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question to all of you with colonic inertia

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Posted 11/9/2008 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
hi every one

have any of you heard about a device called freelax for the treatmemt for chronic constipation?

http://www.free-lax.com/

i've just found it on the net and wondered if any of you might know something about it.

i don't want to get my hopes up too soon, but i'm excited to try ANYTHING that might help before going to surgery....

so any input???

Posted 11/10/2008 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
It looks like some sort of massage device - i have seen a programme on tv about deep abdominal massage bringing on bowel movements - you cant get better than an actual person doing the massage - this device looks ridiculous to me - it has just two bits sticking out. it doesnt say how much it is even.

if i were you i would go to a therapist who specialises in abdominal massage - it might be cheaper in the long run ?  i know if i could afford it i would go for the therapist doing the massage - they go right around the gut and knead and press - something a machine couldnt do. dont waste your money. 

it is a short term solution though - ci is for life but it depends how bad your ci is.

 

Posted 11/10/2008 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
karen,
my ci is bad enough for not letting me lead a normall life style. half of the day i'm struggling on taking out of my bowls as much as possible, the other half i'm at work, struggling with the pain and bloating. so i go from b/r to work and from work to b/r - that's how my life look like. in the weedends i take a great amount of laxative to clean my self better, and for the whole day i'm bound to my home. i'm in pain from the bloating 90% of the time, i'm tired all the time - it is'nt a normal kind of fatigue, it's more like my bones, flesh, skin - are all soooo exhausted and squeezed. i feel sick all the time. if i don't make the effort of creating a b/m at list a little every day, i'll won't be able to function at all b/c of the pain, and another problem is when i don't have any kind of a b/m at list a little bit a day, i leak urine in very small amounts during the day. it's like a little drop here, a little drop there, every 20 minutes or so, and it makes me feel very filthy and smelly and i'm uncomfortable being around ppl like this, so i have to make the effort to make my self go every day, and it takes me hours to have some kind of a result.

i'm just so scared of this surgery and the outcome and sometimes i guess i try to run away from it. my gi and surguen and everyone around me telling me i should have it already. i just need to work on my fears of being incontinant (sp?) and some more other fears i have from having this surgery.

i'm realizing lately that there's no real cure for my fears other than just to do my best to be optimistic and beleive in my self and in my surguen, and hope for the best results. just have to go with the most possitive attitude there is.

by the way, OMG karen, you're surprising me with your surgery date. i'm new here, but i've read all the posts and as i recall you were saying you're supposed to have your surgery sometime in the beggining of next year, now you're schesuled for 27 november!!!!!
that's just around the corner....

i hope for the best of luck to you as i'm hoping for my self and for every one else on this board.

i'm praying for all of us.
Posted 11/12/2008 11:52 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks for reply.  Life sounds absolutely awful - i dont know how you manage to work - i know a lot of folk do with ci.  it totally takes over - yes it is constant pain, bloating etc.  laxatives are getting more and more useless to me - plus they work at sporadic times - there is just NO kknowing if or when they are going to work or how effeciently.  for example i was up at 5am for half hour and then again at 6am doing not much at all just a little diarrehoa.  it happens more and more. 

yes my greatest fear is being incontinent and having to get up all night - i wonder just how the small bowel acts and whether it sleeps at night. 

BAD NEWS THOUGH - just got a call to say surgery is cancelled - i hope it is still this year though. i hope the prayers are answered for all of us too.

Posted 11/12/2008 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
what a bummer!!!! i hate when they do that.. i also was scheduled to see my gi doc on 23 Nov. and a few days ago got a letter in the mail it is postponed to 7 Dec. i hate this waiting. i'm so sorry to hear it was cancelled, but who knows, maybe it's for the better. hopefully you won't have to wait too long.
you crack me out, karen... you're sooooo funny.. about the small bowel - you know what, i'm not sure either. but as far as i know all the systems in our body keep working even when we sleep, but just in a different way than they do during day time, they just shift into a different kind of mode at night....
about work, i just have really understanding bosses, it's really beyond believe and they accept me just the way i am with all the problems. i'm supposed to work from 14:00 - 20:00. some days i arrive at 14:00, some at 15:00 and sometimes even at 15:30 and they don't say a thing. i'm a typist, and they say, just how much you can give, we're ok with that. i'm very thankful having such understanding employers, and i only work 4-5 hours a day. i miss a lot of days too when the pain is too much.

well, karen, just keep us posted on your new date.
Posted 11/13/2008 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Hodaya - Oh that is so good you work with understanding people - i didnt have that. I was made redundant about 18 months ago. thankfully, and i think this is from god, i found work via the internet working as a home legal typist - it is totally cosher and i never even knew one could work as a typist from home, plus money is very good - i could def not cut it otherwise as laxatives work on me so erratically.

yes i will, and you too xxx
Posted 11/13/2008 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
Karen, i'm sorry, but what does "made redundant" mean? well, english is not my laguage - it's hebrew, not familiar with a lot of words/phrases.
it's really great you can work from home. i'd say it's a truly blessing for you, with all the mess the laxatives are doing to you.
my surgoen has his own forum, and i posted a few days ago a question to him about laxatives, and he asked by the way why i was not coming to see him and i told him about the postponement of the gi appointment, so hopefully, maybe he can rush things for me a little, but then again, maybe he can't, i don't know. we'll see.

best wishes
Posted 11/14/2008 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
How interesting it is to speak with you - You do so well with your language though Hodaya.

