Wow, I understand completely. I have been going through the same thing for years. I am 32 and can remember having to come home from grammer school often because of the squirts. My problem has only gotten worse as I have gotten older. My Stomach the past four months sounds like an earthquake no matter what I eat. I constantly have gas. This summer I had my worst bout of diarrhea ever. I was at the Beach with my fiance. The Jersey Shore. I started getting really sweaty and feverish feeling which was odd because it was really cool out that day. Then the rumbles and stomach pains set in. It was horrible considering the public bathroom was about a mile away and the line was just as long. When I finally made it to the bathroom line I was doubled over in pain crying. Thank god for a really kind lady to bring me to the front of the line and tell everyone I was really ill. When I finally made it to the toilet I sat there in pain for about 20 minutes sweating to death and feeling bad about holding up the stall. I finally was able to relax a minute and let it out but was extremely embarassed for the smell and the noise I must have made. I then left the bathroom only to feel weak and shakey and realized we had to walk about 10 blocks to where we had parked. Then it had struck again almost five minutes into the walk. It was so bad that I seriously considered going behind a tree or anything. I was balling and my fiance had no idea what to do. Finally we came upon a house with two women sitting out front drinking martinins and my fiance asked them if I could use the bathroom. He explained to them what was going on and thank god they trusted us to let me use it. I was so embarassed. After thanking them imensely I was able to make it to the car and through the ride back to the house. Ten minutes upon making it there I exploded again and again for about another hour. How much more of this can I take?
Like most of you I have gotten every test from blood, MRI, stool test and so on and they tell me nothing is wrong. I miss days from school and work and have a hard time making any plans with friends because I never know when it will strike me again. My friends and co-workers think I am a hypochondriac. I have read books on IBS and have such a awful time staying away from all the foods that I should not eat. I am always hungry but do not eat often because of fear. It is very hard being in the Hospitality industry as well. I am around delicious smells and food all the time.
To top it off apperently I am toxic because I have awful headaches, joint pains and I am tired all of the time. Please Help ME! Thanks for listening

i'm an 18 year old girl and have been living with IBS for about 2 years.


i remember the day i had my first attack; i was standing at the platform waiting for my train to get to college (which is a 35 minute journey into another city.) as the train was pulling up i got the most dreadful pains in my stomach, and the feeling down below like when you're going to have diarrhea. what was i going to do?

i had no choice, i had to run home, thankfully i live a 2 minute walk from the train station. i banged on the door frantically, my mum and dad must have thought it was a mad man. my mum opened the front door and went "what's wrong love?" i ran up the stairs as quickly as i could to the bathroom. the relief was immediate, and my parents said i could stay off college as they thought i caught a diarrhea bug. within the hour of returning to the house i must have went to the toilet about 10 times. i felt physically drained afterwards. i thought it was a one off, but it wasn't. every day for the past 2 years since that day, i have experienced symptoms of IBS, whether it be diarrhea, constipation, bloating, flatulence, nausea, actually being sick because of the pain, stomach cramps and mucus when i go to the toilet. i can honestly say, i don't know what to do anymore. IBS is taking over my life and stopping me doing what i want to do, when i want to do it.

i've had all the tests done under the sun; blood tests, stool tests, colonoscopy, endoscopy...all came back perfectly fine. IBS is the culprit. i've saw a dietician and she's put me on a low fibre diet, as things like brown bread, cereals, nuts, seeds, certain fruit and green leafy veg can irritate my stomach more. at just under 5"4, i weigh a little under 8 stone (i weighed just over 9 stone about 3 years ago), so have been told to eat lots of sugary and full-fat foods , but it's not so easy when i feel so ill sometimes i can only manage a few slices of toast a day.

i've tried all medicines under the sun; loperamide, immodiums, codeine, mebeverine, zoton fast-tabs (i dunno what the hell they are), buscopan, colpermin..the list goes on. i have been given 10mg of an anti-depressant (amitriptyline) which supposedly can slow down your bowel movements, but i have put off taking them, i'm scared

fair enough, the codeine and the immodium does stop my bowel movements but is sometimes to the point where i can't go to the toilet properly for 3 days, which can make me feel worse, especially when the diarrhea starts immediately after the effects of them have worn off.

on college days, it is hard to leave the house, because within the first hour of waking up i go to the toilet at least 3 times (on a good day) and 5+ on a bad day. i rely on immodium instants (which are pricy by the way and you can't get off the doctor, sheesh) but sometimes they take too long to kick in, and codeine phosphate (normally i take 30mg, they bung me up for a day or so and make me feel spaced out and giddy; which to be honest i'd rather feel than unhappy and in pain off my IBS, but after a few days i become immune to the effects of it, with it being an opiate.) i normally end up crying with frustration, and end up staying off because i've cried so much i look like i've been punched in the face.

i feel like nobody understands me, i feel like people think i'm blowing an upset stomach out of proportion. people make me feel like a hypochondriac even though i know myself IBS is real. people should be educated on this! IBS sufferers aren't attention seekers, we have a misunderstood condition, with no apparent PHYSICAL symptoms, ie our limbs aren't falling off, so maybe this is the reason so many people doubt us. don't get me wrong, there are lots and lots of understanding people too, but not enough in my opinion.

i have bucket loads of stories i will post in due course, i'm just glad i've got somewhere to vent my frustration, and to share how i feel with other people who have IBS too

I originally posted this on Ash's blog in reply to one of her entries, but thought I could share with more people because it's of some informational value. And thanks Ash for agreeing on me re-posting it . I've also corrected some typo and added a bit more.

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To my surprise that there isn't much out there at all about redundant, tortuous, and volculus colon! But here's my best shots that I think is at least clear (although all the descriptions i found are too simplistic):

According to the materials I saw, although the terms can be largely interchangeable, there are subtle differences among "redundant colon", "tortuous/twisted colon", and "volvulus colon".

Basically, from what i read off Revultion Health and wikipedia (unfortunately Mayo Clinic doesn't have that info anymore) a "redundant colon" isn't generally considered an illness/disease, but instead a "normal anatomic variation", since most people do not have symptoms. For IBS-C'ers the excessive length could cause water to be over-absorbed and hence the C.

However, a "tortuous/twisted colon" is, strictly speaking, another thing. And the colon can be in this turtuous/twisted shape in several places, with the sigmoid colon being one that's pretty common. And it appears to be closely associated to chronic functional constipation (see the pic below this paragraph for the shape where it is twisted). However, the treatment suggestions given were very vague to non-existant. Basically people take fiber, drink water, or take laxatives, etc., you know the usual drill.

