Hey all- I hope I'm not sounding like a broken record here but I really advocate lubing up your rectum before you have a BM. I originally got this advice from Dr Hubbard in Portland. If you're not spasming and feeling tight before your BM, get some rubber gloves & some garden variety personal lubricant. Use your pinky & liberally apply the lube as well as you can up your rectum. Also, after your BM, immediately apply more lube and (if you have any) Lidocaine or Prilocaine (both prescription pain relief ointments- I got mine after Botox)- then take a shower and wash up. Lube has made a big difference for me with my BMs and the Lidocaine has helped with the spasming afterwards. I know when it's really bad you can't even imagine putting something up there but if you're able to, it might really help. I hope it does for everyone- hang in there!

you know I would, but I often don't have a lot of warning.
I think the nifedipine salve kinda acts like a lube for me anyways.
taking a spoonful of olive oil in the evenings seems to lubricate things as well, from the inside out...
-woi

Ed - I'm trying the lubing - but even so, I felt a bit of pain today (just quick and kinda sharp) with my BM. I'll still keep at the lubing, though. Can't hurt.
woi - I've started with the olive oil - two tablespoons in the evening.

I've heard a tablespoon or 2 of olive oil is good too. My doc also recommended putting lots of butter on everything- a prescription I can enjoy! It's definitely easier to lube up on that end rather than the other!

Ed - this is a stupid question - but did you mean that you butter your food? (and not the other end . . .?)
Just asking. I'll try anything if it will help.

Ha lol!
Thanks for that sweet!
i know about try anything though. patience is the hardest thing to practice.

Yep. ITA, woi.
I am trying to be patient, but this is the devil to deal with.

I have been doing this and it's a big help - but I've been using the regular prep h ointment - could vaseline be used also since the prep h is sort of expensive :*(..

Hey Maria,
IMO vaseline would be better than prepH as the hydrocortozone is not good to use long-term. I've read of people using cracked nipple salve sold to breastfeeding moms, but that would be expensive too.
Hey Sweet, I have a good saying for you;
"If you find yourself in Hell, just keep walking"
-woi

woi - That made me smile (and I need it today) - Thanks! I love that you can manage to keep going. I'm having a harder time of it.
I have been in sheer agony today, what from throbbing, sore pain. Last night I couldn't sleep . . . and this a.m. I went to my gp and got some sleep meds and anti-anxiety meds. I need to give my body at least 7-8 hours of relief from this stuff!
Also, I decided to go back to my crs (second crs, whom I saw last Thursday) and tell him I cannot take this pain any longer. I will see him a week from tomorrow.
I have another appt. with a 3rd crs this Thurs. I'm still on the fence about keeping that appt., since I'm going back to the other crs next Tues. My gp has full confidence in the crs I saw last Thurs. . . at point point, I just want the pain to stop.
Hope you're doing okay.