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Avatar universal

Falling colon

For four years I have had a single problem, as it gets worse daily.
The pelvic floor flexes by an inch or more, the colon in the inside seems to be folding over toward the spine, and when I say folding over I mean folding over flat.  Its also pushing down. depending on the angle its a hard ring with a matching diameter. I thought it was a prolapse for a few years, its not. My best guess is that the colon itself is no longer stationary. It  forces the rectum to be open which is slowly widening, and deforming. The muscle structures are fine so to speak, no amount of muscle training will fix it. Aside from those symptoms it is very very narrow I'm not sure I understand why. It puffs out and is very soft and bloated the inner colon and rectal tissues. I have no idea what that is about. It hurts to stand, and it hurts to eat. The skin around the pelvic floor is getting very thin. It IS VERY difficult to pass stool, I have to get on my knees and put my shoulder to the floor for quite some time, just to pass gas. I get painfully bloated as well.  Heres the part that is REALLY burning me out, no one is doing anything. I seldomly get more than a doctor who looks at me feet, looks at my head, and says  you're fine. It has NOT be taken seriously. I hate eating at this point.
I have no idea what to do. I have had every test twice, No joke, and they "cant see a problem that is medically obvious". I am on my last nerve. Aside from the fact I had to drop out of college because of this problem I've spent the better part of the last few years lying down. I cant do anything. It constantly feels as if a ten pound weight were inserted into my rectum pushing down. I am 24 years old. Oh yeah and I cant seem to get anyone to do exploratory surgery. After four years of going to doctors and colo-rectal surgeons. I don't even bother going outside anymore. Help if you feel like it. You want pictures spanning the last four years? you got it. Ive taken pictures with a digital camera for the last several years.

I'm getting tired of every time I describe my symptoms to a surgeon they completely reinvent them incorrectly. I show them pictures and they act like they are from another universe. So try to take my symptoms into account when and if anyone answers.
I'm getting a little batty from all this. Ive tried 4 states in 4 years. NO one has listened even a little bit.

Would be nice if I could have a life again.
Thanks.
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Avatar universal
I am much older than you but dealt with similar problems for the past 20 years.  And it turned out it was not in my head (nor is it in yours I suspect).  I have had two C-sections and a total hysterectomy.  My colon fell into my pelvic (probably due to no uterus) and had twisted and "pretzeled" (the surgeon's word) to the point where it was almost impossible for me to have a bowel movement or pass gas.  The daily discomfort was almost unbearable.  The other interesting thing I'd like to pass along is that I had three colonoscopies and two contrast cat scans which did not pick up this condition ---- only indicated I had some thickening of the bowel.  It was not until I had several severe attacks of colitis (or what was at the time diagnosed as colitis) that my primary care physician knew something more was up and sent me to the gastro and surgeon.  The surgeon left the decision up to me to do exploratory surgery which I hesitantly did but which probably saved my life.  Keep pressing until you find a doctor who will help you.  You know your body.  Good luck and God bless.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You've said, you had two defecographies, but, what were results? If you don't know, can you obtain them?

You've mentioned, you were active phisically, and your stool is not hard, but it is narrow.

You may search for "lazy colon", it's an official term. There are also deformities, hemmorhoids in the LAST PART of your colon, maybe even diverticles. As you mentioned, a proctologist could evaluate this.

To discuss about your problems here, I (we) would need your hystory (time caurse) of your past 4 years symptoms, investigations with exact results, medicines.

Don't try with chuckles and yawns, it wont help.
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Avatar universal
It doesn't matter, medical care is the US is a sham. It has to be better in other countries.
It really does. Physical pain and physical failure, they don't care. They dump patients and are loyal to their paychecks. They aren't doing anything to be helpful. Its not a difficult concept. They could fix it all with a fairly unsophisticated surgery. Still nothing. I'm not doing well. My health is literally getting worse by the day. I don't have another year in me left like this. This forum is equally useless. I give up. I'm done. Thanks I guess.
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Avatar universal
I'm giving a chuckle to your last post. I'll tell you from experience that the LifeFitness treadmills my old gym kept, max out at 12 mph. I did run as much as any non professional athlete could for a time, before it started to get really bad. Running consecutive miles at 11mph was common place for me.  As for the neurologic thing, *yawn.
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Avatar universal
If no 'mass' was found, the problem may be neurologic, neurologist can test muscles of pelvic floor, and anal muscles to see is there is any nerve or muscular damage. It may come out that your problem is 'functional' - a smart way to tell you that you have a problem, but they haven't found anything. Weak pelvic floor muscles, anysmus and such terms - you'll probably hear them again. At that point, you could consider, is it possible that there is a psychic cause behind, relationship maybe. Constipation is  often 'functional' (lack of exercise, not drinking enough, psychic stress), and investigators often quickly refuse to make several additional tests. Activity - at least partly physical, but in general - life activity, is a must.  
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Avatar universal
Thanks morecambe, I'll look into it. I have an appointment tomarrow anyway and I was planning on calling my doctor today. Things took a turn for the worse in the last few days.
I really hope they do something. I wont last long if they dont.
Nothing is moving anymore, pain nausea, mucus leakage you name it. I cant eat anymore. one way or the other I dont think I'm going to have to worry about it too much longer. Given that in four years nothing has been done, I have my doubts and even less faith. I'll have to wait and see.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

You might like to click on to the "ask a doctor" section of this forum and scroll back to the August 2007 entries.  You will find an entry from mifegr and a series of responses (including several from myself).  Maybe you will see some (but certainly not all) connectivity between your problem and hers.  The treatment suggested for her is a total colectomy.  It sounds as if the "geometry" of your lower intestines might be responsible for your discomfort.  In my opinion you could do worse than ask your G.I. specialist "would a total or partial colectomy cure this problem and even if it is consiered drastic, I want to consider it"

Good luck
Morecambe
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
no my stool is not hard. Its more along the lines of a paste, and barely anything comes out.

As far as bowel movements go, thats the problem, lack of bowel movement.

What part of I have had every test twice is hard to understand. I have had two video defacographies, I sat and watched them myself.

The greater problem seems to be more along the lines of not being taken seriously. I generally get these basic questions over and over again.

Other than writing my will I dont think there is anything more I can do. Thanks.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Few thoughts:

Is your stool hard? Did you try high-fibre diet and do you think you drink enough? (Exaggerating with drinking won't help, though).

Do you feel relief after bowel movement, I mean, you still feel the heavyness after that?

When your symptoms start? Anyone in your family have them?

There is special investigation available (defecography) - they make images during defecation.
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