Denda said...
Hi All -
OK - I'm filling out some paperwork and of course the old any bowel or urinary issue question comes up. And it specifically states diarrhea or constipation. I have a different type of problem. I really don't think it's constipation, but tell me what you think.
I know I have to have a bowel movement and about half of the time, the transaction takes place successfully with no issues. :o) But the other half of the time it's like I can start to have the bowel movement and it starts fine but stops in the middle of the transaction and my 'colon/renal' muscles can no longer push it out. So I sit... and wait... trying to get my muscles to do something, I'm not straining or anything like that, I can try to push but nothing happens, it's like the power just went out down there and I have to wait for it to come back on to finish. Sometimes, it doesn't and I'm squirming around on the bowl (sorry, hope I'm not too descriptive here) trying to get it done w/o the muscles helping. It's not painful or anything just REALLY annoying, especially when I'm in a hurry! ;o)
Has anyone had this and how do I classify it? I don't know why I haven't thought of this issue before with my symptom list. This has been going on for about the last 2 - 3 years for me and even with all that has been going on with me, I never thought it might be a symptom here.
Thanks for your input.
You're right -- it's not constipation. What it IS, is "a problem with motility" -- your description is pretty accurate -- "it's like the power just went out..." What happens is the nerve signals to the colon, telling it to contract, are interrupted, and the colon just lies there, doing nothing.
Imagine a snake, moving along through the grass. it's a constant motion, looks like it's expanding and contracting, and slithering along. The colon is like that, as it moves fecal matter from the intestines to the outside. And it's nerve signals that "tell" the colon to move. When they stop transmitting, the colon stops contracting, fecal matter stops moving along.
Obviously if the fecal matter stays inside long enough, it CAN turn into a constipation problem, but it sounds like things will "power up" at some point and you'll be able to finish, eventually.
So you do need to tell your doctor about it....and you can describe it as a "problem with motility". Here's a Wikipedia definition of "motility": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motility
and it is a pretty common problem with lots of us with MS. Often it'll be described -- inaccurately -- as "constipation" and "diahhrea"....but those are very specific and describe other conditions..which can also occur with MS.
Anyway. If your doctor has any good ideas for you as to how to overcome it, do share! :)