colon removal

I have had every test there is known  to man done this year trying to figure out why I am so constipated.  My Gynocologist did surgery to remove my intestine that was laying in my rectum but to no avail I am still constipated!  My colon/rectal doctor wants to remove my colon.  The first test I had done was the marker test (I took a capsule with markers in them to see where they were at after a couple of days from xrays) I couldn't complete the test because after the 3rd day I was so constipated and in such pain.  Other testing was barium enema xrays, balloon testing, enemas, etc.....My Dr. has come to the conclusion that I have a problem in my digestive tract and that my anus is to small to have a bowel movement, my stool is extremely hard, the only way to relieve myself is by taking a laxative!  I have tried Metamucil, bran, prunes, and anything else that people/Drs have suggested to me, I'm thinking that this might be an inherited thing, my mother just informed me that her mom's sister (my great Aunt) also had a hard time going to the bathroom (#2) and that she also had her colon removed and also my mom's sister had to either give herself an enema weekly or take laxatives to make her go potty, my sister also has a problem going potty but she tries not to take a laxative (my mother informed me that she had to at times try to enlarge my sister's anus because her stool was so hard as an infant)  but her's is not as severe as mine.....The time is getting nearer and I am starting to get a little scared!  I have emailed back and forth with Marcombe several time and he/she has helped a little with some questions that I have had......PLEASE GIVE ME ANY KIND OF ANSWERS the help me!  I am only 41yro

[CalGal]

Brettswife, sometime ago there were groups that were investigating the use of colonic pacing to try to help people with your type of problem. It was much like the pacemaker for a heart, but this one was designed for use in the colon. I don't know where that research is at this point-in-time, but you might want to try researching it to see where it stands.

However, pacing is also dependent on the fact that a person has all the nerves and nerve cells that should be in the colon actually 'in place.' Some people don't and the only way that can be determined is by 'mapping' the colon by doing specific biopsies throughout the colon - a specific procedure. If those nerve cells are not there, then the condition is actually Hirschsprungs and no amount of trying to pace that section of the bowel will help. If a person has Hirschsprungs they will have it do to a problem that happened in utero and nothing can change that.

[Morecambe]

Hi again - I remember our previous exchanges and have been wondering how you were managing.....?

The thoughts that occur to me are:-

- could the total colectomy operation be avoided by a surgical enlargement of the circumference of the anus?  I don't know..

- if you decide to undergo the colectomy operation then your motions will become far more liquid and there should not be the same anal constraint that you are now suffering with your combination of hard/stiff motions and an anal restriction.

Good luck and do keep in touch
Morecambe