Gee, what a bunch of jerks (I am thinking of something else, but can't post it here)! most of us abhor going to the ER, but being basically admonished for wasting their time is certainly unexpected. Obstructions often clear on their own without specific treatment, but that does not mean it is wrong to go to the ER when you have escalating symptoms. 

Sometimes I wonder why some people enter the field of medicine. Sort of like people who hate children and become school teachers! Good thing there are more good guys than bad guys...

It can take a week or two for the swelling and irritable gut to simmer down. Until you are feeling back to normal, stick with the fiet that worked for you during your early post op period. Take it easy and you should be feeling better soon.

Jan

Hi Jan,

Thank you for the advice. I am also experiencing a continual urge to have a bowel movement but almost nothing comes out. On top of that, I am extremely itchy on the anus / exit point, and it is preventing me from falling asleep. Could I have some form of pouchitis too?

Sounds like you could have pouchitis. Maybe an anal stricture too. Do you have any antibiotics? You may want to call or email your doc.

Jan

My sigmoid colon was removed along with the rectum, leaving the sphincter intact and somewhat functional (in June 2010),  I had radiation and chemo.

Since my ileostomy reversal in January 2011, I have struggled EVERY DAY to eliminate.    I can’t move the stool along unless I administer multiple enemas with a bulb rectal syringe.  I would say that 80% of the bathroom trips result in nothing out (except for translucent, wormlike objects which may be parasites.  I had a test for parasites that was negative).

When I’m successful, I get small amounts, very fragmented, but soft to medium -firm.  Water, only in the amount injected by the enema, comes out.

Stool is always present, or very near the anus, and I always feel a blockage there.  I can bear down, but the ‘blockage’ keeps the stool from moving until the enemas loosen the fragments.   Even after pushing out fragments repeatedly, I still feel like I’m not finished. 

I’ve been thinking – could the jpouch have a fold or prolapse that is essentially an obstruction?  Have I allowed an impaction to establish and grow for four years because of it?   The colon seems to do its job of removing water from the stool – but mucous to lubricate the anal canal seems lacking.  What is a dilation?  Might that give me some relief?

Has anyone here had similar experiences?

Hi Ric,

Dilation is basically stretching of the muscles to allow for an opening. There are risks involved with dilation - you can become incontinent (too much stretching) and you can get a perforation (low risk of happening).

Some people have used for BOTOX  for this problem. It relaxes the muscles but it is not permanent as it can last anywhere from 3-6 months. This way one does not experience permanent incontinence.

As for the parasites -is it possible that the results (negative) were not correct and there was an error? I would try with a different lab.

You also might benefit from exercises. There are specific exercises one can do to assist with  emptying (although I do not remember the specific name). You can search the site to get the name of these exercises.

You can also have an anal stenosis which is causing difficulty too.(http://www.listentoyourgut.com...-and-strictures.html)

Thanks,

Solomin