(reference: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010401/1375.html)

What is alarming and needs to be seen by a dr. asap is "volculus colon", which means that part of the colon is twisted around its own self. Major symptoms are severe abdomenal pain and bowel obstruction. Obstruction from it is very rare but requires immediate medical attention. The wikipedia page on this is very under developed, esp. the treatment part, but it does say that one of the ways is to untwist the volculus part of the colon (it doesn't say how, though -- I wish it said something/anything more than just a few phrases there): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvulus.

Thus far, besides the traditional ways of treating constipation, not much is there online. Last year someone posted a link on the forums that there's a research on the position in which people pass BM's and the ease of passing BM's. They discovered that squatting is a better idea than sitting: http://www.ams.ac.ir/AIM/0252/0252115.htm. So if anyone is interested, you might want to give that a try -- I vaguely remember some people tried to stand and squat on the toilet bowl, or if you have two small step-on shelves or steps or something you could probably put each on one side which would be a lot steadier and safer.

Besides this, I've also mentioned here that I learned on a TV show that some dr.s would coach their patients to try pressing on a relevant area or to massage in order for BM's to pass more easily. But I'm not sure if dr.s here would recommend it...

It can be so frustrating when there's so little info. Just hope that with time more info will become available from more reliable sources.

Well, I called the GI's office yesterday morning... I can't take much more of these weird BM activities... Try explaining to someone that you actually have to bend over the clean the inside of your crack after every time you go because it won't all come out! The part that worries me more is that I'm needing to help push it along, but do not feel like the muscles are working at all - it's as if they were removed or something! I'm pressing down, but on nothing and it doesn't help. That is what I'm worried about...

Anyways, the GI is not in the office this week, and there's no way I can see him before March 3 , but the receptionist read his results' notes to me from the colonoscopy. All biopsies and bacteria tests showed up normal, but I have (an) internal hemorrhoid(s), and a "tortuous sigmoid"; which she turned around and said.. meant a "twisted sigmoid". At first, I had NO idea what she was talking about... I told her about my evacuation problems and am waiting to hear back... she said she'll try to ask him for me (on what to do in the meantime), but cannot guarantee when she'll be able to catch him. *sigh* Obviously the GI is swamped busy which is probably why I'm sitting and waiting to find all this out in March.. but then I looked it up..
Twisted colon?! I don't care what you say, that's not normal!

And that's NOTHING anyone EVER suspected either!

So here's me, more than 2 years later... months of begging for a colonoscopy because no one would do it... And to find out this? My concern is how bad it is because who knows how long it's been this way??
And to mention that ever since I've been constipated (Spring of 2008), that particular area (end of the colon, but on my side) has ALWAYS been the most painful and "crampiest" and is the reason I can't lay without a pillow underneath it some nights. I also have always needed to apply the heating pad more on my left side (which is why I bought a longer one); which I thought was just normal for all IBSers. Now those things are painting a picture for me...

I'm not trying to freak out over it.. but it can't just be ignored, right? I mean, what am I supposed to do? How does anyone expect me to know anything about this? Of course, the receptionist can't comment, but I don't even know what to do in the meantime! I mean, obviously we want to avoid it getting any worse, but I'm just learning about this stuff now from Googling what I was told I had!
At least I was prepared to change diets... liquid diet it is then! Which I had been considering...

Besides all that though, Jeff and I saw this CHEAP but nice (24/7 security) apartment building in Burlington (next city over)... it's about 1400-ish sq. feet (sounds big), 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms! We're still considering the roommate idea, but either way.. this 3 bedroom (and the 'toilet' bathroom is inside the master bedroom) is only $30 more than what we're paying for our 1 bedroom! Seriously, there's such a huge price difference! This way, we can have an office and more space for everything... and the comfort of the potty attached to our bedroom is good enough for me.. I can handle sharing a shower, but toilet - ehhh, not so much. Things are up in the air right now, but I think change is desperately needed in my environment right now and I'm so excited about this building!! Not that I would need it, but it has a day care center in the lobby, and there's shopping (I'm guessing a plaza?) across the street, as well as a bus stop at the end of the driveway. So at least we know it's a good area!

Moving is going to be disastrous (just to do), but I'm so excited and really looking forward to seeing this place! That and we'll have a real kitchen - not the 3-walled walkway of a stove and counter with fridge (in which only one person can cook in) that's supposedly our kitchen here! The floor plan shows it to be very spacious and it's new-ish, so it will be very pleasant looking (have seen pictures - nice landscaping around the building too). But if $1,025 sounds like a lot for a 3 bedroom (probably would be at least $1200 for one in our city), I must say that yes, heat/water/hydro ARE included in that!

Anyways... oh I feel so sleep deprived... Took a sleeping pill Sunday night, but didn't get ANY sleep at all! So now I'm all wonky because I tried not to nap TOO much yesterday. I don't know what's really wrong with me anymore...

The CBT center just called - looks like I'm going to see the psychologist this Thursday for my consultation!

- Hanging on for dear life!

Well I spoke to a psychologist through Jeff's insurance - it's like a counseling service just for employees... All you do is call and talk to them and they'll follow up and give suggestions, etc. It was actually nice to speak to a psychologist for a change; I studied Psychology briefly in college so I know what it's all about... and they are more knowledgeable with the "pattern" in which humans react to certain situations with certain emotions and states (I remember all the studies I was introduced to - we assessed the characteristics of everyone in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", which turned out to make a lot of sense and was quite interesting..). Anyways, they are much more understanding as opposed to psychiatrists, who are just doctors to assess our states, give us a name, and prescribe medications. That's all they do...

My psychologist KNEW how to react to what I was going through and simple said to me (in our first hour session): NO ONE can make you feel guilty. Seems hard to adjust to for me right now, but she does have a point... I can only make myself feel guilty.. others shouldn't. I didn't do anything wrong by me...

What was also nice is that she is apparently an IBS sufferer too and knew exactly how much worse my anxiety is making my IBS. Of course, anxiety is my number one trigger for IBS right now, and feeling anxious on nearly a daily basis (which I am) is why I feel so incapacitated and sick every day. It's not even that I have IBS episodes on a daily basis... I just constantly put up with the worrying churning in my stomach and pains/cramps. *sigh* What a life...
Anyways, she said she tried something called "Spirulina" and it helped control her stomach. Of course, she said it's only something to have a look at, because we all know it may or may not work, and she's lucky it helped her. I'll have to take a look...

As far as my IBS is concerned... well, it's about as good as it gets... I've been dealing with a lot of incomplete evacuation; I really need to push to get it through but when I wipe I notice that it's still 'stuck' there and I literally have to kinda wipe the inside to make sure I'm clean because it's sitting right on the other side of the door still! How annoying... I'm going to call my GI this week and demand to follow up because obviously I'm having some problems..
On an off note, I managed to tear a fissure yesterday, which hasn't happened for a long time!

