Can years of constipation stretch out colon? - Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Message Board

DeeDeeWith3 · 04-15-2004, 12:40 PM

I suffered from constipation my entire life. Recently I've tried to increase my fiber, fluid intake, watch my diet, drink prune juice and vowed to never take a laxative again. Good news is I am moving my bowels without using a laxative which is amazing for me....not every day..maybe 4 times a week.

My question is, can all these years of constipation and passing huge stools that don't flush down the toilet, extended my intestines, colon, or caused diverticulosis? If I look at my lower abdomen, the left side is slightly larger than the right. I have a GI consult next week. I'm really anxious...can someone shed some light? Thank you.

6th_sense · 04-16-2004, 03:58 PM

Hi DeeDee,

I don't know if that would extend the colon - but I wouldn't be surprised if it did - mostly because the occurence of constipation or diarrhea on a regular basis indicates a malfunction of the digestive system somewhere - so the body might compensate for less effectiveness of the digestive track and extend the colon in order to increase the digestive surface.

Does that make any sense? Sometimes even I have a hard time reading the stuff I write.

Cheers, Raju.

DeeDeeWith3 · 04-17-2004, 07:16 AM

Raju,

Thanks for your reply....I do appreciate it. I just wonder why the stool I eventually pass is so H U G E !!! Why does it have to get that big before my body gets rid of it? I went the day before yesterday, there was a day of no BM in between, and this mornings BM is just so fat in diameter that I don't even know how I pass stool like this. I'm sorry if I am offending anyone with my honesty. I just wish things were different. I'm so nervous about my GI visit on Friday. I hope I can get some answers. If anyone can tell me that I'm not alone in this "huge stool passage", I'd be comforted by knowing it. Thanks, D~

Harry · 04-17-2004, 07:48 AM

D~,
Constipation can cause all sorts of problems. Enlarged colon called a Mega colon is one of them.

You seem to be doing the rigt thing -- the colon and BMs can be retrained.

God Bless---Harry