bowel difficulty

[marks]

I don't post often, but stay in touch with everyone else. I need some advice. My astrocytoma was diagnosed in 1973 and had radiation at that time. I had repeat surgery in 1992 by Dr Epstein. I've had a recent eval. at Mayo with no evidence of tumor. My problem is I'm having difficulty with minor but very bothersome bowel inconinence. I already straight cath, so this is not good. Does anyone have suggestions? I would really appreciate it.

[Linda51]

Hi Marks,

Welcome back! I don't remember you but over the years we have had alot of folks to join the group. I think you have given inspiration to those with Astrocytoma that you can live along time even with that type of tumor.

Back to your question I did a search on the old forum and here is a long thread with remedies so maybe something will help you. Okay something is wrong with that link so you will need to do a search on constipation on the old forum to see it.



For myself I find walking to be the best thing to get me going. Once I start my walk I can start to feel those muscles moving around. I was told years ago that I was partially paralyzed back there and it may never get any better. Drinking alot of water and walking and getting some fiber in the diet does help.

~Linda

[went]

Before now, were you doing a bowel routine, or was that still working properly/

[8338]

This is a topic I battle daily. Something that works for me is Senna Leaf tea. You find it in the health food isle at the grocery store or a health store.
Barb

[grandmasarah]

Howdy Marks! I retired as a Physical Therapists Assistant, and our clinic had PT's specially trained to use bio-feedback to help strengthen the rectal sphincters and levator muscles.

It's a method using a computer, hooked up to a small probe which you insert yourself in either the rectum or vagina (male/female ) and with practice, it can help you isolate the weakened muscles and strengthen them.

My spine surgeries left me with the deep, internal sphincter in spasm, but the external one, is weak. The bio-feedback was no help to relax the spasming one, so it wasn't much help for me.

Rectal spasms can be pretty awful!! I hope you don't have them. The bio-feedback can help if they are innervated enough to be strengthened, and I'm guessing that only "doing" the exercise therapy will tell if it is helpful or not.

Find a PT who does this specialty. Maybe through a Urologist doc.

Grandma Sarah

[marks]

thank you everyone. I see a surgeon this next week who does biofeedback. I have started to bulk up more. Nothing like passing some stool to make you feel like a dope.

[supv26]

Hey, this is also a topic for me. I am a "once a week" person. And then when it does happen, it hurts so bad I don't want to go. I have to take the stool softeners and I eat a lot of fiber. I like eating the cereal that is the wheat biscuits that have sugar coating on them. I eat it right out of the box like pop corn LOL.

[eglsinc]

I am writing for my husband who had surgery in Jan 04 and still struggles with bowel issues. He has been and continues to use a "mini enemeez" every day. Insurance does not pay for them and it is $65 for a month's supply. We live in a small town and the local pharmacist gets them for us at his cost. These work wonders and the rehab doctor says you cannot get "addicted" to them since they are so small. He goes without fail almost everyday. I would love to see him try something else, but he's so much into the daily routine now that I don't think he'd try anything else. Best of luck.

[marks]

Hey everybody. I did see the surgeon on Mon. Of course he checked me over, said my internal, involuntary sphincter was not working well but that my external sphincters were not too bad. He thought it would be manageable with fiber, bran, oatmeal, and Konsyl daily. He said folks like me will evacuate 80% but still have 20 in there to leak. He duggested I might need to use a baby bulb syring with water after a stool to wash everything else out, our if needed an enema daily to empty the left colon. So no colostomy for me yet. He also suggested decreasing my coffee, I didn't drink that much, as he says this will relax those sphincters. So far I have gone 2 days without anything in my drawers. Keep hoping.

[Joel]

One thing that has worked WONDERS for me is Activia Yogurt. It is made specifically to promote regularity, and it changed me from a 1/week guy to a 2 or 3 per week guy. It is great!
Joel