Anismus - Anyone Else? Treatment Options?

[killer_anismus]

I'm a 24 year old female suffering from anismus or "anal sphincter dyssynergia".  I'm looking for other people who share this digestive disorder.

What have you been thru and what are my options?

The only alternative to surgery I can find is biofeedback which isn't working very well for me.  I'm learning about botox injections and possibly acupuncture.

I started a Yahoo Group for people with anismus.  It is located at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/anismus/

If you have anismus, please join and help me.  Share your story and knowledge.

[H69]

Hi KM25! :)

Anal - Rectal Manometry may be done to diagnose anismus.

http://bladder.wustl.edu/obgyn/urogyn.nsf/WV/0BD5B91FB7BDE0138625718000700400?OpenDocument

"how did you find out your diagnosis?" I kept telling my doctors that i felt my colon didn't emptied entirely. They didn't trust, but I insisted. So my last doctor (a good one as opposite to my former doctor, an awful one) after all the tests that found I don't have an organic pathology sent me to do Anal - Rectal Manometry and then to biofeedback..

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

H  

[stephnjas]

Does anyone live in Oregon/Washington with this?  Just got diagnosed about 11/2 months ago.  The doctor who diagnosed this told me- I have one of the WORST cases of Anismus he's seen in the 19 years of specializing.  I don't know much about the out come with this...how long it usually lasts or if it even gets better.  Please give me some input from your experience.  Thanks you and Take care.

[Keef420]

I think I have Anismus. My back passage tightens on its own without me thinking about I, when I realised I conciously relax it only to find a short while later that it has tightened again. this happens over and over. Is this Anismus? K

[dannysangar]

Through research I have done , I most definitely have an involuntary contraction of the sigmoid sphincter , this has caused the worst problems for me in my life , bloating , constipation , pain, pressure ,looking pregnant  and so on , for 25 years  I have suffered with this and no doctor has advised me correctly ! . FYI , once upon a time fluoxetine gave me a reprieve for 2 months and a trip to Amsterdam where I ate a magic mushroom relieved my symptoms for one evening , does anyone know how to treat this ? long term

[Danielz]

I have the exact same problem.   What you call the sigmoid sphicter, I call the puborectalis.  The constipation, bloating, appearing pregnant, pain and pressure and above all the contant anxiety of whether I can relieve myself or not, are all things that I continue to have.  I have seen reports about a research team in Rome that has used botox to great success.  I have also read about partial resection of the puborectalis muscle to get significant improvement (Howerver in the US, doctors are reluctant to perform this operation since leakage can result.).  I take a low dose of Zoloft which provides more seratonin and as a side effect it increases the peristalsis of the colon to help.  Baskically I get thourh from year to year (7 years so far) using a combination of Milk of Magnesia, Zoloft, more fiber in diet, liquids, coffee as a daily "prolpellant" laxative, Flents glycerin suppositories with vaginal gel for lube and occessionally Dulcolax.   After eating is a good time to try to go, since food entry into the stomach and deuodenum stimulates peristalsis and evacuation.   Nothing is perfect and the frustration is endless but I somehow manage to get buy.  This is such a rare condition that not evern doctors know about it.  Its completely screwed up and trips up one' life.

[pelvicpt333]

anismus or non-relaxing puborectalis can be a very devastating condition.  It causes frustration and pain!  However, there is treatment for this condition that can be effective.  First, you have to be properly diagnosed either with ano-rectal manometry or defography.  If it is indeed your problem, go to a physical therapist in your area that works on pelvic floor dysfunction.  We are out there but most doctors don't know about it.  Treatment can include internal massage/stretching of the muscles, biofeedback, and relaxation.  Sometimes, medication that is normally for anxiety can help as well as it secondarily causes muscle relaxation.  Botox is absolutely effective but there are not many doctors who do it except in larger cities like NY, CA, FL but you won't know unless you ask.