Is it possible for the bowel muscles to stop working? - Bowel Disorders Message Board

wannabehotguy · 07-23-2003, 07:21 PM

I've noticed that when I urinate I cannot make my urine flow out faster as I used to do. Also when I have a bowl movement I notice the bowels are very normal looking and smooth and soft yet it comes out like a huge struggle. I am wondering if their is disease or any problems that anyody else has had or know of that the bowel muscles have stopped working. The colon seems to work as yes I can still have a bowl movement but it is a huge struggle sometimes and the bowel isn't huge and dry. Also I still notice how my LOWER stomach constanly buldges and then in goes a bit inward and then buldges again towards the middle section. I don't know if that is normal? I am getting scared thinking it may be cancer or some other problem that needs to have medical attention. I have been to the ER once, an internal medicine doctor, and a physician and all come up with that I've been food poisioned. I highly doubt that food poising would give me over 3 weeks of these ODD and strange symptoms. Do you guys have any clues??

qsph21 · 07-24-2003, 01:49 AM

First, regarding your stomach 'bulging' concerns, don't fret because unless your abdomen is -really-swollen then it is probably nothing. Probably you just begin to notice things or question things only because you're worried in the first place. So don't worry yourself about how your abdomen looks, unless you're 100% sure it looks different than it has before...

Otherwise, my only other question would be 'What other symptoms do you have?' Is there pain/cramps/aches of any kind associated with or relieved by your bowel movements or otherwise? Or have you been nauseous or vomited at all? If not, then don't be worried about constipation...at the worst it could probably be irritable bowel syndrome, although there is usually cramps/pain associated with that.

Do not worry about cancer at all. Unless you have family history of colorectal cancer, in which case you might be a little more concerned, then you shouldn't worry at all. If you did have colorectal cancer you would probably be seeing drastic changes, such as blood in your stools, diarrhea or longer and narrower stools, along with weight loss and possibly mild pain.

Hope I can help, and do please elaborate...many people at some time or another become worried of cancer or other diseases of the intestines, especially because altered bowel habits seem to be more noticable and worrisome than other types of symptoms (like a headache or something)

qsph21 · 07-24-2003, 01:52 AM

Oh, and I'm not aware of many (if any?) disorders where the muscles in your rectum stop working to help you expel the stools (as you described your symptoms..."struggle" I believe you used).

There can be intestinal obstructions, but again: there would be severe cramps/pain.

projapoti · 07-24-2003, 02:15 PM

If there is any recent trauma (which I don't think you have) you can have something called paralytic ileus...it often happens after surgery too. Sometimes it can happen spontaneously with certain bowel motility problems, but that's not too common. The thing with this is, you have something called obstipation...you can't defecate, and you can't pass gas either. It's also relatively painless.

projapoti · 07-24-2003, 02:20 PM

Also....how old are you?

You mentioned that you can't make your urine flow out faster? If you're over 40, that could mean that you are having problems with your prostate gland. It's actually pretty normal for the gland to grow somewhat when we are over 40, but sometimes it can grow too much, and since it's located around the proximal urethra, it can serious hinder urine flow. Also, if there is inflammation of the prostate, it can inhibit urine flow and it can also affect the rectum because, as you may know, the prostate gland lies on the outside of the rectum--that's why doctors often do rectal exams to see the status of the prostate.