I started buying a lot more soy though.. and I'm experimenting with gluten free and lactose free products - including cheese; which is basically a soy/veggie block, Cheddar flavoured... Oh well, I usually have cheese with something in my meals so if it just tastes like cheese than I don't care.. It's just that cheese does tend to make me feel achy so I don't think I should be having it. Ugh, but who can live without cheese?

I've also bought up some Slim Fast meal replacement to use with my soy beverage for breakfasts. I admit I'm never good with breakfast, and I would like to put more soft foods in me to see if that would help. Slim Fast is a protein & nutritional shake, so I hope I'm doing the right thing. If somehow I lose weight - bonus!

I also called one of the recommended counselors at the local CBT center and left a message to get into a program.. It's basically a center for Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and they offer consults with psychologists, but they are the ones that have the Prevention & Relapse Program I was looking at - it's a mixture of counseling, CBT, and different communication and life lessons classes. It would take a few weeks, but I think I need all of the above! Or at least, I would like to give the CBT a good commitment sometime soon as a lot of people swear by it.. I guess I'll see what they say...

Will update again as usual!

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Welcome Home

You could have been all I wanted
But you weren't honest
Now get in the ground
You choked off the short list of favors
But if you really loved me
You would have endured my will

Well you're just as I presumed
A wolf in sheep's clothing
#@!$ing up all I do
And if it's here we stop
Then never again
Will you see this in your life?

Hang on to the glory at my right hand
Here laid to rest, is our love ever longed?
With truth on the shores of compassion
You seem to take premise to all of these songs

You stormed off to scar the armada
Like Jesus played martyr,
I'll drill through your hands
The stone for the curse you have blamed me
With love and devotion, now die as you sleep.

But if you could just write me out
To never less wonder, happy will I become
Be true that this is no option,
So with sin I condemn you
Demon play, Demon out.

Hang on to the glory at my right hand
Here laid to rest is our love ever longed?
With truth on the shores of compassion
You seem to take premise to all of these songs

One last kiss for you
One more wish to you
Please make up your mind girl...
I'd do anything for you
One last kiss for you
One more wish to you
Please make up your mind girl...
Before I hope you die



----Vulgar lyrics, kind of, but nevertheless it is a song I'm currently addicted to and can somehow relate to...

Rehab consists of 12 Steps... Assumed, the first step is realizing that there is a problem.

I know that doing this (on my blog; publicly) may be hurtful, but I don't care anymore... I've had enough support and validation from others in the past few days that there IS an underlying problem being covered up by my anxiety and depression... I've just failed to see it all these years because I don't give a damn about myself.
Ever since I moved out just over a year ago, I have slowly begun to realize that I feel lost.... In reference to who I am, what I am, what style I like, etc. etc. I then realized that the constant communication with my parents is what was causing me to feel so irritated a lot more often - I'm PERFECTLY happy with Jeff, and we live very comfortable and I feel safe with him.. so I haven't had random freak outs for no reason. But somehow, when something happens with my parents, my blood pressure soars.

Why? I feel like I'm still under their arm. But why?? I don't know... All I can tell anyone (and my psychiatrist has known this all along and has simply just told me to ignore them - easier said than done!) is that for as long as I can remember, my parents have shaped me into someone who gives into them easily. I can't say "no" to my parents because I KNOW what kind of response I will get - usually along the lines of being selfish, non-caring, a bad daughter... blah blah blah. Basically, there's no excuse to turn my parents away.
Therefore, even though I'm on my own, I spend more time worrying about getting things done for both my household and them, then worrying about my own health. I have been trying to live up to their expectations from a distance. Why? I couldn't tell you, except that they tend to give me unwanted advice and expect me to change things to how THEY like it.

All in all, after a few months, I begun to realize... my relationship with my parents is MY mental problem.
I can have panic attacks and feel anxious sitting at home just thinking about what's going on (what I need to do for them... things they've said, or random phone calls during the day when I'm trying to work). THAT is not right...

I've tried my best to blow all the comments off, but it's hard when they make me feel like I'M the bad/crazy person because I don't agree with THEM. I've tried to explain to them a few times that they make me feel naturally guilty and obligated to do things for them... I can't tell you how it happened, and of course they deny it... but it's the impression I get. I always get the "well we raised you" excuses thrown in my face when I try to get out of doing something. Don't get me wrong, if my Mom needs a ride to an appointment or something, that's perfectly fine... But to turn around and TELL me you're going to just TAKE MY CAR if I'm too busy to TAKE YOU grocery shopping... I can't even put the words together to finish that but I can honestly say I'd rather sell my car then have to put up with that from them. I seriously would sell MY car to get out of those situations...

I guess it's my fault for taking an apartment in the same building as them... couldn't help it though. It was a nice one bedroom apartment, over-looking the lake, that I had my eye on for months. I didn't realize that since I'm "only a couple floors away" that I was expected to drop my life at times to tend to things.

Now I wish I was on the other side of the country!

NOW I realize why my brother has put on a face of an attitude and locks himself in his room whenever he is home.. and why he just thinks he'll take off to the States instead of going to college - he's trying to escape it too because he's sick of it! He can't even stand seeing how I'm being treated... Fortunately for him, he somehow let's it fly over his head. Me, no way!

I can't because somehow I've been assumed caretaker. I have been for years now... I was hoping it would gradually stop with moving out.. but apparently not.

I've just reached a snapping point in the last week-ish, which is why this comes up the way it is. I've ignored the requests of "getting a house to move them into the basement", but then a couple weeks ago I mention to them that Jeff and I are thinking of renting a townhouse with Dave (Jeff's brother) and Cassie (his girlfriend, who coincidentally is a friend of mine from high school - yes, small world) for a year or so just so we can all save money before making the next big step in our lives. The comment I get - "why them? Why wouldn't you do that with us?!". Ummm.... what?! WHY would anyone want to move in with their parents when they literally just started their own life?!

That's the problem... I don't feel confident about myself or any big decisions I make (even career related) because part of me is still stuck with them... but how do I break loose?

If that wasn't bad enough, my Aunt came over one night last week (she's been staying with my family here for awhile while she gets back on her feet, so to speak) and was bawling about these very people! She is having the EXACT feelings I'm having about them! She hates my Grandmother, which I do too (and I've given a list of personal reasons WHY, but according to my Mom, that's not good enough to ignore her) and she's found that her kids (my Uncle and my Mom) are exactly like her! She even told me how my Grandma talks about not allowing my parents out of her site, etc. (which I DO believe to be the basis of my Mom's problems), and how old-fashioned she still is. That little of a thing I can ignore... and told her that that's just her and she IS stuck in her own little world still. But then my Aunt says my parents mentioned the townhouse idea. They were saying it's a bad idea and it won't work, etc. My jaw dropped to the floor!!! Why would they be like this?! And to turn around and make excuses when all they said to me was "why not us?!".

