I have stopped irrigating after 30 something years and 7 months later am now dealing with some slow transit and constipation. I have IBS and the irrigation really only worked maybe half the time, and dealt with diarrhea most of the time. My bowels were never truly trained.
Back story, I was born with imperforate anus and my sphincter muscle was cut during the corrective surgery as a baby. For years I dealt with incontinence, constipation, having to use laxatives and the resulting diarrhea. In my early 20s, I opted for a colostomy and have a much better quality of life as a result. For obvious reasons, I desperately wanted the control and immediately was trained to irrigate. However, output was always unpredictable.
I expected some time for my system to regulate and normalize, but 7 months in and I cannot eliminate without using a laxative. I drink lots of water, could make some changes to my diet but overall eat pretty healthy. I have spoken with my doctor who has referred me to GI. That appointment is in a couple of weeks. This doctor has done all of my colonoscopies so I am familiar with him and not particularly fond of him. He incorrectly diagnosed me with Crohn's and wanted to put me on meds after one not so good colonoscopy and some bleeding from my stoma. I refused and no problem since and each scope is better than the last.
Imperforate anus defect can present with issues from the anus all the way up to the mouth, depending on the severity, affecting the spine and other organs. I am now also having some spinal alignment problems and wondering if it all might be connected. My research has turned up very little information.
I'm looking for any suggestions, pointers, information and anything I should be asking GI about. I'm afraid he's going to wave me off and tell me to just take laxatives. I am not totally opposed to returning to irrigation but not excited to do so either. It was very time-consuming for not working well.
Thanks in advance!
