Postby MissMolly » Mon Dec 17, 2018 7:46 pm
Pajamas:
From your narrative it seems that you are experiencing some form of a functional or motility issue with your intestines. That is, the normal manner in which the intestine functions to move digested food material down the intestinal tract is acting up.
Adhesions can play a substantial role in intestinal dismobility, often years after the initial abdominal surgery. Adhesions are scar tissue, a normal response to healing. Thick, dense bands of scar tissue can tether a portion of small bowel to another section of small bowel, causing a kink or narrowing. Adhesions can also tether a section of small bowel to the abdominal wall or to an adjacent organ.
The net effect can be intermittent episodes where the flow/movement of the intestines is interrupted, often felt as rolling waves of fairly intense pain. Digested food material (called chum) begins to back-up, distending the small bowel immediately above the area of narrowing/restriction. As infra-intestinal pressure builds, the body will reflexively exert more forceful contractions of the intestinal smooth muscle, more oomph and vigor to release the log jam. This is likely what you are experiencing in the intense and forceful cleaning out episodes. Your body is marshaling recruited contractile force to clear what it rightly perceived to be a partial obstruction.
The next 2-3 days following the clean-out find your intestine calm and acquiescent. The partial kink or narrowing has cleared and harmony has been restored.
Until . . . Until there is another instance where scar tissue becomes problematic, lending to repeat the scenario above.
The small bowel is particularly vulnerable to intermittent obstructions by scar tissue. The small bowel is in constant motion, 24-7, under the moist and fatty apron of fat called the omentum. The small bowel slithers like a snake, constantly squirming, propelling digested food material. This slithering makes it easy for filaments if scar tissue to become entrapped and is the basis for many small bowel obstructions.
So . . . What to do? Ideas include:
1. Take an osmotic laxative or magnesium supplement or dose of aloe Vera juice daily.
The goal is to make the consistency of fecal material less dense/bulky so that it can pass with greater ease through narrowed intestinal passageways. Titrate a daily dose that provides you with the effect you need (you are in hr eighth track as repeated episodes and symptoms resolve).
Individuals plagued with abdominal adhesions will take Miralax or similar daily as a pre-emptive measure. The thinner the fecal consistency the easier it is to pass.
Aloe Vera juice is analogous to intestinal lubrications. It is found at pharmacies, holistic grocery stores (Whole Foods), and Amazon.
2. Daily stretching for abdomen and pelvis
Stretching (elongation of the torso, rotation of the torso/pelvis, side-bending, etc) has benefit of stretching and mobilizing scar tissue. Basic/beginning yoga poses are also quite effective. Deep tissue massage by a licensed masseuse or physical therapist is also beneficial.
3. Keep to a fiber diet lower in fiber (lower in insoluble fiber, in particular) and keep portion sizes small/moderate.
Although many people increase fiber intake in hopes of relieving constipation, insoluble fiber can be add to constipation because fiber can difficult to process and move along when the intestine has a functional or dysmotility problem. Think of long strands of celery that get tangled in a sink’s garbage disposal. Low bulk, low volume foods are easier to digest. You can certainly enjoy a fresh salad, but have a small appetizer salad rather than a hearty dinner sized Cobb salad. Cut fresh greens and veggies into smaller pieces to aide the mechanical work of digestion and chew, chew, chew well before swallowing.
Keeping to small portion sizes also helps when intestinal motility is slow or when the intestine has areas of narrowing. You do not want to overwhelm the intestines with food overload. Soups and foods with a liquidity base (stew, chowder, chicken pot pie) are wise food choices.
Karen
Dear friend to Bella Piazza, former Colon Club member (NWGirl).
I have a permanent ileostomy and offer advice on living with an ostomy - in loving remembrance of Bella
I am on Palliative Care for broad endocrine failure + Addison's disease + osteonecrosis of both hips/jaw + immunosuppression. I live a simple life due to frail health.