Periods and Bowel Movements

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solo_soprano22 -> Periods and Bowel Movements (2/16/2008 5:30:42 PM)
Fun topic I know. [;)] Anyway, I know some women have pain with bowel movements during menstruation, but is there something that can be done about this? I know a lot women with endo have this problem; I don't have that but I have other conditions that make it painful...too painful to even think about doing. The treatments for the female pain syndromes I have don't work for me, and they don't help this either (or I might take them during that time). So what I end up doing is not having a bowel movement even if I feel like I need to, then after that week is over I end up constipated or something...and that starts more problems. Is there anything that can be done?

PrincessDonna -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/16/2008 7:23:56 PM)
Have you tried the standard constipation remedies/preventions? You know...increase fiber, water, stool softeners as needed? A gentle laxative? I have the opposite problem actually. It seems any change in hormones gives me near-diarrhea. TMI, I know.[&:]

stellaluna -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/16/2008 9:08:32 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna I have the opposite problem actually. It seems any change in hormones gives me near-diarrhea. TMI, I know.[&:] This is actually very common and is somehow related to hormones. I read an article about it awhile back. I haven't heard of the pain thing, though. Sorry!

solo_soprano22 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/17/2008 12:04:54 AM)
I used to be that way when I was in junior high. I'd be more toward diarrhea; now it's "normal" but painful. If you mean taking things for the subsequent constipation, those things have never worked for me. When I was a child I had issues in that area for some reason, and even then they didn't work. The doctor made me take enemas as "treatment"--one a week. They really hurt and somehow traumatized me, because I hate them now, in an abnormal way I think. Later on my mom tried a children's enema and she said they hurt her really bad too...and she understood why I cried when I had to take them. I guess the adult ones never hurt her. [&:] When I was a child we tried all the other things to avoid enemas, but they never worked. Sometimes now some milk of magnesia will do the trick if it's not really bad. That's about the only thing that'll work. I tried to do fiber as a prevention of constipation, but then the period thing messes it up (I think) because I hold it. I can start unconstipated, but by the end of that week that's gone. [&:] Stella, the pain thing is usually associated with endo...If I'm not mistaken, it's normally listed as a symptom. I'm not sure if this pain is the same pain (I've never heard anyone describe it). I just know it's bad enough that I don't want to even think about it.

Hislittleone -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/17/2008 12:15:36 AM)
I've never experienced this problem but have you tried castor oil for constipation? 1 tablespoon of that at night and the next morning you should have a loose stool. It's pretty disgusting but if you're desperate enough.....[8D].....it may work for you.

HisCovenant -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/17/2008 1:13:52 AM)
Milk of MG is what I use if I need a med to help. I experience either mild constipation or mild diarrhea when Aunt Flow visits. Have you tried the "home remedies" that relax the bowels and make things flow better, like strong coffee, plenty of fiber, getting water?

manda59 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/17/2008 8:04:08 AM)
I was wondering if you had tried monitoring your diet at all - and modifying it during your period, so that your bowel movements are lighter. Perhaps taking more liquids, less bulky foods - just lighter and smaller meals in general. It would be fine to do this just for a few days.

miasma -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 11:20:48 AM)
quote: what I end up doing is not having a bowel movement even if I feel like I need to Though of course I understand not wanting to be in pain, I cannot understand why (or how) one would do that. I'm assuming you've talked to your doctor already, about this? As "pain" is general, I don't know if you mean stomach cramping, tissue burning, etc. I won't address constipation, as that doesn't seem to be your question. If it is, I'll address it, though. I don't know why an enema would have hurt, that's unfortunate. I'd pay attention to your diet and stress levels (which was also my advice about your sleep problem). Like manda said, since you know what's going to happen, work on prevention/working with your body.

beefcake_sleuth -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 11:26:28 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: miasma I don't know why an enema would have hurt, that's unfortunate. I had to have one prior to having a sigmoidoscopy and it was quite painful to me.

miasma -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 11:40:03 AM)
I'm not arguing that it did, or did not hurt, I said "I don't know why an enema would have hurt."

lilyofthefield -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 11:52:49 AM)
Solo, I dealt with that pain for a long time too. It started as soon as I started having a period when I was 11. When I was 19 the doctor finally diagnosed me with severe dysmenhorrea and put me on bcps. That really made all the difference for me. Before then the only thing that helped in the slightest was Alleve. No other nSAIDS did a thing for me, and Alleve just took the edge off, but didn't get rid of them. When we started trying to conceive, I was very worried that the pain would come back, but it wasn't nearly as bad at 27 as it had been from 11-19. I never had to take anything for it after that, but was okay as long as I forced myself to completely relax down there during a BM. If I panic and tense because I feel the pain coming on, it makes it hurt much much worse. BTW, they do think I have mild endo, so it may be due to that. If yours is what I have it is a very sharp, stabbing cramp in the rectum that builds and peaks to a horrible point. Does that sound like it? If so, the bcps did the most to help me - I was so grateful for them at that time. Oh - also mine never had anything to do with being constipated. Like Solo, I would need to go, but be afraid to at times, but I wasn't constipated.

