Bowel Movements and Pelvic Floor

[CAT1866]

Hi everyone,

Ever since I've started to have Pelvic Floor issues (2 yrs now) my bowel movements are not normal. I go every day but it's either the consistency of a pile of sand or soft or semi solid. I've spoken to my internist about it, my PT, and other doctors and they don't say anything about it. I've had colonoscopy's/MRIs and they don't show anything. I thought that maybe taking the medicine I'm on which I started about 3 weeks ago (muscle relaxants/gabapentin) would help but there has been no change.

Has anyone experienced this and were you able to figure out the cause and solution?

Thanks.

[Cloudberry7]

I have experienced a similar issue with bowels for years. IBS type problem plus faecal incontinence. I have found huge improvements going gluten free and taking two types of probiotics. It has firmed up stools to be more consistent!These things have made the other problems I have easier to manage. I think I have reduced the level of inflammation in that area which is why other issues are easier?

I also have mebeverin? Not sure that’s spelled right- which I don’t take unless things are really bad because it makes my vision blurry! It works though!!

Hope that helps.

[CAT1866 in reply to Cloudberry7]

Thank you for your reply. If wouldn't mind, which probiotics are you taking?

[tallandsassy in reply to CAT1866]

Hello, My bowel movement problem is due to hypertonic (tight) pelvic muscles, particularly the puborectalis muscle whose proper functioning is a major factor in a bowel movement. This muscle is like a sling around the rectum and must relax in order to have a "normal" bowel movement. If it remains tight during the movement, constipation results. Fiber and magnesium supplments are a great help for me. Finding the right pelvic floor PT is vital. After years of different PTs, who helped up to a point, I finally found the perfect fit. I think I may have found the final piece of the chronic pain puzzle for me - the pudendal nerve gets irritated during the bowl movement because of the hypertonicity. Looking into getting an PN block. Regards.

[SarahA2021 in reply to tallandsassy]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

[Cloudberry7 in reply to CAT1866]

Sorry I took photos of the probiotics ages ago and posted them but think they were blocked-The ones I take are

Saccharonyces boulardii (optibac) and l.plantarium ( quest)

Not cheap. Give it at least 4 weeks.

I think it’s the gluten free diet and these that have transformed IBS and loose stool issue.

[CAT1866 in reply to Cloudberry7]

Thank you for your recommendations. I'll look into those as like anything else it's trying different things and seeing what works. I went online to try and find recommendations for Probiotics and that was a joke. Everyone was recommending different brands and you don't know who to trust, i.e., paid reviews, etc.

I thought once I got my pelvic muscles relaxed and under control that things would change but they haven't. Now the doctors think it's nerves but I do believe with all the different medications I'm taking it's destroyed my gut bacteria. I've been also trying to be better about eating yogurt every day.

Next week I see a pain doctor about my tailbone to see if I can get any extended relieve from that discomfort. I must admit like a lot of you, it's so discouraging when nothing you do lasts very a decent amount of time or you go from one thing to another. I have no right to be depressed or discouraged when I read about how long many of you have been going through this. I just keep hoping there's some sort of light at the end of the tunnel. Wishing everyone the best.

Stay strong and safe everyone....

[Mrshappyme]

hi my bowels are play up too and i have a prolase blader and a hihatus hernia a small one but i too get a pain just at the to of my navel . i take bran flakes and put dark grapes on and bluberrys and a few slices of banana with warm water on . no sugar no milk as i think that milk and sugar only makes it worse