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bowl movements very irregular


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#1 speedracer43

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Posted 08 August 2006 - 04:46 AM

Greetings,

This is kinda embarrassing, but I want to see if anyone has some thoughts or ideas.

I have am a paraplegic of 20 years. I have always managed my bowl program with digital stimulation, and never had problems, well with my bowl program. In the last couple of years I have started having problems with regularity. I am now 47 years old. What is happening is I will not have a bowl movement for several days, up to 6. I will start to feel very bloated, wonder why! It also seems like I am very full after eating just a bit, again, wonder why!!! Generally after I have the bloated feeling the next day when I use digital stimulation I will evacuate. However, when it starts it seems normal, but will end up diarrhea like, and a very large amount of stool. It just seems like everything I have ate in the previous days comes out.

I have been to a Dr. about this problem and they performed a colostomy finding nothing wrong. I have discovered that if I am on antibiotics for a UTI I am regular, but as soon as I finish, the problem seems to come back. I don't know if maybe this is an age think or what it might be. I have tried metamucil, which does not help.

I am sorry if I have offended anyone.

Speedracer43

#2 juls

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Posted 08 August 2006 - 06:19 AM

Hi, i don't think it's possible to offend anyone on here, we all deal with similar problems!!!
Although i don't have trouble going to the loo, my Dr makes me take a pill, cisatride which is meant to help with digesting your food which in turn helps you get going! Personaly, i find yoghurt helps me stay regular (your right....this is rather embarrasing :drive: )

#3 juls

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Posted 08 August 2006 - 06:28 AM

View Postjuls, on Aug 8 2006, 02:19 PM, said:

Hi, i don't think it's possible to offend anyone on here, we all deal with similar problems!!!
Although i don't have trouble going to the loo, my Dr makes me take a pill, cisatride which is meant to help with digesting your food which in turn helps you get going! Personaly, i find yoghurt helps me stay regular (your right....this is rather embarrasing :drive: )

sorry....it's actually cisopride or propulsid!!!

#4 Philip

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Posted 08 August 2006 - 11:19 AM

what you discribed can often happen to people that take too many rounds of antibotics. You have killed off the normal flora in your digestive track. That Baterita aids you in digesting food. and the Gas is fermenting bacteria that has collonizied do to the lack of competition. Yogurt, sauerkraut or probiotic. what you discribes happens to me within a day of being on a coarse of antibotics.

#5 linda2

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Posted 14 August 2006 - 11:39 PM

my sons seven and has had 2 colostomys,these were reversed and we were left with really bad constipation, we tried alsorts n nothing worked until january this year. stevie had a small op to open up a small hole in his appendix, it just looks like the holes off earings. u caterize the hole and put laxitives in it and 10 mins later bingo.

#6 crash

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Posted 15 August 2006 - 12:22 AM

I like the suggestion by phillip. Antibiotics can wreak havoc on your system and no doctor ever told me to supplement with probiotics. But you should.
"I get flustered when the carpet's dirty"

#7 speedracer43

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Posted 15 August 2006 - 01:13 AM

View Postcrash, on Aug 14 2006, 07:22 PM, said:

I like the suggestion by phillip. Antibiotics can wreak havoc on your system and no doctor ever told me to supplement with probiotics. But you should.

I haven't been on antibiotics in months. I have been eating yogurt for probiotics. However, my problems still hangs around. Do you have a suggestion for a dietary supplement I can purchase in the store? I thought I might have had the problem subdued because I started taking a stool softener, and was have bowl movements, daily, but 6 days after the last time, it happened again. It just seems like my intestines open up and push everything out. I am 10 lbs lighter afterwards! LOL

Why is it when I am on antibiotics my bowl movements consistent, more volume per movement and don't open up every 5-7 days.

Mark

#8 Philip

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Posted 15 August 2006 - 12:39 PM

View Postspeedracer43, on Aug 15 2006, 01:13 AM, said:

View Postcrash, on Aug 14 2006, 07:22 PM, said:

I like the suggestion by phillip. Antibiotics can wreak havoc on your system and no doctor ever told me to supplement with probiotics. But you should.

I haven't been on antibiotics in months. I have been eating yogurt for probiotics. However, my problems still hangs around. Do you have a suggestion for a dietary supplement I can purchase in the store? I thought I might have had the problem subdued because I started taking a stool softener, and was have bowl movements, daily, but 6 days after the last time, it happened again. It just seems like my intestines open up and push everything out. I am 10 lbs lighter afterwards! LOL

Why is it when I am on antibiotics my bowl movements consistent, more volume per movement and don't open up every 5-7 days.

Mark

It may also be a sign of you getting older. I had a similar thing happen me resently, eating a pizza by myself, fried chicken, lots of Meat meat meat was no problem. I'd have an Odd schedule. 4 days then 2 days I'd go. Now I have to supplement my diet with stool softener and Fiber. Because of this I have become annoyanly regular. every 2 days I feel bloated and nauseated but bam poop and out in 10 mins instead of the 45 min to 2 hours every 2 to 4 days. I use Fiber Choice: Chewable Tablets, one after each meal. I only eat twice a day. so that is 2 Caps aday.I like the caps because it's like a treat after the meal. The suspensions I have to gag down.

#9 Lucky

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Posted 18 August 2006 - 09:20 AM

I think you need to find a ballance.
You've probebly heard this all before but....I let things get that bad, I got Collitis. But since then, tings have improved emensly.
I take a powder called Movicol. This is the best medicine I've ever found (better than any drug).
If you are not going for several days, all thats happening is, your bowel is sucking all the moisture from your stools. By taking Movical, you can wait several days before going however, when you do go, it won't be rock hard and cause trauma to your bowels. then you'll find your going every 2-3 days.
Theres no point eating friut & veg if your only going once a week.
Find the ballance with the Movicol and it will improve your life! Its that good.
Senna, lactulose etc etc = rubbish. Movicol = Spot on.

C-5 Incomplete, Diving Accident in Mexico. Walking with crutches, In controlled pain !
Big respect to all SCI people !





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