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Rectal Pain and Pressure

Febuary 21st I noticed I was getting sore in my rectum when I would sit some times. I had  some bright blood earlier that month on my tp, but I have had a small hemroid for many years, so I did not think anything of it.But as the month went on I kept getting sore more and more.I went to my GI, who by the way has been seing me over the last 5 years for Acid Indegestion and IBS Symptoms. I had a Colonoscopy 2 1/2 years ago for pain in abs, came back normal, with a palyop that was sent to pathology, and was also normal. My GI Said at this visit that my pain was hemroids, and gave me some Cortizone cream...2 weeks later, i went back because I was not getting better. He said not to worry that my colonoscpy was negative 2 years ago, and he gave me supposatories this time And we schedualed a Flex Sigmoid for in his office. I seem to be getting worse , and when I called his office he was out of town, so I went to a surgeon. He did a Anoscope, and said he saw a few small Hemroids but did not think they could cause my pain, and to come back in 3 weeks if does not get better. I went back to my GI and had the Flex Sig done, and he said everything looked good , and he saw a few small Hemroids. I told him my pain was intolerable, and that we need to find out why I cant sit, for it is painful, and continues throught the day...I asked if maybe I have Levator syndrome, and he kind of shook his head, and said that was the same as IBS. Well I also asked if maybe I had endometrioses on my rectum, he said not possible... I have seen my OBGYN in between these visits and he is going to do a Laparoscopy 4-18-06 to see if I have any endo on my rectum, he says that if I am having spasms, that something has to be causing them and it could be endo. He does not see that it can be anything else...
I am at my wits end please help me......These are my symptoms
Am feel ok.....kind of
After I have a couple of bowel movements I am sore in my rectum and feel some burning sometimes, not like hemroid burn. then as the day goes by, i feel like I have to have a bowel movement and push but nothing happens and its painfull. I feel pressure in my rectum , when I sit its real painful, so I cant sit. I have a ache in my rectum all day, and some times I feel like there is something in my rectum. The pain never goes away, just varies through out the day, when I got to bed at night it seems to not be as bad, then it starts all over again in am. I take a stool softner and eat alot of fiber and water, so I m not constipated

Please help.....
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233190 tn?1278549801
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Difficult to say without evaluation.  A negative colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy would make significant GI disease less likely.  

An anal fissure can cause some of the discomfort you are describing - however the surgeon should have considered this.  

If the pain continues, you can consider empirically treating an anal fissure - normally starting with a nitroglycerin ointment over the anal sphincter.  

Another surgical opinion or going to a colorectal specialist can be considered if the symptoms continue.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
HI there, believe it or not, I am having something similar. Mine started with a flare up of hemorrhoids, which I have had for over 20 years. But, now they seem to be under control and I am still having the rectal pain. I am seeing a GI doc this week for something unrelated and plan on asking him about it. From what I have read, rectal pain is fairly common and usually benign in nature. I suspect levator ani syndrome too. I took a muscle relaxant the other nite for a back problem and miraculously the rectal pain stopped. Hmmm...?

Am wondering if you have been under unusual stress lately that could cause the spasms? I have been and that seems to be when my symptoms began. I also notice it is worse when I am "keyed up". Please post if you get a answer to this one and I will do the same.