I'm defending my Aunt is every way though - she told me that because it disturbed her to hear my parents thinking about it! She even said "they're adults, they can do what they want", but I figured that my parents didn't hear that. Of course they wouldn't, they only seem to care about themselves! I mean, that's fine and all, but somehow I'm still part of the equation, and who cares what my fiance thinks... ? Uh, no.. I can't allow this anymore.

I love my parents dearly, but it needs to end. I think I realized it's time to pull the plug after I had that heartfelt conversation with my Aunt. I told my Aunt everything my parents say and how they drive me up the wall, and she doesn't understand it at all - says they really need to learn to let go! It's just too bad she couldn't talk to them for me.. I know my parents won't listen to her and it'll come right back at me!

They are babying me still, and not allowing me to become an individual. I can't make decisions for myself, because I'm so used to being told by them that "you do this this way because...." and "you can't do this because...". It's all dictations! Just like how for months (and maybe still..) my Mom wanted to re-arrange our living room because "it doesn't look welcoming"... well, it's nice and all, but no - I'm perfectly comfortable! That's not good enough for them though...

My GERD just started acting up - major acid reflux and it hurts! *cries* I took my meds for it this morning already too! Must be stress... Let me try and end this then...

Anyways, after hearing what my Aunt had to say, and reflecting on everything... I ended up snapping and called crisis hotlines on Monday. I need help ASAP because to be frankly honest, I'm considering the drug route to escape, which is NOT what I want at all! I have too much else going on that I need to be worrying about... and oh man, just sitting here talking about these issues is making me feel sooo sick!

Anyways, I love my parents, but there needs to be a really thick line between us. I would actually like to be happy to visit them and sit and catch up, but for months now I can't even tell them the full truth about ANYTHING because I know what kind of answers they like to criticize. I'm not saying they're horrible parents, but until I can clear my head of problems and learn how to communicate with them in a way that isn't hurtful to me, I want there to be a safe distance. It's also to the point where I'm ready to tell Jeff we're moving at the beginning of February; which he won't care.. he can't stand to see me all stressed out, not sleeping, and upset all the time.

I've got to get off quickly - ready to throw up from how I'm feeling now ....

Anyways, I have an appointment with a Psychologist today at 11:30 (phone appointment), and have a name and number for someone to call at a treatment center in our municipality to do a consult and get into a program; would like to do it ASAP before I drive myself into the hospital, to be blatantly honest.

I will keep updating!

I am so sick of being sick. Sick of my stomach going nuts after meals, sick of pain after a stressful day. I am tired of having to be careful about what I eat so as not to trigger my IBS again. I am tired of bland food and I am tired of not being able to eat. It sucks so much to have IBS and I am completely miserable because of it. I miss too much work because I am so sick I can't leave the bathroom. I am tired of people thinking I am making things up when I say that my stomach is upset because I ate something spicy or something greasy or whatever. I am tired of not being able to enjoy life because of this stupid condition. I want to be able to go out and have fun and not have to worry if my IBS is going to act up. I am so over being sick. And I am so over unhelpful people who think that I am exaggerating or who think that if I just went about my life and didn't worry about things so much I would be fine. I am tired of people treating me like I am crazy because of IBS symptoms and because of the way I get so worried and upset when I have an IBS flare up. I feel stuck and feel like there's nothing I can do stop the pain and stop feeling sick. My stomach hurts and I just want to feel better. Man it sucks to have IBS!!!

Gosh... I never saw this coming, but I really should have.

Got up early this morning to prep for my appt. with the dentist just after noon, as usually my stomach is more "active" before dentist appts. Got that over and went to see my dentist -- actually she and her assistant are both very nice and sweet and I love them so much for their great skills. Neverthless, laying in there and having the root canal done was still VERY stressful, more so than I realized. Right in the middle of the procedure, there was a couple times where I just suddenly realized that I wasn't breathing and my whole body was so tense, not to mention the pain... Good thing my stomach didn't turn against me when I was in the dr.'s office, though.

So, I went out of there a few hours later, with half of my face totally numb, even my eyelids -- it actually was pretty commical -- I couldn't smile cos if I did, my face would look massively uneven, LOL. And I couldn't talk without sounding funny. They were all so nice and told me, "No, no, you look completely normal" when I asked. LOL! Hawhaw...

Anyways, I drove home on auto pilot and as the numbness was wearing off, my tooth, my jaw, and my sinus are all either painful or really sore... Ouch... But I was glad and thought that it was at least over with. But sigh, NOT REALLY!

All this stress has turned out to be too much for my gut and I've been in such bad, bad pain since after dinner. And it just refuses to go away! Double ouch... and tripple the intensity... there is no position that I can be in that can make it feel better... ...

Ouch and ouch... *praying that I won't explode tonight or tomorrow morning* ...

What a day...

SCFA in cecum causes a long term increase in GLP-1, slowing down gastric emptying. Fermentable fiber that liberates short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) through fermentation in the gut, are associated with increased proglucagon (a precursor to GLP-1). Increased intra-gastric pressure causes activation of the DMV (dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus), increasing gastric contractile activity and reducing on-going cecum contractile activity. Decreased cecal contractions cause increased reflux of proximal colon contents into the ileum and causes sweeping contractions and emptying of the ileum into the cecum. The new cecal contents haven't had time to ferment and GLP-1 isn't produced and gastric emptying occurs. Stretching of the proximal colon prevents gastric emptying and contraction, thus preventing cecal reflux and decreasing GLP-1 and preventing gastric emptying.
This reduction in nutrient absorption brings about a decrease in blood sugar. In order to prove gastric emptying, blood glucose was tested before coffee and after the TD step in the procedure: a 50 ml/dL rise in blood sugar occurred (S.D.=15, n=9). The catecholamine response to hypoglycemia was assessed in rats undergoing celiac-superior mesenteric ganglionectomy (CSMG). After recovering from the surgery, the animals were exposed to a hyperinsulinemic-hypoglycemic clamp, with insulin infused peripherally via the jugular vein. In all animals, systemic hypoglycemia was induced. When hypoglycemia was induced in sham-operated control animals, epinephrine was observed to rise from a basal value of 0.84+/-0.10 to 25.18+/-1.24 nmol/l. CSMG animals demonstrated a significant suppression in the epinephrine response to whole-body hypoglycemia

The gastric emptying of coffee (caffeine) causes Insulin (INS) exocytocis. Caffeine is a ryanodine receptor agonist and has recently been shown to increase luminal Ca(2+), causing INS release. The decrease in blood sugar by INS causes epinephrine (in the liver) to stimulate/raise the blood sugar levels. Epinephrine raises Blood Pressure by 30 mmHg before TD (traction device) and above baseline BP. Epinephrine also causes increases in neural impulses along the vagus nerve, releasing ACh (acetylcholine). The enteric nervous system is like a sausage grinder--ACh is the input, and the output is spike bursts, moving the bolus along. TD stretches the ligaments and facet joints of the neck, giving 1 mm of relief. Cervical facet joint tension was consistent with conditions eliciting persistent allodynia, which activated the DRG (dorsal root ganglion), projecting via the STT (spinothalamic tract associated with pain transmission) to the ACC (anterior cingulate cortex) th the PAG (para-aqueductal grey) to the Barrington's nucleus and to the locus coreuleus, increasing epinephrine.

