5 years of chronic severe constipation

[stashash]

hello, i'm a 32 year old woman searching for more information and advice. 5 years ago i had a total abdominal hysterectomy due to a congenital malformation. bicornate uterus with noncommunicating horn as well as tubes and cervix was removed. a few months after this surgery i was rushed into emergency surgery with an infected tissues,adhesions and ovarian cysts. after this my old stomach issues returned in overdrive. severe chronic constipation, rectal bleeding, large hemorrhoids internal and external, nausea, vomiting, ulcers...the usual. well, here it is 5 years later and its gotten worse.
if i do not take enough gastro meds to drop a horse i don't poop and even then it is difficult and i don't feel completly empty. i'll take 8 different strong meds, each of which would normally resolve someone's constipation, but not mine. enemas and suppositories are helpful to get it moving, but still i feel full. in 3 months i've gained 20lbs, my stomach is bloated to the point where i feel i can't sit, my stomach bubbles and churns with gas and fluid strong enough i had to drop my classes due to the loud agressive noises and pain.my hysterectomy scar is tight and painful, sharp stabs over my left ovary...you get the picture.
i've had a million tests. slightly slow gastric motility test that didn't really show much seeing as i threw up most of the radioactive eggs. anorectal manography showed high pressure at rest however biofeedback wasn't helpful. diet restrictions to raw veg and fruit, low fat high fiber. this isn't much different from my normal. i don't eat red meat or fried foods. no candy bars, fast food or sodas.
after not being able to nail down a diagnosis my doc basically said he couldn't do anything more for me and is referring me out to a surgeon who wants to do a sitz marker study to see if there is a place where the intestines are slow. he's talking about rececting part of my bowel. now, i have done everything  my doc asks of me and tried everything suggested by friends with little to no help for 5 years. i have no fear of surgery, and i believe that if there is a good chance it could help i'll take it! but my fiancee is terrified of surgery and thinks its ridiculous to consider it. i have a family history of colon cancer, diverticulitis, gerd, and ulcers.
has anyone had this seemingly impossible constipation?
i've got a few weeks before i see the surgeon, and i'm finding myself thinking more and more about it. it might be the answer...help!!

[stashash]

i'm on day 5 of the sitz marker study. i go in for another (4th) x-ray tomorrow. findings so far are not good. after 5 days i haven't passed a single marker.

"

COMPARISON: 11/1/13 and 11/4/13.

INDICATIONS: Sitz marker study, day 5.
  
GAS PATTERN: 24 markers remaining in the colon, most of which
remain from the proximal descending segment proximally, with two
markers in the rectosigmoid segment. Large stool burden is again
noted.

CONCLUSION: No interval passage, 24 markers remain scattered in
the colon.

can anyone tell me what this means?

[insicknessandinhealth]

Hello, Have you considered juicing? This is a great thing that has cured many in this predicament of yours. Have you done any fasts to give your body a break from any foods? :) :P

[mobetts]

You should.  You deserve the best possible care you can get.  Is this a gastro doctor or primary doctor?  My gastro doctor gave me the diagnosis and sent me on my way.....they told me almost nothing and said good luck. I had an apt with a patient navigator because my case is so complex.  I really liked her.  She is recommending a natropathic doctor at an intregrative health clinic.  If you have access to a patient navigator it might help.  You could go to Crystal Saltrelli's web site and check it out...she is a specialist in gastroparesis.  Just google her name or go to face book...This woman is awesome,  most doctors don't have much info on this....you can also ask her questions.  Hope you get to the bottom of it soon...no fun not knowing what the heck is going on.
Sending good thoughts your way :)
Mo

[stashash]

thank you! i had that test and it was slow, but not slow enough to warrant medication. my doctor doesn't think that is the issue. but, i have not been a major fan of this doctor. i'm looking for a new one who. this guy is rude and not the most interested in personal interaction. i would like to see one who has more time

[mobetts]

Low motility can be a mild diagnosis with severs symptoms.   If there was more than 10% of the eggs left after gastric study.  This could be the problem.  Please research this.....I didn't know much about this until I was just diagnosed.Hope this is of some help to u
Mobetts

[mobetts]

Ever been tested for gastroparesis.  This is a gastric disease that causes delayed gastric emptying or you digestion of food is very slow.  Diagnosed usually by a gastric emptying study.  I was just diagnosed.  I have a lot of your symptoms.  Worth a try to ask your doctor I guess.   Hope this helps.
Maurene

[stashash]

hi, thanks for the info. i have never heard of visceral manipulation. i'm going to look into it. you've been very helpful! thanks again.

[stashash]

thank you. i am hoping the sitz marker study gives a few answers. i start it this friday. i'm going to ask about sacral nerve stimulation. i have a lot of neuropathy from my pernicious anemia. thank you again for replying to me!

[CalGal]

Stashash, I have a suggestion that may sound a bit outlandish, but may be of help in the long run. Try some visceral manipulation. You've got one decently trained person in the area you are in, I think. Go to the IAHP.com website and put in your location. There's a lady there who has both visceral and neural training and she may be able to help.

It's an osteopathic modality that can help in finding and relieving adhesions. So if that's what's slowing you down, it could very well give you a hand with what you're going through.

In addition, find a good physical therapist who can do an internal exam and find out the state of your pelvic floor and may be able to locate some internal restrictions. Dysfunction in that area can also cause miserable constipation. Or if you can find a PT around your location trained in both pelvic floor work AND visceral work that would be a plus.

The techniques do work. I didn't have any form of constipation, but did have problems after surgery with adhesions. Visceral work has given me one hell of a lot of relief. It's worth a try.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi, understand your predicament. The surgeries may have caused adhesions and sometimes these adhesions may cause problems with bowel movements. If the adhesions have been removed, then your problem could be due to slow transit constipation. Biofeedback, sacral nerve stimulation, segmental colectomy, and subtotal colectomy with various anastomoses have all been used to treat this condition. As you wait for the tests, try exercising regularly, this promotes bowel movements. Regards.