Bowel Movement = Day Over!

[kingofpain]

Am I the only one with this problem?
My pain is barely tolerable, but I can function, when I wake up.
But after a bowel movement, the pain becomes unbearable for the rest of the day!
Can this be IC?
Thanks

[lq78]

I seem to have that problem at times. It makes you wonder.

[KarenAnne]

Pelvic Floor Disorder causes problems with my bladder & bowel. Have you been checked for that?

[Briza]

Sometimes occasional bowel and gut issues of either diarrhea or minor constipation will start my IC aflarin'...but usually BEFORE I have results (nurse speak for having bm after being constipated lol). Seems as soon as I get "results" whether it is D or C then my pain and burning in bladder subside substantially, and many times completely. So yes, for me, bowel and bladder issues occasionally come hand in hand, even if they are different from what you are experiencing, seems not uncommon for bowel issues to cause bladder issues...whether before or after "results!" ;)

[westiemom]

I was just thinking about this exact same issue last night.

I've been having the same problem the last week or so. I'm taking my Miralax as my doc told me and so I'm having more results :) than before so I guess that's why it's more noticable to me, but yes - I have IC & PFD and the same symptom. I don't know which one is causing it though.

[bluetart]

I always feel better after a bowel movement. Well long as it was a "healthy" one. That release gives more room in my body for my inflamed unhappy bladder. If its an "Unhealthy" bowel movement I will feel awful proably for the rest of the day.

[Annie2]

I, too, am always worse afterwards. I also have colitis so D and frequency are the rule for me. That, in itself, is uncomfortable, but it also sets off my pelvic floor dysfunction causing painful muscle spasms and also triggers bladder pain. Some days are worse than others. Sometimes it all calms down quickly, but on the rough days the pain and spasms set off by BMs can last for hours. Physical therapy helps me more than anything. It can be a powerful tool for keeping this under control and reducing or eliminating spasms and pain. It might be worthwhile for you to be evaluated for PFD.

[MiLynn]

My experience is more like bluetart's. I seem to be more uncomfortable before "results" and better after.

[Glitter Girl]

Yes, my symptoms (burning) gets worse 98% of the time if I have to strain for a bowel movement and even when I don't have to strain most often it will cause burning.

[ICNDonna]

Straining is never good. It will only make the situation worse. If you routinely strain for a bowel movement it's time to talk with your doctor.

Donna

[icgennifer]

Hi There,

Yes! If I have a bowel movement, it really irritates my bladder.. usually for the rest of the day.. thanks for writing.. I thought I was the only one who felt this way!

[Krisssy]

My IC specialist keeps telling me that constipation is VERY bad for IC and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.. So last week, I had a fecal intestinal impaction. For 2 days after having 2 oil enemas and one dose of Milk of Magnesia, I felt NO IC pain. Now I am on Miralax, which doesn't work for me, and my pain is back. So there seems to be a connection one way or another. I am going to ask my Dr. at appt. tomorrow what the connection is. Krisssy

[musiclover]

Hi, I see these posts are a few months old. I'm wondering if anyone found any more info about bowel movements and the increase in symptoms. I have the same problem. Even if I don't strain even a bit, I get increased frequency for several hours, sometimes the whole day. I start to feel more bladder sensitivity and this feeling across my lower abdomen that also brings on the urination feeling. I can't understand what it is or how to help it. I am doing PT, but it hasn't helped this particular problem at all.

[Krisssy]

Since I last wrote on this thread, I have had a defogram to see why I had the fecal impaction. The results showed that I am contracting the bowel muscle when I should be relaxing it. Now this muscle wraps itself all the way around from the bowel to the bladder. Therefore I am contracting my bladder muscles also when I should be relaxing them. This is why I have Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. PFD causes me urinary frequency and urgency and great pain. The two are so connected, and that is why most of us have PFD and IBS. A good book explaining this is A Headache in the Pelvis. Krisssy

[musiclover]

Thanks Krisssy. I actually have that book, so I will revisit it. I did have IBS before I got IC. I thought the IBS was gone for the most part. But sometimes I do have difficulty with the bowel movements, but not usually. But like was mentioned on this thread, I have the same thing where even if I don't strain during BM, it sets off some nerves or something that become hypersensitive. I don't know how to turn these off! So then I feel like I have to pee, and I go and feel better for about 5 minutes and then need to go again. I can't understand it. I will let my PT know. I don't know what else to do about it, it's so frustrating.

[Krisssy]

As I have been told, the whole thing is connected, so it would make sense that one has an impact on the other. Now the problem is how to make this muscle STOP contracting and give us relief from both ends. I am thinking about trying PT again. I called my urologist for a list of PT's that specialize in this problem. She tod me that without medication, the PT won't work for me. Have you found the PT to be useful? I mean do you feel better having your meds and PT better than just your meds?

