubbles on top and felt better
• Have not had a bm since even with meds.
• Can’t eat, sick stomach, can’t do anything, hopeless, no one can help me
Have had:
• 29 tests and procedures
• 3 gastroenterologists
• 2 functional medicine doctors
• 2 nutritionists
• 5 diets
• 5 physical therapists
• Acupuncturist
• Colon hydrotherapy
• Meditation
• Colon massage
Prescriptions tried:
• Linzess
• Motegrity
• Amitiza
• Sutab colonoscopy prep (2 X)
• 8 rounds of antibiotics (xifaxin 3 rounds, doxycycline, ciproflaxin, neomycin, Bactrim, tried augmentin but too strong)
every supplement imaginable including herbal antibiotics
• Mirilax
• Stool softener
• Magnesium citrate
• Digestive enzymes
• Probiotics
• Prebiotics
• Cod liver oil
• electrolytes
I've researched other probable causes and found that issues regarding your pancreas, liver and other organs involved in digestion could be compromised.
Please help with any path to wellness that I haven't tried for my condition and how to better advocate for myself.
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3 ReactionsGirl I think I can help… it’s really not glamorous but it works for me. I’m not a fan of Drs. or surgery.I religiously take fiber supplements and after my business in the AM I find I’m still full of it.I use a purified water enema while standing up we don’t need to lay down. Hold for a few moments and then push with fingers between the bowel and the vagina and release the impacted contents of the pouch.Voila… jobs done.Hope this is helpful to all sufferers!
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7 Reactions