When I first “cracked the code” on stabilizing and reversing prolapse, and wrote and published Saving the Whole Woman, I set up this forum. While I had finally gotten my own severe uterine prolapse under control with the knowledge I had gained, I didn’t actually know if I could teach other women to do for themselves what I had done for my condition.
So I just started teaching women on this forum. Within weeks, the women started writing back, “It’s working! I can feel the difference!”
From that moment on, the forum became the hub of the Whole Woman Community. Unfortunately, spammers also discovered the forum, along with the thousands of women we had been helping. The level of spamming became so intolerable and time-consuming, we regretfully took the forum down.
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Founder
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Surviving60
February 22, 2014 - 9:19am
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Cleo, I don't think that most
Cleo, I don't think that most doctors will have much to say to a patient who complains of being in the loo for ages. And if they did, it would only involve drugs and/or surgery, because that's all most of them bring to the discussion when it comes to female pelvic health.
Diet, prolapse-friendly exercise, stress reduction, and correct posture and bodywork are the only real tools for bowel management. - Surviving
fab
February 22, 2014 - 5:26pm
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Hi Cleo
Knowing whether you are constipated or not is surprisingly tricky. It's best to look at the form and appearance of the stools. In constipation the stools is lumpy. You can Google 'Bristol Stool Form Scale' and you will see that type 1 is separate hard lumps and type 2 is a sausage of lumps. They are definitely constipation, but then type 3 isn't the best either. Doc would want you to aim for 4.
Why it is tricky is because there is a paradox. Most people who pass type 1 or 2 type stools do not suffer symptoms and do not consider themselves constipated. They are, but they don't know they are.
You on the other hand Cleo, know you are maybe because you are straining, have unproductive calls to stool, have feelings of incomplete emptying out, abdominal pain and bloating? If this is the case it is usually the result of irritable bowel syndrome and ....... fixable. Be heartened it is a malfunction, not a disease.
If it proves none of these then maybe diverticulitis or Crohen's Disease need to be checked for especially if they were in the family, but really the popular bet would on IBS.
cleo
February 22, 2014 - 9:59pm
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Hi Fab
Diverticulitis does run in my family. I had a colonoscopy five years ago and they said I have a little diverticulitis but not to worry as most people my age have it. I do have hard stools sometimes. I don't have Crohn's disease. Sometimes I feel like I have everything. I get so tired of toilets.
fab
February 22, 2014 - 11:03pm
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So Cleo
is there a special diet you are meant to be following? My mum had diverticulitis but not the other problems that you mentioned to muskrat. The doctors were telling her to eat more fibre, but I am not sure about that and nor was she. Just with the D she used to appear poisoned/infected(?) on occasion, breaking out in a sweat and having a horrible time on the toilet and sometimes she had to resort to a glass of port just to get her nerves together. My aunty in law also had it and her nerves were shot. My mum finished up having part of her bowel removed which is not a great way to go, but seemed to help. I believe it is mostly treated with antibiotics now. I wouldn't be too keen about more colonscopies either, I am sure that if the D had progressed you would know about it.
I'd like to nag you about diet at this point, isn't there something you can do?
Aging gracefully
February 23, 2014 - 7:53am
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Constipation and bowel issues
Constipation and bowel issues can be a really hard thing to deal with when you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. No pun intended here. I agree with fab, it may be time to start looking to your diet to see what may be causing your problems. I know when I started cutting out the sugar and processed foods helped me a lot with the hard and the gummy sticky stool that I would get in the past. After that it becomes more personal for each individual. Some people believe in a lot of fiber to get things moving, while others can't tolerate that much fiber. You really need to experiment with your food choices and see what it does to your body.
It also sounds like your peristalsis has really slowed down. Getting the natural bacteria back in your gut may be a good idea also. Some people take probiotics, but you have to be careful what kind you take. Some kinds destroy the probiotic bacteria when they hit the acid in the stomach; therefor, not even getting into the intestines. If you do go that route, get a good enteroprobiotic that doesn't release until it gets into the intestines. I personally really believe in the fermented food route. Yogurts, miso, tempeh, Kim chi, and other fermented vegetables really get the good bacteria growing in the gut.
It really takes time, patience, and study to get the guts moving properly. It took me years and self examination to get to the point I am at now when I had had many more years of constipation and other bowel issues.
And, I know I don't have the full on rectocele that others do, but I did have some softness on my anterior wall in the beginning, and I did have to splint to get the stool out many times. But, since really working on my diet, the posture, and those lovely exercises on the DVDs, my anterior wall has really become much firmer. Not saying everyone will get this result since mine wasn't as severe, but it would definetly be a move in the right direction.
Wish you the best, Cleo!