Problem fully emptying bowels

[DeeDee16900]

Hi folks I was diagnosed with crohn’s nearly 3 years ago, I have tried a few medications but due to side effects I have been left without medication. I go through periods of loose stools then months of constipation but for the last 18 months or so no matter what the stool is like the aftermath is the same, it takes about a full toilet roll to get clean. The first week of lockdown I went for an x-ray study I took a tablet on the Monday and went for x-ray on the Friday, the tablet dispersed markers. I got a letter from my gastro consultant saying the study showed on going problems with rectal emptying and I was being referred to his colleagues in Colorectal surgery with regards to managing it. Has anyone had a similar problem or know of what the solutions could be? Many thanks

[Skye22]

Hi there I had an incident about 5yrs ago of haemmorage from colon, 6dys in hospital.

Long story short I have always battled with constipation after multiple surgeries left me with adhesions on Bowel, bladder, abdomen and pelvic areas.

Consultant diagnosed colitis after had haemmorage.

I had the test that you described. with the markers and it identified I have slow transit colon. I have to use daily trans-anal irrigation and manual extraction as cannot have an independent Bowel motion. Basically my muscles severely compromised in rectal and pelvic areas. (levator-ani syndrome).

Unfortunately laxatives have no effect on Bowel only causes severe side effects.

Treatment is irrigation, pelvic floor vaginal trigger point therapy and botox into pubirectalis muscles.

For me it's all about Condition management, and support from colorectal consultant, gynaecology and specialist pelvic floor physio. It's taken a while to get the right combination of treatment and meds and having a great care team makes living with these conditions a bit more bearable.

Hope you find treatment that works for you and wish you good health.

[DeeDee16900 in reply to Skye22]

Thank you so much for your reply, I have very recently started having problems in my vaginal area to, if fact was just at a and e last night and after seeing a gynaecologist she said she thought it was probably linked to what was going on with my rectum as there was nothing else obvious. It’s just a waiting game for me now for an appointment to see colorectal team. I feel so frustrated like I’m sure you must have felt, hopefully soon I find a better way of coping I get so low. Again thank you for replying, take care. Xx