Is constipation better?

Hi!

Just had to respond when I saw your subject line!! I have not had to deal with D much myself, but when I do it is absolutely horrible because I am bowel incontinent. Makes D a little bit tricky (and messy) to manage. I have however, had chronic C for pretty much my entire life. I'd have to say I really didn't mind it too much for most of that time, I mean it was easier to manage, and I really didn't feel much pain. Of course, it's not exactly healthy either. But, the main thing I wanted to tell you is DO NOT LET C GET OUT OF HAND OR GO ON FOR TOO LONG! It will cause awful pain, nausea, and can cause life threatening blockages. My C has gotten much worse over the past 6+ months, often I can go for as long as 2-3 weeks without a bm, end up feeling very very sick. The only way for me to have a bm now is to set aside an entire day and take large quantities of (prescribed) laxatives. That results in a full day of bad D. Like you, I cannot seem to find a middle ground with the meds, it's either C or D, nothing in between! I do take a somewhat large amount of laxatives daily, but they do nothing unless I bring out the big guns! Just trying to survive for now, until I have all the tests they need done and can figure out if/how much of the colon they will remove, and then do surgery to create an ostomy.

Sorry, I guess I got a little carried away there. Have you talked with the GI about choosing to live with either C or D? They really need to know what's up with your meds and your condition. Obviously neither option is great, but I'd say as long as one won't damage your body more than the other, go with whatever gives you a better quality of life!

As far as the psychiatrist goes, there isn't another one you'd feel comfortable seeing? What about going to your primary care doc, at least they could get you started on something.

Good luck, and hope to hear back from you about how you are doing/what you decide!

Hi Minnie,

I honestly don't think one is "better" than the other. They both suck. I've had pretty bad C for the last year and still have significant abdominal pain and nausea. The straining, the feeling of incomplete evacuation, the hardening of your abdomen as it gets fuller because stuff is going in but not going out (thus causing the pain)--ugh, it is no fun. Of course, neither is D. I can't say I want either, but there have been many times in the last year when I've wished for my GI tract to go back to the way it used to be.

Some of us dealing with chronic C take stool softeners or laxatives or a regular (even daily basis). Some of the ones I've used are Miralax and Senokot (which isn't as harsh as other laxatives because it's plant based).

Hopefully, you can find a happy middle ground soon!

Hey Minnie...is C better than D Yes...and No
I was C from the time I was born until my rupture in 1990. Umm the way I wrote that it sounds like I never went for about 24 years hahaha. But those 24 years I was undiagnosed and thought it was fine to rarely go then have occasional sprints to the bathroom. Post resection, I have been D for 24 years. I do miss the C sometimes and I use cholestyramine to try and get back to that balance. The good part about the powder is I adjust it based how backed up it makes...there are days I use 1/4 packet and days I use more up to 1 whole packet.
For me C is bad because I tear horribly with any pressure....D is bad because the acid is nasty on my tushy. I like blanace when I can get it

Habs, sorry I had not seen your post before I posted my precious reply. Yes, both suck. Normally, I like d when it is 3 or 4 times/day but when I have explosive d that makes me lose a lot of electrolytes and have low blood pressure that one I loathe. Usually, that indicates a lurking flare up.
I too start w 1/4 a packet of Questran and then end up taking the whole packet which causes severe C. After these years, I don't know how to satisfy my intestines. I'm too cautious w food and deprive myself from a lot of food but when it comes to controlling both pain and my bms, I'm a real failure.
Take care :)

To be honest, I'd rather have D over C only because for me it's more painful being constipated and at least with D there's relief of getting it out and then it's done (even if only for a short time before you have to go D again usually) but C is so much more painful and equally difficult to leave the house due to pain and never knowing when poop is finally going to come out and then you have to worry about being near a restroom.

But I agree with Vitika, they both suck and I'd rather just be normal again.

In september when I developed my rectovaginal fistula I was getting worse and worse with constipation, and the pain for me was worse then any pain I've ever had with D, not to mention it's much scarier when you're sitting there pushing and pushing (so exhausting) and it feels like you're literally in labor trying to push a huge baby out, and there's likely more possibilities of doing damage (rectally/vaginally) from pushing so much, for so long and not passing stools...my biggest worry when I have C is that I'm gonna end up having a rectal or vaginal prolapse, or both from all the straining with having C.

Hi all,
Yes, thanks to this forum that gives us the chance to talk about things we can't discuss w non-Crohnies. I have friends who suffer from cancer and other fatal diseases but keep sympathizing w me whenever they get d or any abdominal pain. They just ask me how can you cope though it's me who wants to ask them how can you just deal w your cancer. Even when I get issues down there whether my anal fissures are active or when I got my perianal abscess and I couldn't sit properly, these friends felt very sorry for me and say "Poor thing, are all your problems down there? We can't tolerate the idea of seeing a colorectal surgeon and having a digital rectal exam or that a lot of times you have to be put on enemas for months to treat proctitis.
Frankly, I myself, have tried before to avoid seeing colorectal surgeons because of the idea of rectal exams and the feeling of embarrassment to discuss my bowel movement problems w my GI. Now, I feel it's very normal and I don't dread anything any more. Crohn's taught me to be brave enough as I have no other option when pain hits :(