Newly diagnosed with an AF

New and have a lot of questions

Please come in! Start your own personal thread, tell us a bit about yourself...and your fissure, of course. Welcome!

Return to New to the forum? Introduce yourself here



Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby GilmoreGirl » 17 Apr 2017, 16:35

I took the miralax and Metamucil in a smoothie in the evening, or right before bed. I would generally then go sometime before lunch, usually 10, but I never rushed it.

I have a sensitive system, so I started with one capsule of Metamucil (like the size of a Tylenol capsul, maybe a little bigger), and worked my way up to three. However this is a low dose for most people - I eat low fibre diet for my ibs. But all the same, start small and work up until you're finding what works for you. I took the Metamucil in the evening, when I tend to eat the most, but you may want to try a bit with each meal if it works. This is just from my experience - maybe someone else has something to add!

Soluble fibre like Metamucil helps bring water into the stool and forms kind of a jelly (tmi, sorry!) that gives the bms a really good consistency. This is why I liked taking it with miralax and lots of water - you ensure that there's enough water in the colon to hydrate the fibre so it can work the way you want it to.

The important thing is to drink a ton of water - if there's not enough in the colon the fibre can just clog you up.

As far as diet goes - you may want to look into soluble vs insoluble fibre foods. You may be able to keep bulk down by reducing insoluble fibre a little and keeping up the very useful soluble fibre.

This stuff is a real science haha! Hope I didn't make it more confusing!

Going Once per day is probably best when you have the fissure. You don't want to go too much - that's just too much irritation (trust me!) but less would give the stool a chance to harden too much. I would focus on using the softners, suppositories and diet to keep things soft. I bet you'll find miralax does the trick!
GilmoreGirl
VIP
 
Posts: 694
Topics: 18
Joined: 19 Oct 2016, 18:59
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 51 times
Gender: Female

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby raoden » 17 Apr 2017, 17:50

Thanks a lot for the great advice again. Going to stick to once per day and starting off with Miralax. I already took 2 colace today (one in the morning and one at lunch). Adding Miralax to the mix. Will probably start a little bit of Metamucil tomorrow. Thanks again.
raoden
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 77
Topics: 5
Joined: 16 Apr 2017, 12:46
Location: Central New Jersey
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby raoden » 18 Apr 2017, 11:06

So I drank a full dose of Miralax yesterday and unfortunately it did not help. Today half my stools were hard and it took a good one hour of walking, drinking a glass of hot water, hot sitz bath before I can get it out without too much pain. Sorry for too much detail but the rest was mushy and easy to get out, once the hard stuff was out.

So I have few more questions
1) I read a few people mention that Miralax takes some time to take effect. Would it become better in a couple of days?
2) The other option is the initial (in my mind) hard stools did not seem hard in the toilet bowl. Could it be that my muscles are so tense that well formed stools don't come out easily? Only the mushy consistency is able to come out easily...
3) I took 2 x 100mg colace as well (one during breakfast and one at lunch). Hopefully using both is not/will not cause any problems.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to read and help me out. Having somebody to talk to has been very helpful!
raoden
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 77
Topics: 5
Joined: 16 Apr 2017, 12:46
Location: Central New Jersey
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby GilmoreGirl » 18 Apr 2017, 12:14

Ach sorry it didn't help. It is possible that your internal sphincter is just tight and that things are going to hurt a little to start off no matter what...I'll try and andwer your questions!

1) it may be better with regular use but hard to say. For me it did but my system is a little wonky, maybe someone else can chime in here. It won't hurt to continue to take it though!

2) yes, your internal sphincter could be tight - and the anticipation of a bm and the pain of having one can make it tighten up even more. Do you have nifedipine or nitro cream (sorry don't remember if you said!)? If so, apply some 10 minutes before you sit down to go - it may help keep things more relaxed. Alternatively, you could try having a warm sitz bath right before or even going in the sitz bath - kinda yucky but hey, if it helps don't sweat it!

3) probably not a problem to take both, but for me, colace didn't do too much (I'm finding out now...yikes). Miralax was much more reliable - I think some others find the same.