I,too, had the IBS first. It was constant and drove me crazy. It finally got better. Now, Ionly get IBS when I am stressed. Sonow Ihave the PFD which is just as bad. Krisssy

[musiclover]

As for the PT, I think it has helped in a few areas, but not all. I used to have shooting pains down into my rectum and into the vulva area. Since PT, I don't have that any more. I also used to have lower abdominal muscle pain and tightness, but it occurs much less frequently nowdays. My urinary frequency is still just as bad, and that is my main complaint, since the beginning. I am doing the IC diet now and I'm hoping that with continual PT and stretching, etc. that this BM/Urinary problem that seem to set each other off will resolve, but I don't know if it will. I really hope so! I think maybe meds are important in this case. Because I think the nerves are getting set off and need to be calmed down. Elavil did help me for a few days when I tried it, but it gave me bad muscle spasms, so I eventually got worse. But those first few days were pretty good. Oh, one more thing.. my doctor did say the meds were important because you need to train the nerves to settle down because central sensitization has set in. I am on Neurontin, but I am not liking it much. I think I need to make a switch, but I'm not sure to what.

[sailawaygrl]

I have always had problems with extreme constipation,(since I was very young) usually ending up in the middle of the night crying in the bathroom trying not to pass out-it really is that bad. And I only have a BM once a week, on a good week. I never knew this was IBS until last year though. So, now that I also have IC, I have to be extra vigilant not to get too bad. I use miralax everyday, helps some. The book "Heal Pelvic Pain" by Amy Stein has some good self massage techniques that can help with the pain caused by the inability to have a BM. I have problems with other medications causing severe cramping that make my bladder hurt also. I used to tease my Grandmother because she bought so much MOM-until one time we talked and she had the exact same problem I did. We now wonder if she also had IC, from problems she had her whole life that were written off as "in her head". I feel so bad that she never had help. Maybe we will have a cure for all of this soon. Oh well, sorry for the ramble.

If you have the Amy Stein book though, check out the self massage section and she advises elevating your feet, perhaps on a couple of phone books to help with "making things happen"- this one I discovered years ago on my own with a step stool.

I am absolutely convinced they are completely related, IC and IBS.
Best of luck to all of us

Sandra

[sailawaygrl]

This is a follow up to my previous post. Years ago (1998 to be exact) I was having constant very low pelvic pressure and pain, mostly described as pressure by me. My gynecologist immediately thought endometriosis and did a laporoscopy. During the procedure she found some sort of "small areas of white endometriosis" that she lasered away. The most interesting part of this surgery to me is that she found that my colon was adhered to my left pelvic sidewall and left ovarian fossa(no idea what fossa is, going to look up). Recently I was discussing this with my Physical Therapist who explained to me that the is no such thing as "adhesion disease" however if you have had adhesions before, you no doubt have them now and always. I wonder if this is what causes many of us with bowel problems to have them, when organs are free to move as they should, doesn't it stand to reason that problems will and can occur. Anyway, I am no medical authority but just have always wondered about that. BTW, my urologist now is convinced that pressure I felt in 1998, as do as well, was IC.

Sandra

[icgennifer]

Hi there,

I am not sure if I have IC.. some docs say yes while other's say no.. but.. my main symptoms are painful urination and bowel movements. It almost feels like the bowel movement somehow hits my bladder and then my bladder is irritated for hours. It feels very tender to the touch. That "tender" feeling typically goes away after a few hours.

My docs are starting to think this could all be endometriosis - endometriosis can grow anywhere and attach to any organ so I am have a laproscopic procedure at the end of the month to see if there is any endo. growing on my uterus, bladder and bowel..

[ophelia33]

Hi,
Please do not strain to have a BM! Donna is right, I talked to my physical therapist and straining can cause many problems. It may be hard if you have other conditions but try to get a bit more fiber w/ veggies if possible if you find yourself straining a lot.
I've strained over BMs my whole life and never new it was bad. Apparently it is very unhealthy. It is hard to learn how to have a healthy BM at my age but never to late to learn.
I have "cramping" around BMs and at times I have burning pain in the right side of my pelvis that gets worse after a BM. My urogyn thinks it could be endo related since I have endometriosis. Until someone does a lap to rule that out I just deal with the BM "cramping" and burning pain.
If its distressing you or feel it isn't normal it won't hurt to make a call to your family doc.

hugs,
Ophelia

[musiclover]

I asked my PT about this two days ago. She said to either try three flicks, or three quick kegels to send a message to the bladder, or try to do deep belly breaths to relax the nerves that are being set off. I have tried both, but so far, nothing has helped. If anyone finds anything that works, please let us know! After a BM my frequency increases a whole lot, for several hours or even all day.

[Krisssy]

My physical therapist told me to do the
exact same things as yours told you. It has not helped. BUT when I listen to a relaxation tape, bought on this site, and do Dahn breathing where you take a breath in and push your stomach out and then breath out and push your stomach in, it does really help relieve the pain and urgency. I keep my hands on my belly while doing it, and the pain and urgency disappear. A pillow under my legs and ice help while doing this. The rest of the time I sit on ice. Doing these things have helped more than all these meds put together. Too bad we can't stay in bed or sit on ice all day! krisssy

[musiclover]

That's great info! I'm going to look into getting that tape.

[OrlandoP]

I asked my PT about this two days ago. She said to either try three flicks, or three quick kegels to send a message to the bladder, or try to do deep belly breaths to relax the nerves that are being set off. I have tried both, but so far, nothing has helped. If anyone finds anything that works, please let us know! After a BM my frequency increases a whole lot, for several hours or even all day.

Gosh, I thought I was going mad, but it appears my #1 flare is this! What do you mean by "three flicks", musiclover? Not much works for me, but worth a try.