Hudson
Helpful - 2
Avatar universal
Hi,
First I would like to say that I usually do not post on these forums, just a listener :), but I am going crazy with this problem.
Let me say, I have fought constipation most of my life, I am 42. It all started in January when i didn't have a bowel movement for a week.  I became impacted and had to manually remove the stool from my rectum (gross I know), then a week later same thing, but this time after I removed the stool, I still felt like I had to go.  My rectum was clean...nothing there.  Since then I have had this horrible rectal pressure, like I constantly have to move my bowels.  Even when my stools are soft, it takes straining to have a bowel movement and afterwards it still feels like I need to go. There constantly feels like there is something in my rectum.
colon rectal surgeon says hemrrhoids are unremarkable...even after having 5 children.  Colonoscopy showed only 3 very small polyps that were benign.  I have gone to my obgyn thing maybe a rectocele or uterine prolapse, he says only very slight prolapse when tugging on my cervix if any.  He did an ultrasound and says everything is where it belongs, but that my uterine cavity appears Smaller? than usual and wants to do another ultrasound in which they add water to the uterus....what would that have to do with this rectal pressure. He says I have good vaginal tone....yeah me, like it really matters with the rectal pressure.
I still have 4 beautiful children at home ages 15-5 and if it wasn't for them I wouldn't even feel like going on living.  I have said to my husband a couple of times that I will not live the rest of my life like this because it will drive me insane.  I have so much to live for, but wish sometimes I could just ensd it all.
Some days it is tolerable, and when I say tolerable I mean I can somewhat function, and other days it is unbearable.  What is weird, is that when I lay down the symptoms become mcuh milder, sometimes almost total relief.
I have no insurance, and can not afford to go through 50 million tests to try to find out what is wrong.  I have already spent $2000.00 + on the colonoscopy and ultrasound.
This is ruining my life.  I can not be the mother or wife I use to be because this consumes me.  I am irratable and becomiong depressed more and more every day.  Some days when it is tolerabl, I get a glimmer of hope and then I have a really bad day and it shoots that hope right out the window.  
I pray many nights that i will wake up and it will magically be gone, but when I crawl out of bed...its just another day of hell!
I do not know how much longer I can take this.  I lay around most of the day, because it gives me some relief...what a waste of life...I do not know how much longer I can go on. I literally cry most days.
I am sorry for being so long winded, but it helps just a little to vent.
Thank you for listening
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I've just finished reading thru this entire thread and I have tears rolling down my face because I know this pain. My life has been a living hell since March 2005. My doctor sent me for a colonoscopy in that month, and ever since then, I've been living with this mysterious and agonizing rectal pain.

At first I thought it might be the small internal hemmorhoids that they had found. But thru research and doctor's visits it is said they shouldn't cause the kind of pain I'm having.
I won't go on and on with my story, but I have felt so much frustration with my doctor because it seems he doesn't take me seriously.. doesn't believe how much pain I am in. Especially during my periods. He did throw some birth control pills at me, ones that stop your periods for a matter of a few months. Thinking it might be endometriosis. It has helped some. Now instead of screaming in agony, sitting on a heating pad for weeks on end with no sleep what so ever, I am only whimpering for 7 to ten days. But I just went back to my doctor today, and now after describing my darn symptoms for the upteenth time, he doesn't think it's endo. He wants to send me to some rectal specialist. (I could just scream. I'm so sick of the hemming and hawing, and nothing getting diagnosed.)

I dread having a bowel movement because of the lingering pain afterwards. But not going is even worse, so catch 22.  It seems my life revolves around the toilet, and wether or not I have had a bowel movement or not.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hi there, I am so sorry you are having problems. I am still trying to get my rectal pain under control. It sounds like yours is similar to mine. I went for an exam and the doctor told me i had some internal and external hemorrhoids. But, the pain I am having in the rectum seems more severe. It really hurts, like a spasm and that is why I think it is levator syndrome. My doctor gave me a muscle relaxant, Flexeril, which i take at night and it makes it go away. But, the next day symptoms return. I am now trying a new cream called anamantle HC. It is an anestetic mixed with hydrocortisone. You could ask your doc for a RX and try it.If my symptoms don't get better I am going back to see my gastroenterologist about this. Please post again and let me know how you are.

Linda J
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Thanks for responding,
I dont think my doc has the correct diagnosis for me also, I think it a combination of things that end up causing these spasms and pain. I am anxious to try the Flexiril, I have heard that it works for the muscles that are tight. I read it on a Levator Syndrome web site for Treatment....I will let you know what happens after my doc app. on Monday....Take care..Oh and if you get that cream, let me know what it is...

Have a great week end.....

PIB
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hi PIB, i just went back to the pharmacy to inquire about the cream. They are going to try and reach my doc and get a substitute for it tomorrow. It seems they prescribed something not common? Anyway, I can't believe you read about Flexeril on a website for levator syndrome. I tried it completely by accident as it was initally prescribed for back spasms.

