I really need some good advice. I'm in a really desperate situation and have no clue what to do. I'm now 23 years old and from a childhood of chronic constipation that wasn't properly diagnosed my colon has become enlarged and distended to the point where muscles can no longer function properly. Due to the excess mass of my colon I cannot bend over or squat properly and I cannot maintain proper posture sitting or standing for long periods of time . I have chronic headaches and pain extending form my lower back all the way to my neck. In addition I feel chronically fatigued and weak. As a result I'm unemployable and can barely function on a daily basis in any task.
I have seen two gastrointestinal doctors and had a colonoscopy and have only been diagnosed with IBS. I have also been to a neurologist for my headaches and had a brain MRI to rule out any neurological conditions. I have tried amitza, linzess, and antidepressants which have not helped. I have also changed diet eliminating gluten and vastly increasing my intake of fiber. This has helped a bit but no matter what I eat my the muscles in my colon cannot maintain pserostasis in a normal rhythm. This results in usually one or two small bowel movements a day but never a feeling of complete evacuation and continual debilitating abdominal pain on a daily basis. Even taking 14 doses of Miralax will not give me anything resembling a complete bowel movement .I'm wondering if have some type of nerve damage as my lower abdomen often feels somewhat numb.
The only thing that has helped me has been hydrocolonic therapy which I have received about once every 2 weeks for the past 6 months. This has helped improved my back, my headaches and increase the rate of pserostasis in my colon. However my colon is still nowhere near being able to function in manner that will allow me to live anything resembling a normal life.I have no clue how long this treatment might take to reset my colon to normal functionality and whether this is even possible.
I have read a variety of posts on this site and none of the listed seem to match to the severity of the muscle and back pain I have.This seems like something beyond the spectrum of normal IBS. Has anyone experienced anything similar? The only other diagnoses that seems to fit my condition is colonic inertia.I have read a bit about it online but never heard a doctor mention it as a possibility.
At this point I fear the only treatment that can really help me is surgery to reduce the length of my colon. I'm really not sure how pursue this as the doctors I have spoken to generally have not taken the severity of my situation seriously thinking im merely depressed, anxious. I'm also very frightened of the potential risks and of what quality life I can even have without a colon. Has anyone had this kind of surgery or similar experiences? Could you recommend a doctor who could give me a serious consultation (preferably on the East Coast in the Philadelphia region)?
I have seen two gastrointestinal doctors and had a colonoscopy and have only been diagnosed with IBS. I have also been to a neurologist for my headaches and had a brain MRI to rule out any neurological conditions. I have tried amitza, linzess, and antidepressants which have not helped. I have also changed diet eliminating gluten and vastly increasing my intake of fiber. This has helped a bit but no matter what I eat my the muscles in my colon cannot maintain pserostasis in a normal rhythm. This results in usually one or two small bowel movements a day but never a feeling of complete evacuation and continual debilitating abdominal pain on a daily basis. Even taking 14 doses of Miralax will not give me anything resembling a complete bowel movement .I'm wondering if have some type of nerve damage as my lower abdomen often feels somewhat numb.
The only thing that has helped me has been hydrocolonic therapy which I have received about once every 2 weeks for the past 6 months. This has helped improved my back, my headaches and increase the rate of pserostasis in my colon. However my colon is still nowhere near being able to function in manner that will allow me to live anything resembling a normal life.I have no clue how long this treatment might take to reset my colon to normal functionality and whether this is even possible.
I have read a variety of posts on this site and none of the listed seem to match to the severity of the muscle and back pain I have.This seems like something beyond the spectrum of normal IBS. Has anyone experienced anything similar? The only other diagnoses that seems to fit my condition is colonic inertia.I have read a bit about it online but never heard a doctor mention it as a possibility.
At this point I fear the only treatment that can really help me is surgery to reduce the length of my colon. I'm really not sure how pursue this as the doctors I have spoken to generally have not taken the severity of my situation seriously thinking im merely depressed, anxious. I'm also very frightened of the potential risks and of what quality life I can even have without a colon. Has anyone had this kind of surgery or similar experiences? Could you recommend a doctor who could give me a serious consultation (preferably on the East Coast in the Philadelphia region)?