The Colon Club

Hi all,

I have mentioned before that in addition to the CRC thing, I have a Factor V Leiden condition that makes blood clots a problem for me. I have had 3 DVT's in the past 3 years - 2 in one leg and one in the other. I am now on Coumadin pretty much forever.

As we CRC people know, our trips to the john can be a little longer that non-CRC people's. This morning I was a little constipated so sat on the throne for longer than usual. When I arose, my left leg had fallen almost completely asleep and my right leg was heading that way. As my leg came back to consciousness, I noticed I felt VERY lightheaded and had some numbness in my arms as well as intermittent pains in my chest. It was pretty bad at first and seems a little better as I type this.

Question is, should I be concerned about this or is this a normal reaction to my legs going to sleep? It would make sense that as blood rushed back to my legs, it might make other things numb or tingly, especially since my blood is thinner than normal. It could be that the thinness allows the blood to rush back faster thus causing a lack of blood elsewhere? Who knows. Just wondering if this leg falling asleep is a potential trouble sign or just normal? I have only noticed this in the last month or so - numbness from sitting on the can.

Mitchell

Is it when you sit in general or only on the toilet?

Sounds kinda like vagus nerve stimulation, Mitchell - have you reported it to your doctor?

I have been having sporatic problems with dizziness for years, starting long before CRC. There is no medical condition or identifiable cause for me, and I am no worse post-crc; possibly a little better.
The following biological factors are problematic for many people, with occasional dizziness experiences: high or low blood pressure, various cardio-vascular conditions, low electrolytes in blood, etc.

When sitting on the toilet the following could be inducing some dizziness- Sitting still for an extended period of time; keeping your body in some atypical posture- bending your torso down towards your legs, crossing your legs; drinking lots of liquid as you sit there; sitting in a room that is overheated; and many other environmental factors.

If your recent experience has been notably different than in prior years, I would definitely check it out with an expert.

Like Gaelen said...sounds like micturition syncope.....check it out at wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micturition_syncope

That's so interesting, Ivona, because I've never heard it called "micturation syndrome". Mitchell, I was going to say it sounded like a vaso-vagal response, but since Gaelen already did, I won't. However, short of massaging your carotid arteries-DON'T, the easiest way I know of activate your vagal nerve is to bear-down (like pooping, or more specifically, straining at pooping). If you're ever really bored on the toilet, put your finger on your carotid artery in your neck (JUST ONE SIDE) and feel how your pulse changes when you bear down. It will go down, probably a lot, you might feel dizzy at the same time as your BP drops when you stimulate your vagus nerve.

Also, since toilets seem to be a lot harder seats than the chairs you probably usually sit in, there could be more of a "tourniquet" effect on your legs from sitting there for a long time.

However, since you have the clotting issues that you do, I think it would be a smart bet to run this issue by one of your docs, probably your hematologist, maybe a cardiac guy if you have one.

Good luck, Bev

Not to take away from the physiological advice already mentioned here but I had a similar problem with the legs going to sleep when I was on "the bull". This used to happen to me even prior to surgery and it was becuase I tend to stoop over and rest my forearms on the thighs for extended periods (things were moving slower in those days due to blockage).

Hannah flushed a GPS down the toilet a few months ago and I broke the tank in the process of getting it out (the GPS however survived, go Garmin). I replaced it with a toilet from Lowes that sits about 6 inches higher and that problem pretty much went away even though I still stoop to poop (sorry if that's TMI, just trying to help ). Without replacing the toilet there are extenders available at medical supply stores to lift up the seat 6 or 8 inches. Does wonders for the knees too.

HTH --Shane

There is a name for it? Something I never discussed with my MD because I thought it was nerves. How about that! Always learning here. Thanks for the information.

Hey guys,

Thanks for all the input. I think it was a combination of this including just flat out sitting on the can too long. Moral of the story - don't take your smart phone into the toilet with you . I think this might have been accentuated by the coumadin effects.

Felt pretty rotten and lightheaded all day after that - better today.

MitchellVII wrote:Moral of the story - don't take your smart phone into the toilet with you .

Definitely, cause you'll risk dropping it in the toilet like I almost did the other day. Missed the "loaded" bowl by mere inches

SkiFletch wrote:

MitchellVII wrote:Moral of the story - don't take your smart phone into the toilet with you .

Definitely, cause you'll risk dropping it in the toilet like I almost did the other day. Missed the "loaded" bowl by mere inches

My Otterbox Defender Case doesn't list "poop" as one of the things it protects against .