Keep in touch and let me know how it goes on Monday. Maybe we can get to the bottom of this and help each other. Glad I found you. If you ever want to e-mail me, my address is ***@**** :-)

Hudson
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hey PIB, i think I am the only one here who has something similar and mine weirdly is slightly better this week. But, I totally understand the sensation you are talking about and find it annoying. To give you background on my pain, it started in February when I was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. Gyne thought the cyst was sitting on the bowel and causing pressure. Well, the pressure from that was more "pelvic" in nature. But, the cyst caused constipation and the constipation caused hemorrhoids. I had surgery in March, and had the cyst removed. But, after surgery I was even more constipated and the hemorrhoids returned. I finally got that under control, but was left with the strange rectal pain.

If you find a definitive answer, please post it. I googled rectal pain, and I am sure we are not the only ones with it. There are lots of articles on it. The only reassuring thing, is most causes are benign, but the treatments are kind of "sketchy". As I said, I discovered by accident that muscle relaxants work for me. Also warm baths seem to help.

Have you found anything that eases your symptoms?

Hudson

Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Rectal Pain was started.
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A related discussion, Rectal Pain and Pressure was started.
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Avatar universal
I HAVE SOMETHING THAT MAY HELP SOME OF YOU
I hope this at least may help some of you guys x I am 21 years old , after giving birth to my daughter I experienced minor rectum discomfort , I first noticed it when sitting driving my car , I found I had to push of the seat in order to relieve the discomfort , then it became more of a burning/stinging/ acid type feeling , then it worsened having a bowl movement was unbearable I'd shove towels in my mouth just to get through it , I eventually couldn't take it any more and visited my gp , they said it could be anal fissure and u should take rectogesic cream to relax muscle and let it heal , this treatment didn't even scratch surface and so revisited informing them that I could not care for my baby properly and cream was not going to cut nor the supositories ! I was then taken for consultation to have Botox injections to again relax / paralyse the muscle so the fissure could heal as it would not be constantly opened , this did not work either and pain by this time was so bad I visited gps and said I was considering taking my own life , especially seen as though I'd had to go private after a **** up with nhs and forked out £2000 to then be told by the disgrace of a doctor that I must have mental issues as my pain could not be as bad as I was saying and that I should seek mental help !!!!!!!
I also developed a small pile or hem external only which used to bleed along with the fissure after my bowel movement .
The pain used to vary sometimes flare up others not so bad I tried enemas the lot but nothing , consultants like you dismised my pain and made me feel like I was exaggerating and belittled me .
7 months after battling on I visited northern Cyprus , I was concerned that my symptoms were again flaring up so just on a whim was interested to see if I could book a consultation with their specialist . To my amazement not only was he available to see that very same hour after determining that an examination was not properly possibly as area was too tender he said this is a common problem and along with a nurse they said if I opt for surgery he will 100% cure me and I will never have pain again . After my AWFUL previous experience with doctors I was jubious to say the least however I was also at my White end therefore agreed and they said they could operate within the hour !!!!!!
They gave me something similar to an epidural which numbed me from waist down which meant I was awake through whole thing ! It was amazing , completely pain free , when the surgeon was able to look properly he found a 2 inch infected fissure !!!! He stitched it and also layered my external hemmeroid off .
I was soooo scared that the pain after the procedure would be terrible I refused to believe anything they said and prepared for the worst the next day , shoved my usual towel in my mouth and braced for the intense pain to set in .... Nothing .... I looked down in the toilet and couldn't believe that I had felt nothing but the stool itself leave my bowel !! With no painkillers masking any pain I continued my bowel movement with towel still in hand but nothing , no pain whatsoever came !!! The same happened the next day !!!
So please if you have anal fissure do not be bullied into living your life around toilets. And pain do not let them dismiss your pain as nothing , the consultants here say anal fissures are one of THE WORST and MOST painful conditions to have , most of all do not let them give you a colostomy bag !! Get it stitched up !!
Hope this gives even one of you the new fresh start to their life that it has given me x
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I believe KEH is right. In many cases it has to do with low estrogen or the improper ratio levels of hormones to each other, as in hormone imbalance. I am in perimenopause and take bioidentical hormones, the only kind to take, in my opinion. And I've never had rectal pain at all until my dr started adjusting my doses and upping my progesterone. After that, the nigjt sweats returned which indicates low estrogen, but at the same time I noticed rectal pain, nerve tingling in feet and hands and urethral pain. I knew that the latter two could be caused by low estrogen and imbalances so we upped my estrogen and the symptoms went away, including the rectal pain.

