Rikimaroo wrote:I know you mentioned it before and is sounds intimidating. There are days I am perfectly well and have maybe 1 bowel movement in the morning and 1 at night what I call blow outs. Sometimes I have one a day, then there are the days when I have multiple and it is really annoying as it hampers your life. I will look this up and see what is needed to be done. Thanks Susie
susie0915 wrote:I do daily tap water enemas. It is very simple to do and takes about 30-45 minutes in the morning. It empties my lower bowel and allows me 24 hours of bathroom free until I do again the next morning. It takes a little time and patience to become proficient and develop a routine. There are many others that also do tap water enemas. If you put in subject you will find a wealth of information. I have been doing them daily for two years and it has been a game changer. I can eat without fear, participate in daily life, my bottom feels better, and have been able to gain some weight back that I lost during treatment and dealing with LARS. There is also a facebook page for people dealing with low anterior resection syndrome and enemas are discussed at length as many do them. As always you should talk to your doctor and be prepared that he/she may not approve. Enemas were recommended to me by the doctors at the bowel control clinic at the University of Michigan. I was seeking help dealing with all the issues that we have to deal with after having a rectal resection. I was 15 months out from reversal. When I told my surgeon and oncologist I began doing enemas (they are from a different hospital than U of M) they both had no problem. Enemas are becoming more accepted, but there are some doctors that prefer their patients don't use them. It is worth trying before having another surgery and going to a colostomy. Many that use enemas can do every other day or only use when they need to ensure that they will not have to use the bathroom for an event. I chose to do daily as stool doesn't build up and makes the process much easier. I purchased a 2 quart enema bag on amazon for about $25 and it works really well.
Rikimaroo wrote:Thanks for all the posts. Some days are just clustering, but sometimes big breaks in between. But its frustrating because I hate to be dealing with this. I am going to give it some more time. The enema is so intimidating and I was reading coffee enemas may be safer then tap water enema because of possible water poisoning. I know friends that are doing fine now after about 2 years out, but still have issues on some days. I think I have more control over it now then 6 months ago, but once I go for the first time of the day it because a clustering problem. I need the blow outs which is better then I know I might be done for a while, but that doesn't always happen. I take Imodium when I go too much, but then I think it causes more clustering.
It's hard to find a happy medium.
Rikimaroo wrote:Mike, I think you have some time for it to get more normal, your almost a year out, but I think a little more time might see more better results. It is still frustrating to deal with either way, but if 2 years pass by I an continue to have this problem the bag might be a big consideration since it was no issue at all. I can do anything not worry about being stuck on a toilet at some shitty bathroom in MacDonald or gas station because I have to stop somewhere.
I feel like I am stuck at home sometimes, but I have been ok. Today I went to a client to install a network switch and do some work and I have been good. No pooing yet for the day. I took two imodium last night just in case. I still take Metamucil at night with two imodium usually. I sometimes skip the metamucil and I wonder if this causes more clustering so I am going to stick with it for a while and not miss a day. I started to take probiotics and I think that help as well, but stop taking them off and on. I need to stick to a routine, but its hard, cause sometimes I go and then diarrhea kicks in or toxic poop and it starts to burn like a mother@#$@ lol...
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