Problems with passing stool out - is this related to PNE?

[catherine a]

I purchased this book. It's amazing what you learn Full of great information about bowel stools and bowel habits.

http://www.michaellevitt.com.au/other-womens-movement/

[catherine a]

I would say it's related to bowel prolapse. (rectocele) where the bowel stools fall into a pocket of the rectum which is falling towards the back wall of vagina.
I had this problem too and I didn't know my rectum was prolapsed until I had to see the gynae. about another problem. After a D&C he confirmed that my rectum was adhered to the back wall of vagina and that's why the bowel stools were not emptying properly but falling into that pocket of the rectum which was not straight any more but bent towards the vaginal wall.

I would advise anyone having bowel problems to purchase Dr. Michael Levitt's book.

[calluna]

With regard to getting clean afterwards, a bidet is the thing, it is all very easy then.

[Emily B]

Catherine, what you're saying totally sounds like what I have. Did you have any type of treatment for this condition that helped you?

Emily B.

[Violet M]

Thanks Violet... Can I ask what you think the other possibilities could be?

Some other possible problems linked with reduced motility/evacuation (other than constipation) are listed in this medscape article -- things like certain drugs, nerve and muscle disorders, or endocrine disorders.

http://tinyurl.com/3k2llek

This article links low back pain with reduced bowel motility.

http://tinyurl.com/3wke9nx

You can google reduced bowel motility and you will find a lot of information.

[catherine a]

Hi Emily,

I had a rectocele repair done at the same time as my vaginal hysterectomy. It was this procedure which left me with PNE. However, since having PNE release my BM's are absolutely perfect. No problem at all. I don't know why I ended up having the pudendal nerve trapped but my personal thought is the sutures didn't hold. I had the anterior repair, posterior repair and vaginal hysterctomy all at the same time with more than 200 sutures inside. It was around day 10 when I was home from hospital (progressing as normal) that I felt something "shift" inside my right buttock. This was the beginning of PN symptoms. This is the reason I believe the stitches gave way and didn't hold. Hence the bad healing process which caused severe adhesions and also caused the sacrospinous ligament to shift.

I had a problem evacuating my stools for years but didn't think anything about it. I thought it was normal as you get older. I had no idea that I had a bowel prolapse and that my rectum was adhered to the vaginal wall. I took extra fibre and drank lots of water as is recommended. It's only in recent years that I know what 'normal' is.

According to the physiotherapist's BM chart, normal stool should be soft and sausage like. Should exit the body without straining. Doesn't matter if you don't empty every day but as long as the bowel is emptied every 2nd or 3rd day and you feel like you've completely emptied the bowel then it's ok. Keeping it soft and moving along is the key. I've never had to take laxative or stool softeners since I had PNE surgery. Emily, most rectocele repairs don't cause PNE but I think perhaps I had too much surgery at the same time.

Catherine

[peaches]

Lactulose is good because it is a softener rather than a laxative. Some laxatives are far too severe in their effects like anything with senna in. My PT told me that it is not good to rely on laxatives (easy for her to say) but she did give me some good advice on using Linseeds in your diet every day and it does work. Was a sceptic at first, but I've now substituted these for the lactulose completely. I put them in my porriage in a morning and don't even notice them as they are only tiny. They keep things soft for me anyway.

Why not try.

Cheers
Peaches

[seawalker]

I have the same problem as you but i do not have any GI disorder or pathology. A GI did had me bear down on her inserted finger and my sphincter/pelvic floor did not relax completely. in other words, the valve is not opening all the way and stool gets stuck. it does not matter what the consistency of my stool is, but softer is always easier. It doesn't have anything to do with fiber or laxitives with me. they help but me have a more complete bm but do not solve the problem.

[calluna]

Be careful with lactulose - some people have a violent reaction to it. And I do mean violent, within minutes. Guess how I know! Apparently it is 'uncommon' but I can vouch for the fact that this does happen.

On the other hand, I am fine with senna. We're all different......

Miralx/movicol is safe for long term use, they use it on stroke wards.