I reccommend a good hormone doctor who believes in natural hormones, not synthetic, and a good compounding pharmacy! At the very least, getting hormones in balance should help the body heal and fight any secondary disorders that are causing the problems.  

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Avatar universal
A related discussion, radiating pelvic and rectal pain was started.
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793180 tn?1379796260
A related discussion, Abnormal pressure on rectum. Please help was started.
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A related discussion, Proctitis/Ulcerative Proctitis was started.
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i'm 30 years old i was diagnosed with endometriosis 3 years ago 3 months after i got married and went through a telescopie to remove the cyst and endo , i had constant severe rectal pain and pressure for 3 years other than the endo attacks that kept me checking in and out of imergancy rooms  after i got pregnant it disappeared and now my baby is 5 months old and i have rectal pressure and pain again
most of the month during ovulation, the day after sex ,during periods ( i do not have rectal bleeding )
can't sit can't walk my marriage is in trouble my life.. well i guess this pain kills whatever life we have it seems i'm not alone and this is getting very popular i think the doctors should do a better job finding the reason and cure Christ i mean cancer is being treated and we still don't know what we've got ....
my gynecologist says it couldn't be the endo back so soon after giving birth and i don't know what to do i don't want to go back in time those 3 years were hell ...
i'm sorry for all of us and i wish they'd find us a cure
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there, I had just what you are describing for 6 months almost non-stop,  except when I was sleeping. The pain was driving me nuts. Mine started in January with an ovarian cyst that was pressing on my rectum. I had the cyst and left ovary and tube removed (benign) in March,  but the rectal pressure and pain was still there. Went and had a colonoscopy in June and that revealed 1 medium sized internal hemorrhoid. My primary care physician was willing to try a muscle relaxant called flexeril which I was able to take only at night (it made me sleepy). This has relieved the spasms to the point that now I only have them occasionally and much milder. I am no longer taking anything for the pain, and hope the problem does not return.

I am posting this in the hopes that you too can find some relief. I know exactly how you are feeling because every morning I would get up hoping the pain would be gone only to find it was still there.

Please post again and let us know how you are doing.

Linda J
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
CLK5........
I know exactly how you feel! Your symptoms are almost like mine to a T. I cried when I read  your post.  The "nothing in your rectum" after you finally have a bowel movement. the constant pain, the "tolerable days", The thinking that tomorrow will be better, only to wake up with the terrible agony again.
My life has also turned to utter ****, cause the only thing that makes me feel normal is lying in my easy chair on a heating pad, and doing absolutely nothing all day. And of course that makes the constipation worse, our bodies need exercise to make our guts work right. But my God what a catch 22, cause even walking at work is sometimes utter agony. I have to take pain pills just to make it thru somedays, and those cause constipation too.. so what the hell are we supposed to do?!?! I don't want to live the rest of my life like this either. I wake up in the morning and waste so many hours of my life waiting for a bowel movent, trying again and again so the pain will go away, or give me some freaken relief. And my sex life is practically non existant. It wasn't that great before, because sometimes it hurt, but now, it hurts all the time. I get no joy whatso ever out of it. I feel bad for my husband and sometimes cry and think he deserves so much better than me, this lump of **** that lies around all damn day.

