Cronic Megacolon

[Schnelly]

I just completted a mulitude of test( barium  upper and lower-
colonoscopy a sysmart test and a test for Hursbrungs
there is no cancer no blockage just a huge sluggish colon. I have alot of trapped gas that pushes on my diapham and limits my breathing from time to time the Docter says basicly live with it or remove the whole colon and attached th small intestine to the rectum

anybody living a happy life with out a colon--is there an diverent ave to try to regain a tone colon--???????????

[eurika]

My daughter has had horrible chronic constipation since she was a infant.  She was checked about 6 mon. ago for Hurshsprungers and thank God it was negative.  They call it Idiopathic bowel.  It's where a part or section of the bowel for some reason (more than likely diet, not enough fiber and bulk, and holding it for long periods of time, and even heredity) causes that part of the bowel to become sluggish.  Then the stool backs up and continues to become bigger and in my daughter's case the consistancy of wet clay.  Her pediatric surgeon said the treatment should be this and it has worked for 6 months and my daughter's doing great.  You have to retrain your bowel to empty at a certain time EVERY DAY with out fail.  As follows:

Take recommended dose of Milk of magnesia (concentrated kind) every night before bed at a time convenient for you.  If no bowel movement next day, than up the dose the next day by 7ml.  Continue this until you have a bowel movement (sometimes it will be diarreha.) If diarrhea, than your next dose, cut back 3 ml. until you find the right dose that will produce a soft bowel movement everyday.  Until then to clean the colon, ENIMAS-they gave my daughter 6 before they cleaned it out.  Also you need to try to cut certain things from diet as follows:

Chocolate, apples, apple juice, tapioca, rice, cheeses, bananas, etc.  These are very constipating for alot of people with idiopathic bowl.  You can't 100% cure it, it is a lifestyle change, but it's better than a colostomy.

[pikamom]

A friend of mine has this problem, she's anorexic and from years of laxative abuse plus starvation, her bowels no longer work. She is miserably constipated all the time and has been suggested to have her bowels removed as well or just live with it. I don't know if your situation can be reversed, she was told her condition was permanent. I guess your doctor thinks your problem can't be fixed or he wouldn't have recommended the surgery. I think it's good that you're asking questions and doing research on the internet before doing anything drastic and irreversible. Maybe there's someone with an answer!