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Can anyone feel their colon from the outside?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/6/2011 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
The other day I was freaking out becuase I thought I felt a lump on my left side that moved around.  I couldn't book and appointment with my GI becuuse he didn't have any openings for weeks.  I went to my GP and had two doctors feel my abodomen.  Both of the doctors said that I could just feel my colon because I am skinny.  it felt long and tubuler and kind of soft and moved around.  They also said that I probably notice it more when there is poo inside of it which is true I guess.  The doctors assured me there was no problem but I think it is funny that I convinced myself I had a tumor when it was just my colon.  Can anyone else feel their colon when they press on their abdomen.  I am flaring so I thought maybe it is just inflamed as well. 
Posted 7/6/2011 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I meant the right side actually :)
Posted 7/6/2011 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
The only time I can feel it is if I have a gas bubble. I can literally feel it moving along - sort of creepy to be honest! :)
Posted 7/6/2011 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
I can't feel it, but... I'm overweight.

But, my GIs over the years have always had me lie down on my back and they've palpitated it, so......I guess it's in there! :-)
Posted 7/6/2011 10:24 PM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...
The only time I can feel it is if I have a gas bubble. I can literally feel it moving along - sort of creepy to be honest! :)

hahaha! me too. First time that happened I said, "Well that's new."
Posted 7/7/2011 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Yep, I do.

Especially, in the lower right abdomen(ileum) area and when I have proctitis I feel it hardening and I can feel it with my hands or when gas is trapped...

I have very narrow large intestine according to GI from my last colonoscopy result. He told me, it was very hard for the scope to go through even after the air pumping.
Posted 7/7/2011 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, its very easy to palpate the whole thing and even do percussion on it to test for fullness, blockages... etc.
Posted 7/7/2011 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
i can feel everything in my colon. it's miserable! i specifically know where poop is every time.
Posted 7/7/2011 2:16 AM (GMT 0)

Red_34 said...
The only time I can feel it is if I have a gas bubble. I can literally feel it moving along - sort of creepy to be honest! :)

It's like watching a mouse running around in there. :-)
Posted 7/7/2011 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
LOL So true McGut!
Posted 7/7/2011 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Before my diagnosis I had the same "could it be a tumor" freak out. Luckily I was home with family on holiday and Dr. Mom calmed me down. And yes, the gas bubble thing is completely odd but happens to me too :) Sigh, gotta love being weird huh
Posted 7/7/2011 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
I can definitely feel gas move along...when it cramps, I push it along like Sherry does.

. Every once in a while I get the stethoscope and listen to the sounds in there...oooo, entertainment for free.

I had a doctor a looong time ago say to me while she was pressing along my abdomen......oh, you have poo in your colon. Hmm, no kidding??

Smurfette....if it does continue to hurt andyou feel it...it could be an ovary.

q

Posted 7/7/2011 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
My GI and I just talked about this at my last visit! I swear are there healthy people out there who can feel stool in their colon? That doesn't seem like something "normal," but my GI just shrugged it off.

I don't have pressure in my bottom when I have to defecate, it's under my ribs. That has been annoying me for a few years now. Anyway, I'm scheduled for an abdominal CT in a few weeks to make sure there's no stricture causing this weird and somewhat freaky thing. But now that I read this thread I feel even dumber because - hello - many of us live like this.
Posted 7/7/2011 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
I thought I could but then I realized I was squishing my abdominal muscles around. Yep, I'm a smart one... ;o)
Posted 7/7/2011 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
It doesn't hurt at all even when I push really hard so I'm sure its just my colon. Its so funny how I can feel everything move through me.... I asked my boyfriend if he felt that and he just looked at me funny. But I guess I'm not alone:)
Posted 7/7/2011 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
20 years ago (pre-UC) a doctor showed me how to feel my colon on my left side and tell whether I was constipated, that's how I know where my colon is lol. Turns out that C was the common, you might say "normal" condition for me.

In my case my left colon can be felt just to right (looking down) of my left hipbone if it is backed up. Nothing to feel if nothing's there. I've never been able to feel anything on the right side although I will sometimes feel discomfort there if there is a lot of inflammation or C.

Pushing there never upsets my colon at all or causes any urgency. But there is a well-known yoga posture where you put your folded fists into the hip area where the colon is located and then you bend from the waist while seated. Helps to unblock the colon.
Posted 7/7/2011 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
For many years I blamed pelvic tenderness on sore ovaries, but now I am sure it is related to inflammation in my colon, both left and right. When I feel the masses of stool collecting in my transverse colon, under my right side ribs, there is no pain on palpation. But there is pain somewhere in there when either the colon is spasming or .... I don't know what else.

I love my yoga twist poses to move my bowels along. Sometimes that is the only way they do move!
Posted 8/13/2012 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
i am 96 pounds 27 yr old, 5'1. doctor thinks that i have abdominal mass and like hard sausage.. and it doesnt even move like poo.. does. but that little weird i usually mess with my intestines and all that almost everyday.. and all sudden hard and it doesnt really do anything. but having x-ray tomorrow. hopefully its nothing.. ...
Posted 8/13/2012 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
I can feel mine when I'm in a flare. I can feel the inflammation pain and know where the colon is at. Creepy.

I can often feel it on the left and the right sight. Never felt the middle though.
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