Being made 'redundant' means my position of employment was no longer required anymore, therefore being 'redundant'. so that particular postion in the company was no longer required and would not be required in the future.

I do hope you get your appointment soon - do you live in USA? In UK we have what is called the National Health Service and so waiting can be quite a long time - 3 - 8 months for an appointment and then another 2 - 4 months for the actual surgery (depending where you live and what is wrong with you). Some people opt, as in the USA to pay for private health care and you can get an appointment within days. so i hope that you are seen soon as you are suffering so much.
God bless xx
Posted 11/14/2008 1:47 PM (GMT 0)
Oh i just looked and you live in Israel - obvious really! How nice to meet with you. I wonder, what part are you from? I have never been over there - the nearest i have travelled is Egypt which is rather dry, and that was in 2005 before i was as bad as now.
Posted 11/14/2008 2:14 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Hodaya

I have not seen or used freelax myself, but it looks very similar to a neck massage machine someone gave me once. I would not have bought it myself, but I did try it, since I had lots of neck pain issues. While it had some benefit, the machine had limited capacity to really address my needs. I would expect (as Karen stated) the freelax would prove to be the same.

The  concept seems very similar to a self-administered Chi Gong massage technique specifically developed to aid bowel movement (Chi Gong is an ancient Chinese healing system, one of a diverse collection of practices I use to keep things moving). I would learn that technique at the very least, or go to a professional as Karen suggested, (too bad the professional could set up shop in your bathroom every morning). I presonally would not spend money on the machine.

Yoga style rotational stretches are another way to "massage" the abdomin and encourge movement.

Hopefully, despite your CI, you still have the peristalsis of the small intestine to ensure movement. If you do, I would focus on protecting that. It is the rythmic movement of the bowels, as opposed to the singular "urge" that should empty the colon.

If your stool is soft enough and properly lubricated (with oils), the peristalsis will eventually push it out. You don't get that satisfying feeling of complete elimination every time, but at least things are moving (and I am not talking about diarhea).

Of course as you know (because you told elsewhere on the forum), diet is a key factor. I have shifted from eating a "healthy diet" to eating what is good for me. My best simplest suggestion is to check out Ayurvedic medicine. It's another ancient system of medicine (Indian this time)looks at the health of your whole body beginining with, of all things, your digestive system. But it also doesn't group everyone in to one type. It's done wonders for me, especially eliminating my irritable bowel syndrom and giving me more consistant stool. I have only just begun addressing my inertia issues, and as I shared elsewhere, my rectal prolaspe needs to be dealt with in the process.

Good luck to you and everyone with the healing paths you choose. Its great to have the opportunity to learn and share from those that experience it.

 

Posted 11/15/2008 5:31 PM (GMT 0)

hi guys,

Karen,

i get it now about the "redundant", thanks!!

i'm really happy to meet you too and it's interesting for me talking to you too, especially b/c we have the same problem, and in all the israeli forums i didn't find ANYONE suffering with CI. not even ONE!!! so i'm so thankful b/c it's truly a blessing finding this site and all the great wonderful ladies here, sharing information, encouraging each other, it helps a lot.

here in israel we also have the National Health Service - that's what most ppl here have, but we have private insurance companies as well, who provide a much better hi class health care. unfortunatly, i don't have private insurance - i tried a few months ago to get one, but since i have an existing problem, they won't cover it, meaning that if you have a specific problem the time you join the insurance, they will cover everything, but the specific prob. how sad. so i didn't go through with it. BUT our national service has improved a lot the last few years and enables you to have private care with minimal participating on my part, for limited occasions per year, it is great b/c i can have the surgery in a private hosp. and i have heard this hosp. is heaven!!!!

i'm from a town called Herzlia - it's about 15 minutes drive from Tel Aviv. israel has it's very dry areas (the ones that border Egypt) but there's a significant difference to the rest of the country. my town is near the beach and is very humid in the summer. there are also mountainous cities where the wether is absolutely fabulous.

check in if you decide to visit. i'll be happy to host you :-) !!

redee,

thanks for the information. i guess all these massage treatments can't really eliminate CI. i'm starting to realize that there's no cure for a handicapped colon. i just have to be possitive and optimistic about the surgery.

best luck to you too :-) .

