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?
By the way, I tried to apply to Mayo Clinic and they rejected me due to the volume of inquiries.
Wow, I feel bad for you. Doesn't sound like a caring bunch of people. I encourage you to find another GI doc if you can. I'm perplexed that they don't test for other things. My Gastro team are more than willing to test for things. I sure hope find answers. I don't have any suggestions for you if they aren't willing to continue eliminating possible conditions.
Have you tried a product called oxy powder? It’s a high dose of magnesium oxide for chronic constipation. What it does is it breaks down into a lot of oxygen, which causes the stool to loosen and easily leave the body. It also effectively cleans the lining of the colon and your body does not absorb any of the magnesium oxide. It’s been a lifesaver for me as I struggled with what’s called chronic idiopathic constipation. I can also recommend an online medical practice called IBS TREATMENT CENTER, they did a slew of tests which have determined that my condition is the result of a very very severe infestation of candida and other bacteria for which I am now being treated. I wish you the best and I hope you’ll try the oxy powder, I feel like I saved my life for the time being.
Forgot to say that I tried Linzess with no luck, I tried Amitiza with no luck, and I tried Motegrity day with no luck. But the oxy powder with my solution.
Thanks for your input. What brand do you use?
Have you found any food groups that may contribute to the gas, bloating, stomach pain and constipation? Do you know if they looked at your digestive enzyme levels during an endoscopy?
Have you had stool elastase testing? It may not be the answer to all your problems, but it sounds like you may have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Most of the literature on it describes diarrhea as a symptom. But I, and many others, have constipation with it.
I avoid gluten, dairy, sugar, gassy vegetables and processed foods. I eat very small portions & slowly. No on the digestive enzymes however I do take them with every meal.
No