Posted 12/26/2016 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
For my whole life I've had a problem that seems to run in my family (my uncle and my brother have he same issue)- the issue is that we have to wipe a zillion times after pooping, and often hours later there will still be residue that leaks out into the anal surface. I'm not talking large amounts, just enough to make my wet wipes have a light brown dot on them when I go back to wipe again. The overwiping inevitably causes itching as well. I only use wet wipes ever since I had an operation in the area (more on that later) and even the wet wipes don't get everything since the residue comes out later on throughout the day when I move around (especially while exercising). I find kegal exercises help push a lot of the excess residue out, but rarely is it 100% effective. The only thing that is ever worked is psyllium husk- with psyllium I've even had thebmuch sought after "ghost poops" where no wiping is needed. The problem is- my body slowly over time became sensitive to psyllium (it got to the point that I was farting sometimes 80 times per day and pooping 2-3 times per day). This is fine while I'm at home, but it became quite uncomfortable to be constantly holding in farts while out on a date or working. When I stopped taking the psyllium the problem vanished, but the million wipers began again. I still eat plenty of fiber and I take citrucel at night and in the morning as a supplement (it doesn't give me gas like the psyllium) but none of it has gotten rid of the wiping problem. As for the surgery, years ago I had a perianal abscess and a low fistula (part of the same, not distinct). My uncle had he same thing. Neither of us have Crohns or any other health problems (we both had every test imaginable, not to mention we don't have symptoms). His doctor believed it was his years of straining and constipaton that caused it, and this is probably true of mine as well. My curren fear is that have residue leaking out of my anus could cause another abscess (I'm not sure if that's how it works or not). I feel like I have to choose between being gassy 24 hours a day (psyllium) or constantly wiping (no psyllium). Keep in mind I was on the lowest dose of psyllium (1 tsp of Konsyl per day)...I have tried Metamucil as well and I have the same problem with it. But for some reason psyllium is the only kind of fiber thus far that has cleaned up the poops.