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tenesmus, anticipatory soiling

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/16/2011 8:33 AM (GMT -5)
Good Morning,
How often do you experience tenesmus? It is ssooooooooo painful and exhausting!!! I have been to the RR 10 times already this A.M. and the straining is crazy! I feel as if I am going to blow my butthole right out!! LOL! Is it possible to wear out your butthole and have to get an artificial one?..LOL! At least I can laugh, although the tears are from straining...Do I need to look into an antispasmodic?

And-I know I have seen this topic at some point...WHY is it that, when feeling a BM coming on I can hold it until a block from home? when I am driving a half hour back home from work? ALSO: no matter how I try to make sure that I have emptied my bowels before leaving work, MANY times urgency takes me out AT THE SAME EXIT OFF THE HIGHWAY!!!!!!!!!!?????????????????? I have had to run around to the other side of my car and let it go many times in this exact spot!! It is 20 minutes into my drive home from work in the morning. I am on my feet all night working in the hospital as a Nurse Assistant, AND I AM SUSPECTING that there may be a link between the vibration of my vehicle and my bowels needing to void...??? I do believe there is a psychological link between alot of this anticipatory soiling stuff. I get so tired of this disease, as I am sure we all do. Blessings and good health to you! Deacon Blues
Posted 1/16/2011 9:00 AM (GMT -5)
Well I think you are on to it with part of it being psychological which can be difficult to stop.
I was thinking maybe the time of the morning you eat breakfast or drink something, try adjusting that and see if anything changes.
Posted 1/16/2011 10:39 AM (GMT -5)
I only get that kind of tenesmus when I'm flaring. ;o(
Posted 1/16/2011 11:01 AM (GMT -5)
#1) Tenesmus can be helped with a nightly enema and of course antiinflammatories. The tenesmus is just one part of the inflammation and dysfunction of the colon.

#2) Car travel. I had this exact same symptom about 4 years ago, no feeling of BM until I got in the car and drove away. It got to the point that I would plan on getting in the car, drive around the block until the feeling came on and then stop back at the house for BM before going out. A stupid workaround and the neighbors must have thought I was really absent-minded, always forgetting something. Again part of the inflammation/dysfunction of the colon.

As I got less inflamed the urgency would come later and later. So that I could drive to the grocery store or Walmart, park, walk around the store before needing the bathroom. No amount of walking in my yard or around the house would do the same. Is it the car vibration? I thought there was some element of it, mimicing the vilii in our colons which are damaged and not able to do their job as well.
Posted 1/16/2011 12:56 PM (GMT -5)
I am sorry Deacon. I think we have all been there. I am actually just finally feeling like my urgecy is healing! It's been a long road... I know people say this helps and that helps but in my honest opinion, the only thing that helps is time and healing. Some people respond to one thing and others to other things - you need to find what works for you and stick with it until you're on the road to recovery. Urgency can hang on until long after all the other symptoms disappear. It's very frustrating. I have heard a few people say that having a change of clothes in their car eases their mind and makes them less likely to have an accident.
Posted 1/16/2011 2:20 PM (GMT -5)
Are you flaring at this point?

Are you on meds..what are you using at this point?

Yes, I think that anticipation can play a part...maybe doing Kegels once you start driving will get your butt used to holding until you get home.

You could take a half imodium in the afternoon....or whenever so that you'll be able to hold off your bms until later.

It could be the timing of that's when your bms are ready to happen.

Are you on rectal meds at all????

Antispasmodics could help...

q
Posted 1/16/2011 7:54 PM (GMT -5)
Tenesmus means that your rectum is inflamed-- so you need to keep it medicated 'til it heals. Antispasmodics like Hyomax can help, but if you have to drive daily, it may not be an option for you. Ask your gastro! Have you tried wearing disposable undergarments? During cold weather, especially, they are a worthwhile protection against soiling of one's clothes. In case anything vile does leak out, clean-up is a whole lot easier when you're able to toss the disposable. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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