Tenesmus etc

[gussmithy]

Hello.

I have had chronic consipation for for over 30 years and rely on suppositories to get my bowels working. More recently I have had loose & fragmented stool with bouts of diarrhea. Difficult for others to understand but even when I feel a neeed to "go", I usually need suppositories to get started even when I have loose, soft stools.

From time to time I have exprienced tenesmus - feeling the need to empty bowels soon after having done so. If I then try again (with suppositories, I may go or I may not). The continual feeling of "need to go" is very uncomfortable. Medical adfvice is usually "eat more fibre, drink more water". I have done, over the years - also tried the opposite to no avail.

I had a colonoscopy last year which found some diverticulosis, although when recently my GP examined me, this was not found.

I started sulfasalazine last October for my RA and over the last few weeks my bowel habits have worsened - very soft stool, bouts of diarrhea and tenesmus.

Has anyone experienced tenesmus and, if so, found any way of getting relief?

Also, does anyone know of a good private colorectal/bowel consultant in the Surrey/South London/SW Sussex area?

Finally, I'd like to thank the very good people who set up this site and maintain it.

Gussmithy.

[helixhelix]

when I started sulphasalazine I had dreadful problems. My digestive tract went into orbit and very excitable. However I was so desperate for it to work that I gritted my “teeth” (if you get what I mean!). And these unpleasant side effects slowly wore off over a rather long three months.

My experience may not be your experience, but maybe gives you hope.

[gussmithy in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you, Helixhelix. Sounds as though you were very brave to battle on over those 3 months. It does add to the evidence I'm getting that sulfasalazine may be causing my issues.

[medway-lady]

I don’t know about the symptoms or problems you have but do know a really nice Colorectal Surgeon that I saw in North Kent privately last year. He may do the Benenden hospital. Problem is I cant remember his name and my files are downstairs. He was really funny , young and helpful. I’ll pm you his name tomorrow. I hope that helps. He sorted my problem .

[gussmithy in reply to medway-lady]

Thank you so much for your reply, Medway-lady. Yes, I would like to know who it is that you saw in North Kent - I may go down the route of seeing someone privately.. I am in Benenden scheme but not used them. I seems to recall they can speed up the process of treatment/consultation if there is a long NHS wait but don't pay for it.

[medway-lady in reply to gussmithy]

Mr Neil Kukruja at KIMS near Maidstone and Medway Maritime Hospital. I saw him at KIMS then Medway at the clinic in Sittingbourne. I don’t know if he is elsewhere but really nice man. I had a minor but painful problem he sorted so I avoided a long long wait. He wasn’t that expensive and it was money well spent. He prescribed a much nicer, patient friendly and gentle medication that worked far better than the struggle with NHS stuff. If you PM I’ll explain more if needed. I don’t know where you are or if he can help but worth a phone call to his secretary or Benenden asap. I think Benenden do have colorectal surgeons but not if he’s one of them. Best of luck.

[Madmusiclover]

Oh gosh you have my sympathy. After a bowel rectopexy I live on lactulose and had to use suppositories for a while. Extended use of those might be affecting your sensations? Just guessing. I once had the sensations you described on a loooong train journey. I took the only medication I had in me: ibuprofen and it miraculously disappeared. I hope you have some luck with a good surgeon. Just popped on to offer solidarity. As it were. 😂 we have to laugh eh? You could ask for a change of RA drug as well.

[gussmithy in reply to Madmusiclover]

Thank you, Madmusiclover, for your support. My RA seems to be so much less bothersome than what so many suffer from. I was getting very painful but short-lived flare-ups on average every 3 for a couple of years until end August last when they stopped - I'd been taking no RA medication until October last whn I started on the sulfasalazine (S). I've now stopped taking S to see if that resolves my worsened & different bowel issues.

[Madmusiclover]

Sulfa certainly didn’t suit me!