Hey to everyone! I'm from Bulgaria, 45 years, married, one 8 years old boy. Since childhood I had anismus, which later turned into encompresis and severe constipation (1 BM per week or less). The encompresis (witholding defecation urge) resulted into diminished anorectal sens - cannot feel bowel movement urge anymore. I got a slight rectal prolaps as a result of straining and used to have bleeding internal hemmoroids. So this is where I got myself to.
Untill recently I had no idea my condition is called anismus. I am still not very sure, so you tell me if yoours is the same - the moment the stool starts getting out and touches the anus, the anal
opening contracts and stops the process involuntary - is it what they call anismus? Unfortunately defecation is not a topic you can
openly discuss in our society, here is the only place I can do it. It is never shown in the medias or taught at school. I do not not understand why children learn at school so much useless data, instead of getting basic body knowledge, such as nutrition, elimination, maintenance...
So it was not before I started toilet training my little son when I noticed that his bowel movements are completely involuntary process, just like the urination (you do not strain to urinate). I always thought that straining is the only option for having a BM.
It took me 40 years to figure out I was wrong! So let me tell you how I deal with my challenges (I do not call them problems
):
1. The hemmoroids were gone within a year after I switched to squat position for elimination. Completely gone! Here's why: http://www.naturesplatform.com/health_benefits.html
2. Constipation was a big problem for decades - it would be a true mircale to have 2-3 sequent days with regular BM. I have tried everything, believe me, untill I finally realised that I DO NOT HAVE CONSTIPATION at all. The problem was that I do not feel BM urge when it is time to poop, so the stools stay in the rectum and get dry and compacted.
2. Anismus - this was a difficult one to deal with, because even when not constipated I still could not have a BM - the anus shuts tight. So the key to my success is that I learned to feel the pelvic floor and relax it. When it is time to go I squat and relax the body completely, in a warm bathroom (yes, I insalled a heater there
), without doing or thinking anything else. Then I slowly relax the sphincter and let the reflex finish the job, while completely relaxed... I never push. I also work with visualisation and affirmation - they help. Every time my organs do a good job, I thank them for their excellet service.
3. Lack of BM urge - I have not found out so far how to get back my anorectal sensitivity. However I trained my body to have a BM at exact hour every day, in the morning after drinking two cups of warm water. So I kind of manage to feel when the rectum is full and ready for discharge.
So this is my story, feel free to ask any questions if I can help or give me advice on the things I could not achieve yet.