peace77 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 12:00:52 PM)
Tamara, There are several things that you can do. You could take a stool softerner, they're available over the counter (OTC). You could take a magnesium supplement (tablet). I use Malic Acid with Magnesium. It's also OTC but was prescribed to help with my pain due to fibromyalgia. Malic Acid occurs naturally in apples. You can take more than one per day if they are taken separately such as morning and night. You could do a Vitamin C flush as an alternative to an enema. This is done by taking 1500 mg of vitamin C, then waiting 30 minutes and taking another 500 mg. of vitamin C. Repeat each 1/2 hour until you get results. It is not uncomfortable. I'm assuming that when you had an enema before, it was the pre-packaged type in a bottle --right? That type is forceful and I would not recommend that at all. There is another type of emema that I have used on occasion. It is the old fashioned one using a red rubber bag similar to a hot water bottle. Fill it with warm (bath tub temp) water and hook it to something in the bathroom such as a towel bar. Use a little KY jelly or vaseline or lotion on the end of the tubing. Lie on the floor on your side in the bathroom. (I usually lie on a rug or some towels.) Put the end of the tubing in the rectum. Using the hand control, allow a little water at a time flow down. As you are able, add a little more water. Continue to add water and lie on your side until you feel you need to use the toilet. Wait a few minutes if you can. Then go ahead. Peace, Anne

beefcake_sleuth -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 12:10:45 PM)
I know you were not. Didn't mean to insinuate such. just throwing in my off topic two cents. quote: ORIGINAL: miasma I'm not arguing that it did, or did not hurt, I said "I don't know why an enema would have hurt."

DenimDiva -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 12:20:21 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: stellaluna quote: ORIGINAL: PrincessDonna I have the opposite problem actually. It seems any change in hormones gives me near-diarrhea. TMI, I know.[&:] This is actually very common and is somehow related to hormones. I read an article about it awhile back. I haven't heard of the pain thing, though. Sorry! Glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has this problem.

solo_soprano22 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 1:40:51 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: beefcake_sleuth quote: ORIGINAL: miasma I don't know why an enema would have hurt, that's unfortunate. I had to have one prior to having a sigmoidoscopy and it was quite painful to me. Only the children's kind hurt me (and my mom).

solo_soprano22 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 1:45:54 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: lilyofthefield Solo, I dealt with that pain for a long time too. It started as soon as I started having a period when I was 11. When I was 19 the doctor finally diagnosed me with severe dysmenhorrea and put me on bcps. That really made all the difference for me. Before then the only thing that helped in the slightest was Alleve. No other nSAIDS did a thing for me, and Alleve just took the edge off, but didn't get rid of them. When we started trying to conceive, I was very worried that the pain would come back, but it wasn't nearly as bad at 27 as it had been from 11-19. I never had to take anything for it after that, but was okay as long as I forced myself to completely relax down there during a BM. If I panic and tense because I feel the pain coming on, it makes it hurt much much worse. BTW, they do think I have mild endo, so it may be due to that. If yours is what I have it is a very sharp, stabbing cramp in the rectum that builds and peaks to a horrible point. Does that sound like it? If so, the bcps did the most to help me - I was so grateful for them at that time. Oh - also mine never had anything to do with being constipated. Like Solo, I would need to go, but be afraid to at times, but I wasn't constipated. Ditto. It's just not worth the pain to do it. Really, constipation isn't the issue; the issue is the fact that it hurts so much that I can't make my body do it. I said before that I'm not sure if the pain is exactly the same as someone who has endo, but it's bad enough that I just don't go. Maybe if it just hurt a little I'd be okay, but it's not like that.

