Question:
Has anyone had a rectal prolapse due to severe post-op constipation?
Just spent an hour & a half this morning straining on the toilet until I finally gave up (I managed to get some poop out but not all of it; still felt full). I jumped in the shower & when I went to soap my anal area, I felt a firm protrusion. I was terrified. Now I'm just lying on the sofa, hoping whatever it is goes away. I think it may be a rectal prolapse. When I sit on a chair, I feel uncomfortable anal pressure & some slight pain in lower abdomen; when I stand, I feel dizzy, so that's why I'm lying down. I've been battling constipation on & off ever since rny (distal) 3 months ago. And I've used Milk of Mag and Citrucell; I guess I need to take the Citrucell daily from now on. But anyway, if this is a rectal prolapse, does this mean trouble, or will it go back into place on its own? I dread having to have the doc look at my butt. It's embarassing and plus I have my period now!!! — [Anonymous] (posted on August 20, 2001)
August 20, 2001
My daughter had a prolapsed colon (through the rectum) because of severe
constipation. Fortunately she was only 2 years old at the time and I was
able to push it back in for her by pressing it in with my finger. If you
are unable to force yours back in then you will need to see a doctor.
The doctor told me that my daughter would have to stay on stool softeners
for quite awhile since the bowel had given way it was now in a weakened
state and needed time to heal and strengthen. If it kept happening, she
would have had to have surgery. It did keep happening and I began to
panic--not wanting my daughter to go through such a painful surgery. Each
time she was through using the toilet I would force it back in.
I felt the doctor's treating the symptom rather than the cause was not a
correct treatment. After spending time in prayer I felt led to take my
daughter off of all dairy products and fed her daily doses of acidophilus.
That did the trick. Her constipation went away and she never had another
repeat episode after I took her off of dairy. I didn't let her have dairy
products for 2 years after which time I slowly reintroduced it back into
her diet and she was fine.
Your constipation is most likely diet related and you need to find out what
you're eating or not eating that's causing it. You may not be getting
enough fiber. I also strongly suggest taking acidophilus to get your
intestinal flora back into a healthy state.
— artistmama
August 20, 2001
Talk to whichever of your doctors you feel will be the most sympathetic and
not likely to embarrass you too much: your surgeon, your PCP, or your
gynecologist. The upshot is, though, that you should see ONE of your
doctors, SOON. Untreated rectal prolapses can get more and more serious
until they require painful surgery, but treated ones can be reduced and
healed. Doctors see it ALL, especially gynecologists and surgeons.
<br><br>
I have a rectocele, which is a little different... my rectum bulges into my
vagina because those muscles are weak. I'm one of the especially unlucky
25% that has to use "manual expression" in other words,
sometimes I have to put a clean finger in my vagina and then push hard to
finish pooping. I am waiting until after I've lost most of my weight to see
if I need to get this surgically fixed.. probably.<br><br>
Good luck, but don't ignore this problem!
— Julia M.
August 20, 2001
I am 9 1/2 months out
open RNY distal
for the first few months it felt like I had to poop more then was
coming out
the Doctor told us not to push
and it always felt like I was not done
but I was scared to push
and the Doctor said *little in, Little out*
it means just what it says
maybe your not constipated
maybe there is no more in there
just the feeling of more
stop pushing
try the pushing it back in
and then staying off the pot if you can
and when you have to go sit back and relax
and if it doesnt fall out then get up and let it alone
I know drinking plenty of water and walking helps with BM's
— Kathleen M.
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