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.
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MeMyselfAndI
September 1, 2006 - 2:04am
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Risks
I wouldnt know if they are completely safe - But I know my mother had one yearrrrrrrrrrrrs ago - But whether that is attributable to her rectocele or not I don't know...
Make you wonder if all the Colonics I see on Tv and stuff damage you too... I mean - I don't think we were built to have all this stuff rammed up and stuff...
seaoats
September 5, 2006 - 9:30am
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tests...............
I had a colonoscopy scheduled shortly after discovering my rectocele. In order for them to do this test one has to avoid foods containing seeds such as tomatoes, grapes, etc. and foods high in fiber for about 7-10 days. I have a daily regimen of juicing and adding 2 tbsp. of freshly ground flaxseed to the juice every morning to avoid constipation. I also use Heather's Acacia Fiber twice a day. It is for irritable bowel syndrone and while I do not have this problem the additional fiber helps. I was not willing to cause a stage III rectocele to become worse in order to have this test. When I went to the beach in late July, I was using collace, a stool softner. It took 4-5 days to work. I was pretty miserble until then. Juicing has helped so much. (Does anyone know of a good travel size juicer.) The gastroentrologist told me that one can live w/o surgically repairing the rectocele if they can avoid being constipated. I don't know about stage Iv though because if the rectal wall pushes the vaginal area outside bleeding can occur. She indicated that having a repair at my young age(50)would eventually have to repeated.
Because there is no family history of colon cancer and the fact that I have for the most part maintained a healthly diet, I chose not to go through with this test at this time.
Whenever one is confronted with a decision it is good to weigh all the benefits and risks before proceeding. By the way, do you have a rectal prolapse or a rectocele? I thought rectal prolapses were not very common. Good luck in your decision and let us know how you are.
jmqphd93
September 5, 2006 - 1:22pm
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tests, risks etc.
Seaoats - thank you for your reply.
Now that I seem to be having symptoms of rectal prolapse (I do not have a professional opinion on this yet - appointment next week), I was just curious about the effect of the prep. and all the prodding of a test like colonoscopy. I scheduled one last winter (subsequently cancelled it), when my primary care physician suggested I do it just because I was close to the age at which it is recommended for everyone (I'm 46) even though I have no risk factors for colon cancer and I was having no symptoms indicative of intestinal problems. At that time, she, like my gynecologist had failed to recognize what I now realize were obvious symptoms of prolapse. I was presenting with pelvic discomfort, lower back pain, feeling a bulge like sitting on a golf ball, but they both failed to diagnose cystocele. My primary physician was convinced for some bizarre reason that I had diverticulitis, so she sent me for an abdominal/pelvic CT scan and told me to schedule the colonoscopy. About 8 days later, she called to tell me that my urine test indicated a UTI, and even though I was asymptomatic, she put me on Cipro for 7 days. After 5 days, my intestinal tract was in revolt and I was doubled up with cramps - I stopped taking the Cipro. This was my first ever UTI and I had never taken Cipro before - most unpleasant.
Well, the CT scan revealed pelvic muscle relaxation and a "not well distended" urinary bladder, but absolutely nothing else. When I told my gyn about this, she did a pelvic exam and, sure enough, there was the cystocele. Long story short, I used a pessary for about 4 months and now I have these rectal symptoms. I stopped using the pessary, and I'm putting all my effort and faith in diet, exercise, posture etc.
Sorry to go on so long, good to get that off my chest (-: I'll keep you posted.
Jean
Anonymous (not verified)
February 26, 2009 - 5:02pm
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Alix
March 4, 2009 - 8:32am
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colonoscopy risks
It appears that out of 1000 people having a colonoscopy 2 will suffer perforation of the bowel, which is the most serious risk incurred in having this procedure and leads to a risk of death. The risk is higher in older or iller people who can be expected to heal more slowly, and in people with ailments of the digestive system. This would not usually be considered a high risk.
The choice is not just between colonoscopy or no test at all. There is another test called sigmoidoscopy which carries about half the risk of colonoscopy. But it seems to me insane to do an invasive, troublesome and (even slightly) risky test without any evidence that there is a problem to be detected. Better have a stool test first. In the UK a new policy is to give everyone over 60 a stool test and then if there is something suspicious, retest several times before going on to a colonoscopy. This makes sense to me - though 50 might be a better start age.
I think health funding methods influence the attitude to testing and other procedures in different countries. In the US I understand you have insurance based health care, with a risk of consequent over-testing, because there is a lot of money to be made from tests. In the UK we have government funded health care and a risk of under testing, because testing costs the country and the tax payer a lot of money. Take your pick!
louiseds
March 4, 2009 - 7:07pm
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Bowel tests
In Australia we have a mailout fecal occult stool testing program in place, where peope are chosen at random on their 55th birthday to participate in the scheme. It is free and aimed at assessing the success of doing it this way in the community. I was lucky enough to be chosen. It was pretty simple to do in my own bathroom, completely non-invasive and a negative result came back.
I think bowel cancer uses up an enormous amount of public health and personal resources in treatment and palliative care, and is very easy to detect early.
But that is all it does, detect hidden blood in the stool (and maybe some antibodies?). Then if there is a positive result they look further and do other, invasive tests. Fecal occult testing is totally useless for detecting anything else that is going on.
It's nice to know that it was negative for me.
Louise