Hope that helps a little! you could always get in touch with your doctor and ask for some more advice if you're unsure - it never hurts! My dad always says if they are at all a good doctor, they will gladly be able to accommodate you in a rough time - even if it's just a quick phone call.
GilmoreGirl
VIP
 
Posts: 694
Topics: 18
Joined: 19 Oct 2016, 18:59
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 51 times
Gender: Female

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby raoden » 18 Apr 2017, 12:22

I have been applying the Nitro cream after the BM as I thought the medication would come out with the BM. I was told to use the Nitro 2 times day with 12 hour gap. So I have been applying it after the BM and once at night before I go to sleep. Would you suggest a different schedule?

I agree that the Sitz bath before helps me relax a bit. Otherwise I won't be able to go at all. I feel the urge to go. But the moment I feel the pain, everything comes to a stand still. I also take a the sitz bath after the BM to clean out yucky as it may sound.

Will try talking to the doctor as well to see if the has any suggestion to improve the consistency. Thanks a lot for all your responses. It helps me a lot to talk to others going through this!
raoden
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 77
Topics: 5
Joined: 16 Apr 2017, 12:46
Location: Central New Jersey
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby GilmoreGirl » 18 Apr 2017, 12:45

I would ask the doctor if you can apply a little of the cream before a bm in addition to your other applications, if you don't have too many side effects from it. I know exactly how you feel about things tightening up - it's a total instinctual thing, our body just wants to protect us from pain but it just makes things worse!

It may be a little painful, but you could also try a gentle warm water bulb enema, or even a little mineral oil in it. It can intensify the urge a little and cause a little more relaxation, and soften things too. But it may be something to ask your doctor about before trying!
GilmoreGirl
VIP
 
Posts: 694
Topics: 18
Joined: 19 Oct 2016, 18:59
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 51 times
Gender: Female

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby raoden » 18 Apr 2017, 17:14

GilmoreGirl thanks for your encouraging words. I have left a message with my doctor. Lets see what he says.

I was reading some other threads and came across your diary. I am so sorry that you are going through what you are going. I am amazed at your strength through your tough times. My prayers and thoughts are with you, and you will make a speedy recovery!
raoden
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 77
Topics: 5
Joined: 16 Apr 2017, 12:46
Location: Central New Jersey
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby GilmoreGirl » 19 Apr 2017, 07:24

Thanks raoden, it sure hasn't been a great time! But my troubles are not the common story - most people fare out much much better and I'm sure you will also!

Any luck so far?
GilmoreGirl
VIP
 
Posts: 694
Topics: 18
Joined: 19 Oct 2016, 18:59
Has thanked: 39 times
Been thanked: 51 times
Gender: Female

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby raoden » 19 Apr 2017, 13:41

Haven't heard from the doctor yet. But I think the Miralax kicked in. I did not have a hard tip, and had very little pain with the BM today. The after pain has been a lot better to deal with as well. One day of BM with little pain and my spirits are a lot better today. I hope this helps with the healing.

This has been my first experience with AF and the pain got me so terrified, that I decided to get an appointment with a CRS as they are the specialists. I live fairly close by from NYC, so I got an appointment with Dr. Feingold in Columbia 2 weeks from now. Thanks for all the advice from you!
raoden
Salt Bather
 
Posts: 77
Topics: 5
Joined: 16 Apr 2017, 12:46
Location: Central New Jersey
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 0 time
Gender: None specified

Re: Newly diagnosed with an AF

Postby Buttercup » 20 Apr 2017, 09:46

Hello. Also newly diagnosed with. Hope you don't mind me following the thread as all new to me and lots of helpful tips and advice. It sounds like your well informed and your doing all the right things to help your self heal. Good luck, hope you feel more comfortable soon.
Buttercup
Fibre Addict
 
Posts: 19
Topics: 4
Joined: 19 Apr 2017, 07:47
Has thanked: 0 time
Been thanked: 1 time
Gender: Female


  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to New to the forum? Introduce yourself here



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 27 guests