is this really IBS?? I find it hard to believe!!! :(

Can you respond to the other thread you started on this board?

Thank you Puzzik for responding. My anxiety is getting the best of me so I am going for a colonoscopy tomorrow, I need to get the "what ifs" out of my mind, it is consuming my day and night. I just hope by tomorrow this time I will be relieved.

Jared, that is exactly what I am experiencing, it started all of a sudden! I just had a colonoscopy done on Monday and he told me everything looked fine. I really don't know what to make of this. I have all the additional symptoms you are talking about. Mainly, I have a dull left sided ache, that comes and goes. When it comes it lasts 2-3 days and its horrible.

All my bowel movements are undigested particles and I have increased urgency to urinate, once it comes on I have to run to the bathroom as well. Did the doctor diagnose you with pelvic floor dysfunction?

I wondered if you had ever heard of a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist?

Not sure about all the undigested food issues though, and what could cause that.

I hope this is helpful. I did some research for you. :)

If you are suffering with pelvic floor dysfunction, please know that you are not alone. Pelvic floor dysfunction has become a problem of epidemic proportions in both men and women. Talk to your physician and get a referral to a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists have specialized training to evaluate the muscles of the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor muscle evaluations are done both internally and externally. An internal pelvic floor muscle exam is important because you can’t tell if the muscles are doing the job that they are meant to do if you don’t check them directly. It’s also extremely important to check the muscle tone or tension level within the muscles. If the muscles are too short and tight and you start strengthening them, it can cause more pain and dysfunction. I heard a quote somewhere from another pelvic floor therapist explaining why an internal exam is important. This is not a direct quote but I think the meaning is clear…….”giving someone pelvic floor muscle exercises without checking the muscles directly is like an Orthopedic Surgeon doing a knee surgery through a pair of jeans”.

Here are the essential steps to an effective pelvic floor evaluation and treatment.
*Full body postural and muscle assessment
*Specific pelvic floor and spinal alignment evaluation
*Internal pelvic floor muscle assessment
*Treatment for the condition being evaluated is based on the findings from the above assessment. Effective treatment needs to include correction of muscle and structural mis-alignments with a manual therapy approach prior to any strengthening.

In summary, pelvic floor muscle dysfunction has become a chronic condition in both men and women. Diagnoses such as urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, infertility, dyspareunia are just of few examples of the very common conditions that we are seeing in men and women. Physical Therapy treatment should be the first line of defense due to it’s effective results. If you or someone you know is suffering with pelvic floor dysfunction, speak up and seek out treatment. Many of these diagnoses are treated easily and effectively.