The proximal contractions move the bolus out, decreasing the proximal stretch, causing gastric emptying and contraction causing cecal relaxation. This allows reflux into the ileum, decreasing GLP-1 by the fresh, non-fermented chyme in the cecum. This allows long term gastric emptying.

Nothing really immediately to do with IBS, just that another tooth is getting painful and I'll be going to the dentists for another root canal tomorrow - Sigh, fun effect of having acid reflux...not! Any ways, hope I don't have to be on antibiotics or anti-imflammatories - really not looking forward to getting my gut messed up. But what has to be done has to be done. By this time tomorrow I'll be a fat-cheek chipmonk again (only on one side, though!). Sounds comical if I'm not the character in the comic, LOL! Wish me luck!

After surgery (EGD/Gastroscopy/colonoscopy, etc.)...

I'm starting to wonder how much longer I can wait... (again)...

I've asked my future mother-in-law to have a look (because she works for the hospital) at what my file says re:surgery. I am very curious to know what notes there are... not so much test results, since I know that could still be awhile.

I'm back to pushing my BMs, but problem is, I STILL haven't had a regular BM! I've literally strained just to push "mush" out! It's like it's not digested properly still.. and smells foul.

Is that normal for aftermath?

It's just that with my recent changes in med's, I had been having regular strain/pain-free daily BMs at least a week before surgery. I was dealing with the "sickness" rush in my stomach because D is now the concern rather than C, but I was so happy to be going again.

Now I really don't know what's going to happen... And I've had my full appetite back for the last couple weeks... I mean, it took a few days to start eating again, but there's DEFINITELY enough in me to be able to go.... hmm...

Well, I'll see what I find out today... Otherwise, I'm buried in work! EEK!
Finally got stuck with a project that has a TIGHT deadline.. but since I'm picking it up where someone else left off (intern; quit), I'm super stressed/confused. Thankfully, I haven't been bothered too much all weekend (had to work on it a lot over the weekend), and just hope I won't be bothered today to finish it. That's all I ask for!

So, still hanging in there... kind of "wonky" still though... I must note that my stomach HAS been pretty gassy and achy, but I'm very confused as to what's going on inside...

And I'm freezing! And my IBS is acting up -- cold weather always triggers it.

Been up since before 6:00 this morning and couldn't sleep a wink ever since because of all this pain and discomfort. And I've been having this really weird feeling in my navel telling me that an impending bout of D is looming... Sigh, I already had very loose BM's this morning... I thought I got back in control after my stressful episode, but here it comes again and there's nothing I can do about it, simply because, well, if the Sun can't heat up this planet to a reasonable temperature, either can I! LOL.

Sigh. Sorry I'm just venting. Going to go lay back down and see if with the extra quilt I can get an ounce more warmth!

Hope everyone can find a way to stay warm!

Stress and anxiety are not the cause of IBS, but they are an important trigger for a lot of people, yours truly included.

I had a pretty nice holiday the past month -- my friends have been very understanding and I basically was able to avoid most of my trigger foods most of the time. And I also discovered that a tiny bit of organic cheese won't burt me nearly as bad as regular cheese, so I was even able to enjoy a lil bit of that with just some pain/loose BM's. But milk (even if organic) is something I still can't handle. Unfortunately the organic yogurt and cultured soy are both just too sugary for me -- wonder why they put that much sugar in it. LOL, I digress. The main thing is, I didn't have much stress and was managing great.

However, from last Sunday until now, I've been stressed out. My freelance, some family stuff I had to deal with, my insomnia, my projects, etc etc... and my gut's been in pain and rambling. It's been especially tough the past couple days, by a cumulative effect, I guess. And I've been having this pain around my navel and running all over the colon.

And sometimes, stress doesn't have to start as anything huge -- like, this morning, it was just that the delivery people were scheduled to come very early (earlier than 8 a.m.) and that as usual has turned out to become a big stressor for me. So, I didn't sleep well last night and only had about 4 hours of really sleeping fast and sound, because I already had poor sleep the previous night and was worried about not getting enough sleep. It all sounded so absurd -- I couldn't fall asleep because I was worried not getting enough sleep, LOL. But it was so true and that is how anxiety works. The more you focus on something, the more it can get to you; and you can't stop focusing on what you wish to stop focusing.

Anyways, because of all this stress and anxiety my gut becomes more painful and then I thought, "oh gosh here it goes again! what a disaster, now I'm losing control..." and unfortunately this way of reacting so didn't help, although right at that moment when I was having that thought it didn't occur to me that I was going down a path I wouldn't want to. So, the morning went like, having to drag myself out of bed becasue they were coming in about 30 min.s. Did all my morning chores in pain and wondering whether this time it was going to be C or D and hoping that it was not going to happen when they came and put the furniture together. Had breakfast and took meds and hoping to go either before or after they came and so breakfast totally tasted tasteless because I was so anxious. Then I was feeling so cold and bloated and painful. Then they came and got everything done. Then I signed the paperwork and said thank you and they left and I dashed to the you-know-where.

Now everything's pretty much settled and I'm feeling a lot more relieved, although still sore in my navel (edit, oops and ouch, not quite, gotta go). And looking back, the thing is, the anxiety really didn't help and it never does. While stress is an intrinsic part of life and anxiety may be an immediate reaction to stress for me, going down this slope is really not good and I really have got to try and find ways to react better and to de-stress in the moment where the anxiety happens. (I mean, everything works great when I'm not right in the middle of that moment, but...). It's so hard, but if I can do that, maybe I'll have fewer stress-related attacks like this. But the good thing is that I've realized this and will be working on getting better

Hope everyone's well.

Hugs,
Cherrie

Since before my Blog vanished, I was using it as my own diary to record flare ups.

As mentioned, almost one week ago... I was in for my procedures... I still don't feel 100%, but I've finally got an appetite. Anyways, I feel like I need to go but have to push (which feels REALLY weird in a strained-muscle kind of way) yet nothing comes! FINALLY today, after an attack brewing (my tummy was churning with the liquid feeling...) I managed to pass *something*.... But it was just liquid. Looked like the bile-liquid (with tiny fluffy bits of stool) from the GoLyte prep I did. It smelt just as sour as that stuff was too.

