Rectocele - can it cause occasional diarrhoea?

Submitted by Katya2 on August 7, 2009 - 9:06am
Body: 

Hi there, you were all so helpful last time I posted, I just thought I'd ask one more question.

I'm due to have a colonoscopy in the next month although it's been delayed while they checked whether I was celiac (not). I've had occasional very bad cramps and diarrhoea (woke me in the night last time) and also pain and constipation. I've had bleeding too and severe anaemia but I think this was down to piles and too frequent periods. The only thing I can't put down to prolapse is the diarrhoea which happens every month or so, so I was wondering if this is a symptom that anyone else with rectocele experiences?

It seems obvious to me that if I have organs not in their right position, it might affect, or squash the bowel which then might react in this way? But I will go ahead with the colonoscopy to rule out colon cancer.

Thanks again girls
Katya2

alemama

August 9, 2009 - 9:11am

intestinal discomfort can be hormonal.
and you could have parasites :)

kiki

August 9, 2009 - 3:33pm

i haven't heard of it causing that, but as alemama said can definately be hormonal. is it at the same time every month? is it related to something you don't eat very often? also, you can have a gluten allergy that isn't coeliac. and it can be very severe--but if you are regularly eating gluten, then you would think the symptoms would be quite regular...

maybe worth keeping a food and cycle diary for a month and track your symptoms, to see if there is a pattern...

Katya2

August 10, 2009 - 4:36am

Thanks Kiki and Alemama

I've made a diary and can't see any pattern related to hormones as such - but then my cycle is all over the place at the moment, so it's hard to tell! It's useful to see that it isn't commonly a symptom of prolapse though and worth investigating in it's own right.

Thanks again
Katya2

kiki

August 11, 2009 - 4:25am

i've started tracking my temperature to see what is going on with my cycle, and it is really helpful. working with a homeopath to regulate my periods, and they are a ton better. but still doing the temperature to see when i ovulate, so i don't have to guess when i'll get my period and i can see my LS symptoms along side it... if you want more info happy to post!

kiki

Katya2

August 11, 2009 - 2:23pm

Kiki - that sounds really interesting - and I'd love to hear more whenever you get time to post it. I've also just started to take a birth control pill in the last couple of days in the hope that it will regulate my cycle a bit more. I should also add, it's interesting that you also have a disrupted cycle - mine is occasionally normal, but more often a week early though light, and sometimes lasts for two weeks. I wonder if this is a common symptom of prolapse. Maybe when the uterus gets heavier it can't contain things as well as it used to. Excuse me guessing - I'm just wading though all the info on this site so I'm sorry if this has been discussed before!

Thanks again

Katya2

kiki

August 11, 2009 - 2:35pm

I don't think it's to do with prolapse, as it's very much a hormonal thing. Mine went crazy as I began to wean, so I blame it on that. but they never recovered. My homeopath treated that and first cycle, 28 days! yah! since then, i've had about 4 that were 27 - 30--fine by me! Before that they were alternating between 21 days and 35+....argh. Also I know that as we get older, they shift...but i don't think I'm nearing menopause yet, so don't think it's that yet (though my mom noticed shifts from her 30's, but didn't stop periods till her 50's...)

tracking them...if you google natural family planning you get lots on it including charts to download and record on. basically, every morning before you get up you take your base body temperature--once you have ovulated, the temp rises so you know you've ovulated. Also, around the time of ovulation most women notice their mucus changes to egg white thick mucus. From ovulation to your period is about 14 days, so it gives you an idea of when it is coming. In addition, when you ovulate your cervix is higher, straighter, and less tight (but mine is too up and down with the POP to track that).

However, the pill will stop you ovulating so you won't be able to track anything, and be aware that when you come off it it can takes months to get regular again.

Kiki

louiseds

August 11, 2009 - 8:56pm

Depends on the type of Pill, I think. I believe the mini-pill allows ovulation, but then prevents implantation, or something. It might also affect the mucous, so it would be harder to read. On the otherhand I am not sure if they really do know why oral contraceptives work!

If it is the mini-Pill, and you are still nursing. They say that statistically the mini-Pill does not affect milk supply, but as an ex-breastfeeding counsellor I know that anecdotally there are women for whom it *does* decrease milk supply. The answer, of course, as usual, is just to nurse more often, and allow it to build up again. Let your baby set the pace.

L

bad_mirror

August 11, 2009 - 10:33pm

I really love the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility." I wish I'd gotten a copy at puberty! Even if you don't use the Fertility Awareness Method for birth control, it is excellent information about understanding your cycles through temperature, cervical mucous, and cervix position. My sister gave me the book just before I got pregnant, so I haven't actually used the method yet (but have read the book cover to cover about three times!), but look forward to doing so once my cycles return.

kiki

August 12, 2009 - 12:41am

good poing Louise!
I just automatically think combined pill when I think regulate periods, as that is what is so often given for that. from my understanding the mini pill can actually make your periods more irregular, so unlikely to be used for that (from my understanding--someone please correct me if wrong!). however, is useful as Louise says if feeding as less likely to reduce supply.

thanks for the recommendation of the book. Think I'll have to read that! I'm thinking Fertility Awareness isn't going to work for me as contraception, but that's a diff't post I keep meaning to do as I know a few women were considering it, so wanted to talk it through...