I need info.....

The only thing I can think of is to gently massage the area with lubricant (KY jelly?). Wear gloves. Early on I always felt like my new rectal area wasn't large enough. My doctors must use a pediatric speculum on me, for example. My doctor said they can stretch and dialate the area while under for a colonoscopy but in the meantime I could do the massage myself.

If anything I'll keep this topic current and at the top so folks can read it and hopefully offer you a specific exercise.

I hope you find relief soon Leslie. Hugs.

Mary

OMG Leslie I'm so sorry to hear that your having a difficult time I was going to mention taking Citurs of Magnesium but you have already taken that.Try drinking hot tea I used to try that when I was feeling constipated,in fact I resently been hearing a radio commercial for a new tea for constipation,Dam I wish I remembered the name try googling new radio commercial for constipation tea see what comes up.Wishing you all the best please let me know how things are take care.

Oh, one more thing - my mom used to give me straight prune juice as a kid (I was a very picky eater and would occasionally get constipated). It always seemed to work.

Leslie - as you know I did have a temporary colostomy for 2 months. I had less trouble then than I do now. My diet wasn't as restricted either (they tell you to avoid gum, using straws, a few groups of foods that produce gas but other than that, it was easy to care for). If you are this miserable and have good insurance, I say go for it. The ostomy forum here at HW is comprised of a great group of caring folks.

Finally, we do not have great insurance, not even good insurance anymore. That's a thing of the past now. Anyway, my surgeon recommended I end all of my multiple bm's and get a permanent, inverted colostomy. It would be placed as low as possible on the left hand side of your body (you know the lay out of the GI tract by now I'm sure). Stool would still be formed. By having an inverted colostomy, the theory then is I would irrigate (fancy word for daily enema) it once within a 24 hour period. You use special tubing to do this, infusing water into the colon and waiting for it to return to the toilet, via the same tubing (I think). In between irrigations you are supposed to be able to just wear an AM Patch (large bandaid). Of course you would carry with you an ostomy bag, etc. in case your ostomy started having output. But in theory for those that do irrigate, they have a 23 hour period without any output.

Again, we are strapped for extra cash and couldn't afford this surgery. Our insurance only covers office copays (at $30 to 60) and Rx copays (at $30 to 50). They would balk at this elective surgery, they wouldn't cover my last colonoscopy, my husband's in '07, my daughter's MRI last year. Of course it all goes towards our ind. deductibles of $2500.

So again, don't look at a colostomy as the last resort. It may just free up your day (even if you wear a bag). And you'd be out of pain.

I do hope you figure this out.

Mary

Marsky,  Wow, thank you for the valuable information.  After drinking all that stuff it finally worked last night, all night and still today, so I am elated and sick to my stomach at the same time.  I was getting worried I still have a lot in me so I just hope it keeps going.

Can you tell me what type of doc's do the colostomys?  My doc should call today, because I left a message that the bio-feed-back that he wants me to have for my sphincter muscle, is not covered by insurance and its 300 a visit.  So I am going to ask him if there is other options besides that and I am also going to ask him about the colostomy.

I would rather have that then be sick every day.  So thanks again Mary...you were so helpful.

Leslie

Jt, what is going on that your so sad...??  I finally got a result from all that stuff I drank. wheeeee