newbie with MC and depressed

[nsaidcolitis]

I have had MC from overuse of nsaids (had chronic pericarditis) and the main issue was right lower quadrant pain (where the nsaids usually damage the colon - check literature) and constipation or diarrhea alternating(at the beginning). Now I find that MC isn't so bad because it can be cured by diet and managed by diet.

However all that straining I think has damaged my rectum and now my stools are very thin and have rectal discomfort daily. I am hoping this is IBS or just the colitis but apparently all my symptoms match to be internal intussuception where the colon is damaged from straining (I only strained for a month or so)...and the only solution is surgery and its not even effective.

I was so obsessed with MC and at the end I caused myself something so much worse now probably in the future I will have surgery on my colon which is not even effective according to most sources.

I am very depressed although I don't have an official diagnosis I am 100% this is it . The literature says it cant be reversed but i will try.

So my advice to you guys is dont worry too much about MC it can be managed, i found out way too late and be careful with your diets and colon. It can be much worse.

If anyone has come across this issue and has any tips please let me know if theres anything left to do besides surgery.

[JLH]

deleted

[tex]

Hi,

Welcome to the discussion board. Actually, the lower right quadrant (the ascending colon, cecum, and terminal ileum) is the area where MC is typically most active, so it's somewhat common for that to be a center of pain associated with MC.

I'm not a medical professional, but as far as I am aware, an intussusception in the rectum would seem to be very unlikely. I would think that physical extension issues of that type in that section of the colon would normally present as a prolapse, rather than as an internal intussusception. In addition, an intussuscepton of the colon (in an adult) would be very uncommon — it typically involves the small intestine (usually the ileum), not the colon. We have at least one member who does have an intussucceptoin. You might be interested in some of her posts in the threads at the following links:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17612

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18099

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=18239

However, in your case, it appears to be very unlikely that you have an intussusception. Instead, it's very likely that you are simply dealing with an MC flare. One thing to consider is that MC can present as either diarrhea (D), constipation (C), normal bowel movements (N), alternating D and C, or just about any other combination of those symptoms. When MC is active, it's very common for stools to have a "ribbon" appearance, due to inflammation in the rectum. I've had that same experience myself, many times, back when I was reacting, and so have many other members here. My own symptoms alternated between D and C.

Are you restricting fiber in your diet? Fiber in the diet is contraindicated for MC (it perpetuates the inflammation), and fiber can lead to ribbon-like stools, staining, etc., because it can contribute to swelling in the rectal area. Hemorrhoids are also closely-associated with active MC, and they commonly cause ribbon-like stools and very uncomfortable defecation, due to the constriction which causes straining and pain.

The bottom line is, I'm not a doctor, but IMO the odds are very high that you do not have an intussusception. Instead, you're dealing with some of the same symptoms that many of us here have had to deal with when our MC was active. If you are seriously concerned about it though, you should check with your doctor to see if any tests are warranted.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

[nsaidcolitis]

I can only hope you are right but just in case I am avoiding straining at all !

Adding more fiber seems to be np for me as long as I keep the fruit intake low.

Thanks for all that info tex. Your posts really helped me out control the colitis for sure.

I had improvement today (a lot of improvement in BM) and I can only thank God.

[tex]

I'm glad that you're seeing some improvement today. That's encouraging.

The biggest risk of straining is diverticulosis (bulges/pockets in the wall of the colon, usually in the sigmoid area of the colon), and they are very common for people over the age of 40. If you review the endoscopy report written by the doctor after a colonoscopy exam, you will notice that if you have any diverticuli, the examining doctor will usually report them as "tics" in the report.

Tex