Posted 11/16/2008 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Each individual's journey is their own. I have heard those whom have chosen surgery, share stories of success. I believe it has something to do with how they approach the choice. When the times comes for you, look beyond what you must go through, to what you WILL do after it is past.

I am taking your suggestions for getting some exams to clearly see what is going on with my colon and rectum, but my journey will take the path of testing the theories of the body's ability to heal.

What I learn may be of help to you even after your surgery and what you experience may be of help to me, should my path eventually lead to where you are now.

It is good to have companions to travel with.

Blessings and good wishes to you.
Posted Yesterday 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
I've tried Freelax.At first it help but i uses the money back garentee in the end,it has been complicated to get the the money back.

My problem seems to be sphincters thigthness.My osteopath does magic colon massage and she told me we have 5 colon phisiologic sphincters.Some are not well understood apparently.So pressure build in these high pressure zones,blocking motility.

I respond well to anti-spasmodic but quit du to dry mouth and mouth health issue.

I'm still trying to find a way to use some sort of muscle relaxant or anti-spasmodics mouth friendly.  

I use Dulcolax to decompress the colon.It is the best thing for me rigth now du to my lazy irritated colon.I wish i could see my osteopath more often for massage but anyway the "sphincters" keep beeing tigth anyway.

 

Posted Yesterday 9:05 AM (GMT 0)
hey there spasman,
thanks for sharing your experience with the freelax.
so you say your prob. is tight sphincters. i wonder how can one tell the difference between colon inertia and tight spincters. from what i understand according to what you said, the 5 spincters are located throughout the colon? did you have the zits marker test? is your transit time in the colon normal?
does the massage the ostheopath do to you help you for a long period of time or it helps just for the same day you do it?
i've been to a naturoepath (sp?) and she also said my colon is too tight. that confuses me a lot, cause according to the docs. my colon is too loose, like the muscles are too weak and therefor don't do their job pushing the stools. how do i know which one of them is right? they actually say two totally opposite things!!
what i'm trying to figure out is, wethere your prob. also causes slow transit time, and the massage helps you to have quality of life, i mean, is it much worth it than to have a colectomy?

i'm confused. this colon is a mystery to me.
Posted Yesterday 9:52 AM (GMT 0)

Hi 2bcolon-free,

2bcolon-free said...

how can one tell the difference between colon inertia and tight spincters. from what i understand according to what you said, the 5 spincters are located throughout the colon? did you have the zits marker test? is your transit time in the colon normal?


 


I don't have a true colonic inertia because the Sitz markers were evacuated whithin 5 days.However,i have IBS.The old name for IBS was spastic colon which i prefer in my case.I also have PFD(pelvic floor dysfunction),another funny name the medicals use for something they cannot treat.PFD include others funny things like IC(irritated bladder) and obstructed defecation.So PFD is a garbage diagnosis for pelvic disorders.

Regarding the 5 sphincters,which are the most important issue in constipation,here how we can call them:ceco-colonic,colo-sigmoid,recto-sigmoid,anal sphincters.

My osteopath is an expert on colon massage.She knows how to locate the sphincters and break the spasms/hard poos with her hand.I'm gonna see a MD-specialist next week and ask him to prescibe me muscle relaxant or anti-spasmodic(that dosen't cause dry mouth)to prevent the "sphincters" to be tigth.

You can also buy a mini hot water rubber bottle in pharmacy to unspasm the colon.

Just a note:The 5-sphincters statement/theory by my osteopath makes sense.However,i it is not well publish in the medical.

 

Posted Yesterday 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
You seems to have a paralized colon(colonic inertia).It means the Sitz markers didn't evacuate after 5-7days.It is different than me apparently.

However,we may have the same discomfort.Have you try Dulcolax?Dulcolax really help to give diarrhea beleive me.It can cause cramps in the beginning tho.But it help motility.

How the STARR have been doing lately?

Be well.
Posted Yesterday 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
Quote:"massage helps you to have quality of life, i mean, is it much worth it than to have a colectomy?"

Colectomy is the last resort.It mean you could wear a temporary poo-bag or they connect your small bowel to the rectum which in your case raise the question if it could help because you have PFD.I guess it depend if the STARR works or not.

Someone could also have a ileostomy or less invasive a Malone.Google MACE Malone.This less invasive surgery allow you to flush the colon through the appendice with water.In my case,MACE enema may not works well because i have spastic/sensitive colon that is reacting not well to water enema.How the enema works for you?Do you evacuate all the water?

