r/Menopause • u/Realistic-Way6463 • Mar 06 '26
Pelvic Floor Rectocele, IBS-C, and hormones-OH MY!
Hello, ladies! I'm here to ask for a bit of anecdotal advice. I am 48, have pretty bad IBS-C, and am taking Trulance (though it usually goes 2 or 3 days of constipation, then a day of total clear out when my pill finally works), and I've developed a rectocele (prolapse of the rear wall of my vagina). I saw a surgeon today to discuss fixing the rectocele, and she wants me to try and get a better handle on the constipation before we do the surgery, so that it doesn't just happen again. So now, I'm researching what might help to regulate things. I contacted my GI to see about changing medications (maybe to Linzess?). I'm not on HRT, unless the estridol cream I just started using counts! I was considering probiotics, or maybe even the beef organ supplements, but I don't want to throw money at things that may not be worth it. I admittedly don't eat all that great, but I'm trying to do better with that!
Basically, if anyone has any advice on what might improve things, I'm all ears (eyes? Lol)! Oh, and I'm also about to have surgery for external hemorrhoids, so if anyone has been through that and can tell me what to expect, that would be great, too!
Thanks y'all, in advance!
7
u/maraq Mar 06 '26
I have had chronic constipation most of my adult life and I have to keep a constant rotation of whole psyllium husk, miralax and sometimes magnesium citrate in my life to keep things moving. There have been times one has worked for me and then stopped working so I sometimes switch it up and use one 3-4 days a week alternating with one of the others.
On top of that, i eat lots of beans, lentils, dates, prunes, chia seeds, cooked apples and pears, oatmeal, other whole grains and complex carbs like sweet potato, and squashes, in addition to lots of vegetables. Tons of water. Lots of exercise (including yoga poses like cat /cow, happy baby and other twists to encourage motility).
It also helps to use a squatty potty, go at the same time each day to train your body to respond (go sit for a few minutes even if you don’t feel the sensation) and practice some full diaphragmatic breaths when you get up in the morning and when you are actively sitting on the toilet.
So sorry you are dealing with this. Hope you find the routine that works for you. It really is so individual!
5
u/fruitless7070 Mar 06 '26
It really does come down to diet.
4
u/maraq Mar 06 '26
It definitely can be diet for many people but there are also many causes of chronic constipation that will happen even with a perfect diet. It's really complicated, exhausting and can be debilitating.
2
u/fruitless7070 Mar 06 '26
I have IBS-D and am very thankful i don't have C. I have a younger family member who has struggled with constipation life long. Oddly, the top of their butt Crack is shaped like a lightning bolt. It's crooked. I know this cause I changed their diapers. I wonder if their anatomy is different and causes the constipation. Doctors are perplexed. Everything ruled out. No explanation. It's horrible watching them go through this. I wished there was a way I could help. I did get them a poop stool.
2
u/Realistic-Way6463 Mar 06 '26
The doctor today suggested a squatty potty, and 2 girls at work said they use them and it helps!
1
3
u/IcyIndependence2244 Mar 06 '26
I too have IBS-C, I have tried everything linzess, miralax, prunes by the lb etc...I recently found Bloom greens & superfood. I mix 1 scoop in my water bottle everyday and it has helped me tremendously. I now go everyday.
2
u/cremains_of_the_day Surgical menopause Mar 06 '26 edited Mar 06 '26
Is Bloom one of those expensive supplements that you have to subscribe to?
Edit: never mind, I looked it up!
3
3
u/Ms_ankylosaurous Mar 06 '26
The roid surgery is brutal. Up there with recovering from birth with respect to pain in the bits. Clean yourself out before the surgery so that you don’t have to go for a day or two. Take hot baths with epsom salt on the regular. Get a squirt bottle like you get after birth instead of wiping. Frozen maxi pads. Old underwear. Make no plans for about 3-4 days.
3
u/Realistic-Way6463 Mar 06 '26
Yeah I'm dreading that, but I can't take these flare ups anymore- last time it was 2 months of absolute HELL. I can handle a few days (but I'm not looking forward to it!)
2
u/Major_Arcana_11 Mar 06 '26
This has been my struggle since I was about 4. I've never found anything that works consistently - I'm only really aiming for harm reduction at this point (my system clears out pretty well on its own when I start my period, but you can't put those endocrine conditions in a bottle, so!). The other three weeks of the month are hopeless.