For those following my particular story, I wish I could give you all some good news. But I still have no answers from my rectal specialist. I have two more tests to go thru. One is an MRI, and the other the defogram thingy.
Helpful - 0
148354 tn?1211233906
I hope everyone is feeling better or at least found out some news! I still havent,ended up in er Fri nite severe pain ,felt like appendix acting up..had symptoms..urge to pass stool or gas ,and couldnt,nausa fever,and worst stomach pain,but after bloodwork and another catscan dr said it isnt that. 2 more days till my laparoscopy,still unable to eat or sleep..this is so #$_+(@! miserable,how do you all deal with it? I told my dr if im not on some pain managment i swear i'm about to shoot myself! ( I know I wouldnt or couldnt do that) but I guess when your in so much pain you reach point you cant take nomore.I think I reached the point I cant eat no matter how hungry i am,just been living on liquids.Anxiety attacks kick in few times a nite,thinking im not gonna wake up cuz im starving to death ,my heart is gonna stop blah blah...this really does take a toll.I use to have high tolerance for pain,this is going on for 6 months!Can endometriosis really be this painful,and make you sick? good luck to everyone!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I usually don't post on these either but after reading this post I feel it's my duty... And Might I add, I'm so glad to have found you people.

I am a MALE (we too have this problem) and I have had this problem for 3 years now.  I know that sounds bad knowing the pain, however, the good news is I've done tons of self research and thought alot about this problem and seen many doctors, accupuncturists, and herbal medicine people for this problem and I have some help to offer you poor suffering souls! ;)

As far as this problem is concerned, I'm just like all the rest in as far as I too once could only think about my rectal problem, the feeling, the pain, etc.  I still focus on it a bit (hence tonight my searching on the net found this site) but it isn't all encompassing, one can live a good life. Since this problem started I've been around the world and lived for long durations in foreign countries with this problem.  

I believe for me this problem is caused by weak or stretched ligaments the support the rectum. The doctor I saw at Bumrungrad in Thailand also felt this to be the case and went so far as to say it looked like (from the cheap cheap tests they do in Thailand for all of us broke people in the states) the there was some abnormal descension in the region of the rectum (perianal?).  This would be why when we need to go to the toilet we REALLY feel the large mass and pain and after we've gone to the toilet the heavy feeling subsides after going.  The weight of the feces really puts a weight on the rectum.  The complete solution to this problem I haven't found, YET!, but I will.  And until then we all must keep our chins up and search inside and, importantly, outside the medical system.  Obviously there's not a lot of interest for western medicine in fixing this problem.  The doctors in the states really can't diagnosis it (and the ones in Thailand struggle as well but they are nicer and will try really diligently to diagnose the problem unlike some experiences I've had in the USA.

OK, so here are some things to do to relieve the pain and constipation:

1. Metamucil.  6 capsules every night.  The next morning drink hot water (or coffee if you must) to push through the metamucil.  This help relieve the constapation and clear out the bowel in the morning. The metamucil also isn't so bad for your health. And the hot water pushes it through.  You might have to have 2 or three cups of hot water, maybe more.  

2.Water jet enema!  My favorite! Basically, after you deficate, take a water jet from some source (get creative) and shoot some water up into the rectum.  Then expell the water.  Repeat this a few times until you feel like you have gotten rid of that "mass".   I discovered this solution staying in a 5 star hotel room that had a bidet.  If there's no bidet then I make a home made bidet.  I went to the local store and bought a spray water bottle that will produce a strong stream.  After I deficate, if I'm not near a bidet, I will use my bottle of water to clean out my rectum.   It really helps.

3.Yoga.  It's one of the few things I know of we can do to strengthen those inner muscles in the bowel area.  I did this reliegiously for 5 months and I can tell you it helps.

4.Pay attention to the foods you are eating.  Cut out the junk, the sugars, the low fat high calorie foods over processed foods.  Try to eat very natural whole foods.  I find a diet based on brown rice and vegetables really helps with the problem as well.  If I eat junky food, I can tell my symptoms get worse.

