Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Pelvic floor dysfunction!?!

I, unlike most here apparently, do not have IBS or gut issues. However,I've been dealing with the chronic constipation followed by diarrhea circle for a while now.

I've finally been referred enough to leave the "eat more fiber" doctors behind and am seeing a colorectal surgeon who--gasp in amazement- wants a chart of what I eat. She is the first doctor to ever go that route in my 48 years on the planet.
I average 30-40 grams of fiber. Any time I added more per doctors advise, I was left in agony as it just gummed up the works even more.

The wiki on pelvic floor dysfunction is woefully inaccurate. when you compare the information to medical reference sites. I've come across one study that indicates that 50% of those who make it past the "eat more fiber" non referral doctors have a pelvic floor dysfunction (both genders). Then the issue comes with finding out the cause and how to retrain the correct muscles. Surgery is rarely required.


This doctor actually has scheduled 2 more tests to narrow down further what is causing my pelvic floor dysfunction. It is not my colon that is the problem, nor have the pain killers deadened the nerves in my digestive system but the muscles that void are working against each other. Many people who have that problem find that it is either from trauma, child birth, the SI joints, or back pain.

The 2 tests I've got scheduled are a defecography and an anorectal manometry. And I thought that a colonoscopy was bad.

Glad your doctor is finally looking into the real problem. Anorectal manometry isn't actually that bad. I've not had a colonoscopy but I'd rather have another manometry than colonoscopy.

thanks for the update.

glad they're getting to the bottom of it (no pun intended) for you and hope that helps.

let us know what kind of treatments things would entail.

hmmm? since I dealt with constipation as a young child, though it eventually improved in my teens and 20s, and then with diarrhea and not digesting my food around age 30 for a few years, the constipation has gotten worse the last few years. and yes, humira does help it. and yes, they did see inflammation in my ileum last colonoscopy. however, with that said, wonder if the constipation is more chronic now than cyclic due to other contributing factors like this? My mom had to have a procedure done due to a "dropped pelvic floor?" or something like that. hmmmm?

Sorry you are dealing with this, but glad they are dx'ing it.

I always learn something new on here.

thanks for posting this.

I've had the tests and while I haven't had the "official" diagnosis but I watched the screen while they ran the test. I went home and visited Dr. Google to compare the images and what my images show. It looks like a rectocele (a tear in the rectovaginal septum. Rectal tissue bulges through this tear and into the vagina as a hernia) is at least part of the problem. I'm also very angry at my gyno because he complete ignored my physical complaints when I visited him and just did the yearly test and that was it. Any other problem, he says was due to the AS.

After looking up the treatments, I'm horrified! I have enough problems sitting, I can manage about 30-40 minutes sitting upright before it gets painful. To reach the doctor's it is a 3-4hr drive because of this. If I have to have surgery in that region, I'll never make the drive home.

If the doctor agrees that is the problem, I'll have to look at the local hospital and see if there is a surgeon who does that surgery here.

I was correct. they did identify a rectocele and also an enterocele. The doctors office will look for a surgeon closer to my area to correct these problems. It's amazing what goes on inside of us
thank goodness for imaging my exterior and blood work always looks good and within the norms. I think that if i get these taken care off, perhaps my difficulties in sitting will be, at least, partially improved.

Thinking of you. I hope the procedures go well and you are better soon.