Thing is, it waited until NOW to come? That's all I managed too... Felt okay after crawling into bed with a heating pad on my stomach, and just laid for a couple hours.

I don't know what's going on... I just kind of wish I could see the GI sooner for some answers. I mean... I still want to ask if he looked at the pelvic floor issue... and/or if he saw a lot of fissures and what to do.. and if that was all the blood I saw on my blankets when I woke up in recovery...? I know the biopsies will take awhile, but I thought I was going to have a rundown afterward about what was seen / suspected.

My hand is still sore and VERY bruised from that damn IV! It's tender to touch... Why do I always bruise when I get poked with anything?! Maybe that's why I was told to get tested for Lupus...?! Gosh, that was a couple years ago... but I don't know. I thought Lupus makes you bruise out of nowhere? I'm confused... Oh well...

I have WAAAY too much going on in my head right now... I need sleep but kind of don't want to yet... plus I'm walking around thinking "I've got all this work I could be doing!" (I am referring to employment work too, not just "work" aka errands) but can't be bothered to sit down and do it. Then again, it's not even Monday yet.. so it's ok!

I managed to get out to Wal-mart with Jeff on Saturday; we got a $40 gift card for Christmas, plus I desperately needed new socks (I only had 3 pairs ever since we moved in over a year ago... and they got holes!) so we decided to do a little "splurging".
Unfortunately, I went to the bad Wal-mart (was in another city, but technically closer to home - smaller than my city's W though) so I didn't find anything clothes-wise like I had hoped, but did find a chair cushion! It was only $5.97 too (YAY WAL-MART PRICES! ). It fits perfectly on my desk chair (just standard throw pillow sized cushion - with "tassels" to tie to the back of the chair), and is super comfy because it's really thick but soft! I am glad I got that.. because it helps sitting a lot!

Anyways, that's the jist of things... just a slow week with lots of rest but I think I'm allowed...

Just a thought....

I've barely been able to get any food into me yet still because I'm just so tired and weak from everything! I mean, downing a 4L bottle of pure sodium (yuck!), then throwing it up while it cleans out my system just isn't fun. Not to mention that that whole day, I couldn't eat.... and nothing the next day, which was also the day of "surgery".

I never thought it was considered "surgery", but it was done in the surgical unit and I had to check in and bag my clothes, etc. etc. I was out like a light when they injected the sedation; they had this plastic device (I want to call it a cone) that they strap around your face to keep your mouth open so they can go down that way. They literally dumped a bottle of the freezing down my throat and continued to do so even after I gagged. My throat feels a little strained, but it obviously worked because even while I was flicking my tongue in disgust, it slowly numbed as if I was frozen at the dentists office. The GI was great though - and he made sure I was in a comfortable position and everything before they sedated me... of course, I was instructed to lay on my side for easy access to the back end, but was instructed to rest my hand under the pillow and hold my head (which is actually how I sleep, so it wasn't weird at all!).

I can't tell you how long I was there, but they were in a hurry to get me out afterward! I think one of the doctors had been running behind... patients were completely backed up to the point that not even 10 minutes after I was taken to my bed and given the IV, it was straight into the room! AT LEAST MY DOCTOR WAS RUNNING EARLY!!

They said (in prep instructions) that I'd be given an hour to sleep it off afterward, but I think it was barely that! I just remember vaguely waking as I was uncontrollably passing gas (at least it happened right away!), then being awoke by the discharge nurse. Here I am trying to sit up and she's telling me that things were fine, took biopsies, blah blah blah, what drink do you want? And hands me my clothes! I wasn't even standing up (or opening my drink for that matter) when she tells me my rides out front and someones outside the curtain with a wheelchair to take me out. AHHH!!! I hate being rushed out like that!!! It wasn't until this point, again, when I finally looked around and noticed I had drops of blood on my sleeve where my head was rested (assuming from the biopsy samples taken from the top half?), and that the end of the blanket was absolutely smeared in blood. I just wish I could have asked because I know I have something wrong (fissure or otherwise) inside there that does cause bleeding with BMs. I would just want to know if I was bleeding from sores, or just from the irritation of the procedure. I do say "smears" of blood because it did just look like they wiped the blood off from somewhere - it wasn't directly dropped onto the blanket.
Oh well (I guess?)...

Stupid idiot was in such a hurry that she tried to tear the IV out without even trying to take the tape off! That hurt, and needless to say... my hand is now sore and bruising... not surprised. (DIMWIT)

I feel SOOO empty, but I'm not necessarily hungry. I think this is normal though... that's the last thing I want to do (stuff my mouth and deal with it going through the system) right now anyways. So I've been drinking away the clear fluids still, and slowly taking in food. I made a nice appetizing and soft dinner last night, but couldn't near finish - it's too much work! I'm too weak and it's too much for an empty body to process. These are my assumptions about it anyways.... I can feel hungry, but lose the feeling when I realize I don't have the energy to make anything that I'm actually going to be able to eat!
I AM, however, going to buy up some pudding and soft foods whenever I can get out next though. I was even thinking about some fresh baked goods.. mmm! Small croissants or something of the like? I don't even know!

Anywho, I'm trying my best to worry more about that - meanwhile, I get some disappointing news from the employment agency the morning before the surgery! One of the girls called, saying my case file was handed over to someone new again... and she, in many words, basically tells me ISOL! *Apparently* I need to work on my interview skills - because I've done all of 2 interviews in the past few months in which I wasn't the candidate that was picked And something along the lines of 'we can't help you meet your original income potential' or something like that.
To me, that was a slap in the face. I try so hard too... As far as I know, my main employer through them has given tremendous reviews and even though I have the underlying issue of being IM'd any hour of the day, I always get back to her ASAP and make sure all the work is done the way she wants it done! WTH did I do wrong?!

So now I feel like I'm in another rut... It's just SO convenient though... I feel like an useless anorexic. WELL, ###### - why don't I just NOT eat and physically go to work again? There's a possibility that would actually work out for me since if I don't eat, there's nothing to come spewing out of me....

THAT is a level I never thought I'd fall to, but it feels like I should.... Jeff swears we're okay but I'M not. This is NOT how I wanted my life to be and I would like to AT LEAST make enough money to actually say I'm trying to pay off my debts! *sigh* I'm just standing still right now!

I think today will be an in bed day unless I decide to do a small bit of grocery shopping... The more I think of pudding, the more I want!

Jeepers, where DID the time go!??!

Firstly, Florida was FANTASTIC! I was so sad to leave... *sniff* But good news is... since my fiance's Dad works for and is good friends with the owner, we may be going back next year! He apparently also has a "nicer" cottage up north (maybe 2 hours north of Toronto) we should see . I'm beginning to like the sounds of it... THAT is how you do vacation!