*IF ANYONE FINDS A SUCCESSFUL CURE OR REAL DIAGNOSIS MAKE A PROMISE THAT YOU WON'T FORGET THIS BOARD AND YOU WILL POST THE "CURE" OR DIAGNOSIS.  Too often people moan and groan on these sites, but when they feel better that forget all about the posts.  

I hope this has helped a few of you struggling out there.
Helpful - 0
148354 tn?1211233906
I can relate to how all of you feel! its so damn depressing to live feeling this way..of course it could be worse,but the pain is unbearable!I have mutliple stomach/bowel problems..and maybe endometriosis..i have laparscopy aug 9th,finally moved it because i been in so much pain and cant eat..lost 40lbs fast,im 28 and up to this point never let it get to me,always had problems with ibs.. the runs or constipation..living on laxatives or imodium,but after easter this abdominal pain hit me like i was being stabbed everyday for 2 months along with the worst nausa ,i was able to go the bathroom ,that wasnt the issue..spent 3 days in hospital on morphine drip,had colonoscopy,endoscopy,ultrasounds,hida scan,cat scan,kidney x ray,everything was normal but mild acid reflux,so now its pointing to endometriosis.The pain stopped for few weeks,felt normal and could eat,now its all back.I've had the feeling or pressure after bm i wasnt done but it wasnt unbearable like it is now,its constant,went to dr yesterday did a rectal exam said it was roids,last week i had bad episode of constipation/impaction 5 hrs on toilet straining lucky i didnt give myself a stroke!I pulled every muscle it felt like,since then i had worse rectal pain and pressure i have to go and cant,if i do its blood ,and i get anxiety attacks before i eat cuz i dread the pain,so i basically been living on slim fast,boost,jello,juice and water cuz im afraid to eat.This is driving me nuts and causing deep depression,is there any end to this?!?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
KEH
I have been suffering from rectal spasms for several years.  They are sporadic and usually occur when I am sleeping, so I question the diagnosis of stress.  My doctor prescribed nitroglycerine (Nitroquick tablets 0.4mg)one tablet to be disolved under the tongue.  It provides relief within 10 min.!  He said he realizes that this may seem like an odd application for the medicine but because it opens up all the blood vessels and capillaries, he felt it would provide relief, and it has!  I am a 53 yr. old female going through menopause and I have read in my research that these spasms may be related to low estrogen levels.  I also read that the spasms are usually benign and will subside over time.  I have attacks usually every 2 months or so and they are so painful that I can't get relief without the nitroquick.  So, I hope that this info may help some of you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I havent posted in a while..my pain seemed to subside a bit, not back to normal but better until the other day i got up in the middle of the night to pee..i was sitting on the bowl and the pain started in my rectum..i started to pass out..i crawled to my bed with severe pain in my butt but also vaginally or bladder??? I dont know if i was passing out due to the pain..my DH took me to the ER but by my time we got there i wasnt passing out anymore and the pain wasnt as bad so didnt go in..Since then back to where i started with butt pain, taking ibuprofen to relax the muscles, ultracet for pain and sitting in a hottub/sitz bath..I finally have a gastro appt tomorrow..i think as some posted it could be related to the bladder and rectum or vaginally..they seem related..dragonsfire also mentioned a transrectal sonogram..good idea..and i am looking at the website for PNE..the only problem i see is convincing a doctor to check these things out too.. thanks for letting me vent
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm only 22 and I have some of the same problems. Right now I have an intensly painful Hemriod on the outside. I cant walk, sit, move, there is no comfortable place. I took a warm bath, I used the cream, I eat plenty of fiber and drink lots of water. Arent I too young for this? Its not my first, but it is in a new spot. I also have ovarian cysts, which I have had since I was 17. I'm on birth control and have been for a long time, so my only recollection of my natural period was that I didnt get it regularly. I also have chronic lower back pain, which wakes me up every morning, and intense sharp random pain, which feels like its attaching one ovary or the other. I also have definate bloating problems, to the point where the pain is too much to handle and I am visibly bloated.

I'm only 22 and need serious help. I am trying to put all the symptoms together, because I feel they are inter-related.

Any help, advice is welcome. Thanks!

Helpful - 0

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