solo_soprano22 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 1:54:45 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: miasma quote: what I end up doing is not having a bowel movement even if I feel like I need to Though of course I understand not wanting to be in pain, I cannot understand why (or how) one would do that. I can't have a bowel movement with that kind of pain. It's just not happening. I think my brain tells my colon (if I should happen to try anyway) to abort the situation. I'm not constipated or anything at that point usually, but the pain is so great that it can't be forced. quote: I'm assuming you've talked to your doctor already, about this? Yes, plenty of them. I think the problem is that my female disorders are more than likely causing it, and so far, there's nothing I can do about that. quote: As "pain" is general, I don't know if you mean stomach cramping, tissue burning, etc. I'm not sure how to describe the pain. It's stabbing and cramping mostly-- I don't get cramps like other women do. I have strong vaginal cramps and rectal cramps (they only happen if I try to have a bowel movement). The rectal cramps hurt so much that it's not worth it. The vaginal cramps are bad, but they're all the time anyway. quote: I won't address constipation, as that doesn't seem to be your question. If it is, I'll address it, though. I don't know why an enema would have hurt, that's unfortunate. I'd pay attention to your diet and stress levels (which was also my advice about your sleep problem). Like manda said, since you know what's going to happen, work on prevention/working with your body. The problem is that my measures don't usually work...or they will for a while and stop. I guess I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to stop the pain anyway, but I don't think there is...so I probably should just focus on what to do afterwards.

lilyofthefield -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 1:55:06 PM)
Have you tried bcps for it? They really did help me a lot.

HisCovenant -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 1:55:52 PM)
Have you spoken with your dr about other pain meds? I know you have several health issues and think you probably take differing pain meds, but are there otehr ones you can explore with your dr?

solo_soprano22 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 5:46:14 PM)
I'm not sure what else there is to try. [&:] I'm not on anything right now, just because if they don't work I won't take them anyway. I'm rather against being on pain meds continuously anyway, but I haven't really had to deal with that b/c they don't work. I've tried nerve blocks, most of the pain meds that everyone knows (demerol, morphine, hydrocodone, codeine, etc.), OTC meds (IB, tylenol [which never works], etc). I never really tried bcp. Docs didn't want me to either, but it might be because I usually have a bad reactions to meds, even when they are perfectly harmless to most. It's probably just fear on my part...the last time I took something for an ob/gyn purpose, I ended up in the hospital seeing a cardiologist, although in reality it'd eaten a hole through my esophagus...which is rather serious. The meds had no serious side effects for most people, but I think I may just be sensitive to chemicals.

manda59 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 6:33:59 PM)
solosoprano, Did you maybe not see my post? quote: I was wondering if you had tried monitoring your diet at all - and modifying it during your period, so that your bowel movements are lighter. Perhaps taking more liquids, less bulky foods - just lighter and smaller meals in general. It would be fine to do this just for a few days.

solo_soprano22 -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/18/2008 7:19:00 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: manda59 solosoprano, Did you maybe not see my post? quote: I was wondering if you had tried monitoring your diet at all - and modifying it during your period, so that your bowel movements are lighter. Perhaps taking more liquids, less bulky foods - just lighter and smaller meals in general. It would be fine to do this just for a few days. I read it; I think in my slew of replies I didn't realize I didn't respond. Modifying my diet never really helps, but I think it's because of how long I have to hold it. After the first few years I started trying everything I could think of. The problem is, if I'm actually ON my period, I just can't have a bowel movement....this is going to sound gross, but probably not even if it's more toward the diarrhea side. No matter how light things are, the act of having a bowel movement is what hurts. It could probably be liquid and it still hurts too much. [8\|] Afterwards isn't always a problem, but if I hold it all that time I might get constipated. Sometimes if I realize this I can drink some prune juice afterwards and it works (just sometimes-- not all the time).

myka -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/19/2008 11:50:18 AM)
I think that some of us become much more sensitive during that time of the month "down there." It might be from an increased blood flow or something. I do understand it being painful to have bm's and not being constipated. I'm not sure what "help" you might want. If it is afterward, stool softeners/prune juice/etc might help with the aftereffects. If it is during, something to keep it from being painful (I was thinking something like lidocaine --otc -- but I wasn't sure whether you could do that or not).

HisCovenant -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/19/2008 12:15:13 PM)
You are not trying to use the bathroom with tampons inserted, are you? That makes me uncomfortable.

lilyofthefield -> RE: Periods and Bowel Movements (2/19/2008 12:42:55 PM)
If Solo has what I had going on, it had nothing to do with the consistancy of the BM and didn't matter if I was using a tampon or not. I was told that it was related to prostaglandins and it was just how I was affected during my period. It's like a very sharp charley horse, stabbing cramp right in the rectum. Solo, I'm sorry you have so many problems with medications. That must make things so difficult. Like you, no regular pain meds worked - only the bcps. I guess they reduce the amount of prostaglandin you produce. I really felt at the time like it was a miracle to have found something that worked. I was only put on a very low dose pill since it was for this problem rather than contraception. The tri-phasic kind worked really well for me. I had a weird reaction to the monophasic kind when I had a different doctor accidently prescribe them for me. Some doctors recommend taking them continuously so you never have a period, but it was not necessary for me. I just took them like anyone else would and the reduction in prostaglandins did the trick. It might be worth trying as long as your doctor feels it is safe for you.

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