My sleeping schedule has been COMPLETELY utterly messed up since the day we left! Our flight was to leave Orlando at 11pm... we get there for our check-in at 8pm but they haven't even opened the line up yet - which was aggravating because we had Priority Check-In paid for for when we left Toronto, but wasn't able to use it because even THAT flight was late. So anyways, there's a crowd of people standing there with the luggage staring at the group of attendants who're standing behind the desk yacking.. waiting for the line to open. FINALLY it did, but not even a single person was processed when a message came across the board saying the flight was now delayed until 11:59pm. Here I am standing in line, sweating like a pig because I have a sweater on (being prepared because I'm going from warm 20 Celsius weather to MINUS 20 Celsius and a snowstorm!), and it's not moving... and now to find out that our flight has been delayed but hasn't even left it's original destination yet! I didn't want to say anything out loud to crush the others (his Mom had patients in the morning, so she couldn't get out of work), but if we hadn't even been checked in (because it's only 8pm) and they know our flights already delayed... then we're in for a looooong night!

And was I not right....
Midnight became 12:30... which then became 1:30... It was more or less around 2am when we finally got off the ground in Orlando. I was tired as hell! However, trying to sleep on a plane just isn't comfortable... even though I used pillows and Jeff's shoulder.
Anyways, it's was nearly 4am when we landed... dashed our asses out of the airport - THANK GOD the airport staff were understanding and let us run through everything as quick as we could! Our poor limo drivers had been there checking the flight boards since 1am, so even though they gunned us across the highway and to home, we weren't home until 6am.

Now here's the thing: try going to bed at 6am!
As soon as I saw the sunrise, I was done for. I jumped up out of bed and found myself something quick to do to make me tired enough to nap! More or less about 8:30am when I got to sleep that "night".

So for a day or two, things were loopy; we figured that's alright, it's the holidays!
But then Christmas Eve....

I just started on my Prozac, which was given in replacement of Wellbutrin to help relieve the constipation I have; my shrink agreed it was a side effect of the meds. Almost instantly I noticed a difference! Anyways, on Christmas Eve my family usually gathers at my Grandma's and we just have a bunch of finger food and baked goods. I can't tell you what did it for me - I had a single cube of cheddar cheese, a couple slices of turkey breast, a slice of ham and a slice of roast beef (all from deli), plus a dinner roll (small bun) and I think I maybe had a couple shortbread cookies (which was REALLY bad for my GERD, but I couldn't help it! I haven't had any in forever!).
It must have been a mix of the food and the social anxiety... (doesn't matter WHO it is, I CAN'T STAND being surrounded by people!), which would explain it because I didn't take any Valium that day either... but suddenly I was sitting on the couch and my stomach started that alarming jerking motions and that made me worry that I would instantaneously need to run to the bathroom.

I can't say I had D like I used to, but it definitely seemed that way... The rushed urge was there, and my stool has been MUCH softer and passing in increasingly bigger quantities. Of course, my body still has to get used to this being "normal" though - my BMs have literally just 'slipped' out without the smallest effort from me, which is a big difference when I just came from experiencing chronic constipation.
Either way, I can tell I'm moving faster inside now because I tend to feel somewhat queasy after eating quite a bit... and when I REALLY need to go, it "feels" like I have to explode. I've had some spasms, but can tell you it's not nearly as painful as it was when I was constipated... Either way, I did just buy myself a nice new heating pad (which I tested out Christmas Eve after dashing home) with 4 heat settings and auto shut-off time of 2 hours, which was useful anyways because it's always comforting IMO.

Anywho, this is turning into a book, so let me try to get to my point!
So after a few hours of laying, I felt alright.... but apparently Teddy (the dog; our son) didn't! It was about 2am when we finally tried to get to bed, but he needed to go out. We let him out but nothing really seemed to happen... he seemed to have diarrhea problems himself, and it was all green. Didn't strike me as weird (because you know dogs, it'll just pass through their system and they'll be good!), but then he suddenly felt the need the try and squat in our living room. THAT wasn't the problem though! Every time he squatted, he let out this HIDEOUS cry that scared me to deaf! All I can say is, if an animal can make that noise, you'd swear it was dying!
I don't know what or how or anything, but he was crying trying to push his own stool out! (Gosh, I felt even MORE sympathetic when I realized what was wrong!) In a state of shock, I just grabbed the dog and put him into the bathtub. I had no idea what I was doing, but I ran the water and forced him to *try* (he's so friggin stubborn!) to sit in it. It didn't last long, but it must've done something because the second he jumped out of the tub and booted it down the hall, I noticed he literally streaked the walls with diarrhea! THAT is something I've never experienced before , but he still couldn't squat without crying! So at about 4am, Christmas morning, I grabbed him and booted it to the nearest animal hospital.

So now we're on Christmas Day... we didn't get to bed until 6am...

Then there was the rest of the holidays (Jeff had to go into work for only one day, and it only lasted a couple hours) - meaning we literally took advantage of not being on a schedule and kept on staying up late playing games and whatnot. Whenever I did have to work, it was (of course) only more convenient to communicate with my boss during the evening hours, so it's not like my new 4am-1pm bedtime was affecting anything else! Needless to say, as sad as it is (I have tried to go to bed earlier a couple of nights, but still couldn't fall asleep until after 3:30am :'(), we've been STUCK in this time schedule! I don't know what to do at this point.. I even tried taking a sleeping pill at midnight but I just can't do it now!

Oy! Such a small thing (HUGE flight delay) can throw off SO MUCH!

So of course, everyone's been all pee'd off with me because I'm not accessible early on in the day... It's not that I'm not (I set my alarm this morning so I could go to the pharmacy before it closed because it's only open in the morning) trying to ignore anyone, but I'm just not right right now! It's not my fault my work doesn't care what time I work (and with the habit of one employer IMing me at night), so I've had no reason to suddenly interrupt this schedule!
Oy, all nighter? I don't know... something has to be done tonight though so that Jeff can go back to normal for work in a few days...

On another note, today is my last day on food. *sigh* Tomorrow I start on clear liquids and start chugging the 4L bottle of GoLytely (yuck!)... then NOTHING on Monday, and into the OR for 1pm. Jeff's Mom is going to take me because she works for the branch of hospital that I'm going to (and is friendly with the doctors - so I WILL get all the information and have assurance that I'm taken care of), which is nice. Even she says I shouldn't expect to be home until about 7pm though.. and she's even told Jeff to have my puke bucket ready!

Anywho... I forsee a MISERABLE week ahead... I hope there isn't too much bleedy or complications with the procedures! :S I will update!

HelloOo! well the point of this blog is just i guess to explain how im coping and such!

I'm kinda new to all of this sooo yeh!