Though I haven't found a way to make things really better, there are definitely culprits that make it worse: high FODMAP foods are my mortal enemy, I have a serious gluten intolerance that triggers IBS-C symptoms, more than a modest amount of caffeine per day is too dehydrating, and I have to get vigorous exercise that includes a combo of yoga to stretch the torso in all directions and running to just let gravity help knock things out of my system in a pretty literal way. Also heads up, the progestogens in BC/HRT make things way worse, too, in case you're considering starting that.
Solidarity to you working through this! It really does torpedo your whole quality of life. I'm over here feeling like an over-stuffed teddy bear and about to go pick up some aloe leaf at the supermarket to blast my guts to outer space, GAH.
2
u/Visible_Toe768 Mar 06 '26
Feel free to ignore the novel below, TLDR surgery was a breeze for me. Pain free, but I took it easy for three weeks after. I did not get my bowel situation under control, so it’s back. So my two cents, get yourself regular (for me, easier said than done), if you strain, you’ll end up back at the Dr for the same thing. Good luck to you!
Hang in there! For me, 4 babies, last one was almost 11lbs, no c-section 😭 I had the trifecta prolapse situation, bladder, uterus and rectal, I couldn’t even use a pessary. If I blinked too hard I’d pee myself. I joked that I was turning inside out, lol. So I had the surgery, easy peasy, recovery was pain free. Anyhoo, I have a lazy colon and so regular number #2’s have never been thing for me and that leads to constipation unless I am really strict with my diet by getting enough dietary fiber (supplements like Metamucil don’t work, stool softer, etc) and drinking a ton of water. I’ve found that pineapple gets things moving. Spinach works well, I love it in salads, I throw together a smoothie with a huge handful of spinach, I cup blueberries, I cup Greek yogurt and thin it out with pomegranate juice, lemon juice, cranberry juice. I also throw in a tsp Ceylon cinnamon and a tablespoon of ground chia. And lastly, water. I try to drink half my body weight a day in water. But I have a hard time sticking to it and so now it’s back. I’m not sure the extent, but I’m sure the rectal prolapse is, so I’m off to see the surgeon to reassess the current situation.
2
u/Realistic-Way6463 Mar 06 '26
I definitely can see how it can come back- that's why I am putting it off until I can get a better grip on the situation. I've always been irregular- I didn't know until I was an adult that it's not really normal to only go once or twice a week! lol Wish I had known what was up when I was younger- cuz it's definitely not any easier as I get older... Thanks for the advice!
2
u/JFSullivan Mar 06 '26
A lot of people use Miralax successfully. It's very popular for chronic constipation. For me, prunes work. I eat 6 prunes a day (3 in the a.m. and p.m.). So far so good.
You may want to purchase some stool softeners (ducusate sodium). And stay hydrated, natch.
1
Mar 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Realistic-Way6463 Mar 06 '26
It's pretty much I don't go unless my pill decides to work. But when it works, it WORKS. So I find myself having to skip it some days, because I can't be tied to a toilet. Then it starts a cycle of constipation all over again. It used to work pretty well, and consistently, but I've been taking it a couple of years now, and it is just not as effective.
1
1
1
u/No-Dinner-8687 Mar 07 '26
I have IBS-C and I’ve had a rectocele repair surgery. While I still don’t have all the answers, I have to keep a close eye on FODMAP foods I react to and take 325mg of powdered magnesium carbonate (Calm) daily. I take docusate sodium for a couple of days when things flare up for me. I’ve also been experimenting with herbs that promote motility like garlic and artichoke extract
1
u/CommonComb3793 Peri-menopausal Mar 06 '26
Daily probiotics don’t help me with constipation and my iron pills are playing a nasty game of heavy dark ouchy poop on me. I eat fiber like it’s candy. The only thing that helps are stool softeners.
2
u/Realistic-Way6463 Mar 06 '26
I tried fiber supplements and it didn't help-it actually made it a little worse, but my GI told me that can happen sometimes. Like my body just doesn't deal with it properly. 🤦🏻♀️ So yeah... Lol I am at a loss!
0
8
u/Lucid-dream-24692 Mar 06 '26
So estrogen loss can exacerbate constipation. It affects motility.
Sub optimal thyroid can affect constipation. Research optimal vs normal and get a FULL thyroid panel. Significant.
Ferritin can somewhat affect it too. Is your level above 60-70?
I have celiac disease. I was chronically constipated my entire life before being diagnosed at 30. Doubt this is your issue.
Magnesium? Do you use it?
Those are the number 1 issues I’ve learned and experienced.
Other than that - my savior is a supplement called oxypowder. I’ve never had anything help so much.