Good nigth.
Posted Yesterday 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
spasman,
i need to understand something, you say the markers were all evacuated after 5 days, but do you usually have spontaneous BMs? how often do you have a BM? every day?
i also wanted to ask how much did you eat during the week of the test? did you eat your regular amounts of food you usually eat, or did you eat less than what you usually eat?

about the PFD, i had a small rectocele and a MAGOR prolapse. had it fixed with the STARR. a defecography test 6 mons. after the STARR showed a very tiny weeny rectocele that was still there and a non-relaxing puborectalis, but although the above mentioned, the test showed complete rectal evacuation.
however, it has been 1 year since this defecography and in the last few mons. i feel my rectum/pelvic floor is not the same. things became a lot more difficult and it seems i can'y mannage to evacuate the rectum as easily as i used to a year ago. it really frustrates me and worries me, cause i know that without a good functioning of the pelvic floor/rectum, the colectomy may be useless.

about the enemas, do you mean the colonics, the treatment where they wash your colon with water? if so, then i've been there. these enemas only cause your colon to more lazy! they don't change anything and can only cause more problems.
a fleet enema doesn't help me at all, cause the stool is not in the rectum. it is stuck much higher than that.

well, all i pray for now, is that my pelvic floor is not that bad and that after the colectomy it will function good enough to evacuate the stools and allow me to lead a normal life.

take care
Posted Yesterday 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
I had a sub total colectomy on October 24 for colonic inertia.  I had IBS for 16 years with the runs then one day 9 months ago I woke up with constipation.  They did every test they could to find out what was wrong ans to try to get my colon to work.  I had the Sitz Marks test, defogram, colonoscopy, barium enima, and hypegenima.  Three months ago I was taking 8 laxatives a day.  Nothing was working.  I was tired, craby, and miserable.  I had the surgery was in the hospital for 2 weeks because my bowels would not wake up had an NG tube put in released after 2 weeks and 1 day later right back in almost dead admitted in the ICU again with another NG tube bowels still not awake and in for another week discharged came home for 4 days readmitted same thing only this time I had an ERCP done I had gotten pancreatitis and my gallbladder was to enlarged then again in for a couple of days discharged day of thankgiving admitted again for my gallbladder discharged 5 days later saying my gallbladder would eventually need removed.

 

For me this surgery has been one nightmare.  Yes at least I can go to the bathroom now.

 

One thing I have to say is if you are only having the surgery for CI make sure you have your GALLBLADDER checked before the surgery.  I foound out after my surgery your gallbladder can have all the same signs.

 

I have had so many readmssion, NG tubes, and problems I never had.

 

Angelina yeah
Posted Yesterday 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
for the sitz markers test a normal colon expelles all markers by day 5. Usually they x ray on day 3 and 5 there are 24 or 26 markers and they check to see where in the cololn the markers are left my were still in the beginning of the colon on the 5th day.

Hope this helps

Angelina
Posted Yesterday 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Angelina,

i'm so sorry you had so many troubles. you have been through so much for such a short period of time. are you any better now? i hope you pass this stage of recovery soon.
what do mean by checking the gallbladder? what do i need to look for/check? what tests do i need to do?

thanks for replying to me.

remember, you had your surgery only recently and it does take quite a while to recover from such a big surgery.
i wish you a speedy recovery, G-D bless.
Posted Yesterday 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
2bcolon-free,

Quote:", but do you usually have spontaneous BMs? how often do you have a BM? every day?
i also wanted to ask how much did you eat during the week of the test? did you eat your regular amounts of food you usually eat, or did you eat less than what you usually eat? "

I usually go few times a day with different poos shapes.My colon produce a lot of gas so i'm always under colon pressure just like colonic inertia so to speak.

I did the Sitz markers test without altering my diet.
Posted Yesterday 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
thanks, spasman, for your replies. you are truly so kind.
i'm asking you all these questions cause i need to figure out whether i'm doing the right thing going for surgery.
i wanted to make sure you understand, when i asked about spontaneous BMs, i ment, of course, w/o the help of ANY laxatives or stimulants.
do you have the BMs w/o any help of any kind?
thanks so much again for answering me.
Posted Today 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Yes,i do have BM on my own but the gas pressure or spasms makes altered motility.When i take a hot shower or i apply a hot water bottle it help.

I sometimes use Dulcolax to have diarrhea because it help to releive the pressure.

While some people improve with colectomy,others still have pain.Apparently,colon removal can damage sexual nerves for the people who the sigmoid is embeded in the pubic area.I have no proof of this but that is what a specialist told me.
Posted Today 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hodaya,

After my surgery I found out from the gallbladder surgeons that CI and needing your gallbladder out can have many of the same symptons.

To check the gallbladder you can have a Hide a Scan, MRI, CT, and an ultrasound I think it is wise to rule your gallbladder out after having my surgery then finding this out so shortly after I my coletomy and know knowing that I need my gallbladder out.

Angelina
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