TODAY: Merry christmas

Today was actually pretty good!(I didnt have school of course and wasn't worrying about any accidents or anything!)

christmas dinner is what everyone looks forward to but...not me lol. So...I know im going to a few places tomorow soo for I didn't eat too much plus i knew i would get a tummy ache. So i just ate til my hunger was filled, and im going to try that from now on.

Also today i've been thinking alot. I've been going through alot lately and i guess ive been feeling really bad for myself..which really isn't a good thing. anyways i was thinking yeh im afraid of having an accindent which will probaly never happen, but so what!? thats a part of life and if its going to happen it going to happen. Theres no point in worrying to death about will happen tomorrow cause all it does is ruin today! so just let go and let god.


Thats what i'm trying..

thats all folkks!!!!!!!!!

Quick update before I leave for Florida (YAY)!

Saw my psychiatrist today... very interesting session! We started out talking about the meds and what's happening with the new GI, and I asked her about switching them up - she seemed to be getting ready to ask me that herself!
I'm at 150mg (remember it used to be 225mg) of the Effexor still, and slowly tapering off... I will stop the Wellbutrin, and have been prescribed Prozac (20mg) in it's place.

So then I'm going on about how nervous I am about this trip, and it really intrigues her - I explain to her that going out in public actually triggers my anxiety, and I even have to schedule and prepare for when I need to do grocery shopping. I told her that I'm not looking forward to the flight out because, 1) I have to be up at 4am, 2) Need to check in 3 hours beforehand hence a lot of sitting around waiting, and 3) I'm nervous about the flight itself.
And of course, in MY world, all of that equals feeling sh*tty!

Somewhat long story short, it now seems evident that depression isn't the top priority, but that anxiety is my biggest problem. She also told me I show "classic signs" of "social anxiety". It certainly felt like someone pinched my brain for a minute when I heard her say that, but it DOES make sense to me... It's just kind of funny in a way because all these mental problems are a result of IBS!

IBS package: pain, cramps, bloating, diarrhea/constipation, fatigue, depression, anxiety and loss of self-value! ALL FOR A LOW PRICE OF YOUR LIFE! Now let's top that off with GERD, eczema, allergies, hearing loss... umm, what else do I have?? I honestly can't keep track anymore!

And just as I was about to ask my shrink for something like Valium for the plane, she turns around and asks me if I'm okay to take Valium.
Now THAT knocked me backwards! But at least she's thinking! Apparently, she decided that Valium may be an answer for me....
So she's given me a 5mg prescription... 30 days worth with one repeat... She went through the "addiction" pep talk with me, but does want me to take it twice a day and wants me to stay on it until I get back from Florida (at least)!

I SWEAR, if these don't work (because the 1mg of Ativan didn't touch me), I will CRY! There has to be something that can help me when "I'm in a state of being driven up the wall by someone, stressed out, then that second someone enters room or calls and wants to start something so I'm ready to shoot myself in the head because I already wish I could just run away but can't even be excused to go to the bathroom" episodes happen. Which to be honest, I feel "suffocated" like that often!

Wow, sounds so vulgar! But it's true... and I have gotten in trouble for not answering my phone because I was in the bathroom...


..........

*sigh*

Well, that's it for now... Hope everyone is well! I will be popping in, but probably won't get to update unless something BIG happens

Last night I watched a TV show on GI health -- not in Engilsh, though (interestingly, it seems people in Asia are more open to discussing bowel problems in scientific and respectful ways, with re-enactment of the story, diagrams of the GI system, x-ray images, scope videos and everything!) -- and they discussed a case of a 60 yr old female who had been extremely constipated for 10 yrs who finally went to see the dr. when her colon completely stopped funtioning.

It was such an educational experience that I've decided to post it on here for its informational value.

The woman became extremely constipated when she was about 50 yrs old and so she dealt with it by taking laxatives. But her C got worse and worse and so she took more and more laxatives. But one day 10 yrs later when she was about 60 yrs old, she realized that the laxatives had stopped working and going to the restroom became an impossible task. It was the most painful experience for her. So her daughter took her to a hospital. At first the dr. thought that her anal muscle was too big which has made the space too small for the BM pass, so they performed an opperation to enlarge the space. But it didn't work for her.

So she went to another dr. The second dr. realized that the situation is very complex. So she first ordered a barium enema for her to see how the colon/rectum functions in motion. And they discovered that there is a pouch at the side of her rectum, which directs her BM's there and therefore it was unable to get out. However, this was only problem number one. Another thing that they discovered is that her pelvic floor muscles were not doing what it should -- like, normally when the rectum tenses up, the annal spincter muscle should relax; but for this patient she was unable to relax what should be relaxed and so her BM's became very difficult -- her dr. said that that was typical of malfuncitoning pelvic floor muscles. They further performed a motility/transit test in which she swallows a series of pills that would show in 10 X-rays over a span of 6 days. And then they discovered that her transit time once the pills reach the colon is extremely slow -- instead of having a 72 hour transit time, she didn't feel the urge to use the restroom even after 6 days. So now she has all these problems and the dr. said that it was because her laxative use caused the colon to "go on strike".

Then they started accupuncture on her (both on the ab and on the back) and also biofeedback. After quite a long time, she started to be able to feel the natural movements of her colon, and now she's able to have a BM almost daily.

After watching the show, I realized how complex this issue is -- this was just one patient, not to mention that there are other reasons for chronic functional constipation, such as having a longer-than-usual colon, med induced constipation, etc etc... And this also partially answered a question that I've long been wondering about: why some patients say accupuncture helps and others say not at all. A part from the quality of the practitioner, the reason(s)/mecahnism(s) that lead(s) to constipation is(are) important in how well or whether a specific treatment works. If this particular patient had an eccessively long colon instead of what she's had as mentioned in the show, then maybe accupuncture plus biofeedback isn't her answer.

Also, I was really amazed at how informative and at the same time polite/non-graphic the show was, although a lot of images were used. And it makes me wonder -- why can't Dr. Oz do something similar on Ophra's show since he disucsses health issue there pretty regularly anyways? Or somebody invite experts and do a similar show in English with real life cases and all. When done well, it's not embarrassing at all -- it can be scientific, polite, informative, powerful, educational, and it can raise so much awareness.

Cherrie

OK, here's the thing, I thought I was doing pretty well yesterday, but today I haven't had a BM (or any sign that I am going to have one) since I got up. Not good. I really don't want C -- not that D is good, but for me personally C is worse, esp. the pain. Oh, gosh, please, I don't want to swing to the C end of the spectrum! If only I could do the mind-over-matter magic trick (sigh, looks like the season's not that magical, LOL)! Well, I guess I'll have to deal with it, hopefully without laxatives, sigh...

Have a good weekend, everyone.

Cherrie