An embaresing subject. Costipation.

[Loose rivets]

Serious constipation, miserable subject, but an indicator of many things.


I have alway been dirty-loo phobic...quite a problem for a pilot. It is now getting serious with a relatively sudden onset.:ooh: Edit: The constipation not the fear of grot.

What there is seems to be made up of nodules which break apart readily. I wondered if this is indicative of what is going on in there.

I have symptoms of prostate problems but no others.

I've tried over the counter stuff, and indeed herbal remidies (which used to work but now don't.) Yep, tried bran etc., (which makes me ache, so not for long) and even cabbage soup! Nothing seems to work.

Believe it or not, I can't get figs, let alone syrup of figs in this God forsaken place.

Any ideas, or natural remedies?

LR

[obgraham]

So it really should be "Tight Rivets"!
How about plain old dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate. I.E.: DOSS, Colace, or generic equivalent thereof. You want to soften those rivets, not blast them!

For many years, after repairing ladies' posteriors following difficult childbirth, I didn't want my repair to "pull out" so to speak. Instructions were Colace 100 mg and Milk of Magnesia 30cc, twice daily for 10 days whether needed or not.
Trust me, they were all loose!
________
Graham

[Fly380]

Have you tried Sennacot - made from senna pods. Sounds like you could have mild IBS.

[gingernut]

Aha, number one on the Bristol Stool Chart....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Stool_Scale.

(Believe it or not, the academics have made a science out of szh!te)


Try and eat as much fibre as possible, at every oppurtunity- up to 5 -portions a day, orange juice with the bits in, fresh fruit, loads of veg, and don't neglect the fluids either.

If your bowel habit has changed, consult a doc.:)

[Loose rivets]

Thanks for that chaps. Wiki never ceases to amaze me...it seems that I'm somewhere between one and two.

I was aware about Senna pods...Thanks to Spike Milligan :}

I was also aware that there was, and has been for a long time, considerable science on the subject of poo. I knew that royalty had a person of considderable status looking in their pots in the morning, but Google Didn't quite find my try of "Keeper of the King's stools." I did however get "Keeper of the King's elephants." and although it does feel like I'm trying to pass an elephant, the entry wasn't much help.

I am concerned about the sudden change, but will try the above posts before pressing the panic button.

Bran has become an issue. I seem to ache after a few days of eating any significant quantity. It's quite bad...sit in a chair and do nothing but moan about the weather type bad.

I get the feeling that a lot of these things that change are caused by processing in the skull, not 'global' chemistry, but then, who or what we share our minds with is something of a hobby horse of mine.

[Carnage Matey!]

I am reliably informed that a product called Micralax saves a lot of time and trouble. Readily available from your friendly local pharmacist.

[BAMRA wake up]

You have my sympathies L-R. Check it out with the doc.

I had similar symptoms and followed the common sense advice of fruit, fibre, fluids - didn't make much difference, in fact bran and milk was downright unpleasant. Later got a tentative diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome - stress will out somewhere if we're adept at suppressing it. All goes back to the dim recesses of the brain where peristalsis is controlled, and no amount of fibre helps. Try a stress free break see if the symptoms go.

Another possibility is a lack of fluid retained in the gut to help things along. A mate was prescribed 'Fybogel' for this, it seemed to work for him.

[DX Wombat]

Gingernut has given good advice, if things have changed then take yourself off to see your doctor. You may like to try using a glycerine suppository. Glycerine attracts water thereby softening up the concrete rabbit droppings you are currently producing and making them easier to pass. If you have been constipated for some time it may take a couple of doses of the suppositories to soften the build up.

[tescoapp]

None medic talking.

I have a reaction to codiene which produces your symptons. And i have every sympathy for your plight.

Bran is bloody horrible. Porrige works for me.

Fresh oranges or 8 pints of Westons Scrumpy Jack cider with bits with a haggis and curry sauce with chips on the way home.

And sushi has a similar effect to the codiene.

And How did we go from lowering stress levels to poking things up the blokes bum in one post.

[gingernut]

If the habit has changed, you do need investigating.

It's likely that you have something as simple as diverticulitis, but do discuss this with your doc:)

[Fly380]

Yes sorry - IBS means irratable bowel syndrome. I have been diagnosed with this from a CAT scan but I can't feel any symptoms apart from the odd twinge in me guts. Everything seems pretty normal.:confused:

[kpd]

Agree with a sudden change in bowl habit at any age really is safer to see GP asap

[obgraham]

When I added my bit above, I was still processing the evening's excellent Cab-Merlot. I failed to notice the bit where you said this was a change of rather sudden nature.
I agree with those above: off to the doc with you, my good man. You may well require a bit of "looking-up". As a beneficial side effect of that, the prep will temporarily relieve your problem!

[airborne_artist]

Pulses (http://www.vegsoc.org/info/pulses.html) have a very good effect on most people. Buy them in cans and mix them into stews, casseroles etc., or buy them dry, cook them up, and then as before.

In summer you can mix them up into salads made with a couscous base, and mix in some vinaigrette dressing.

[VH-MLE]

Hi Loose rivets,

I'm not a doctor but as has already been stated, a visit to your GP sounds like a very good idea.

I have no idea of what the problem is but if you haven't previously had a colonoscopy, I would strongly urge you (and anyone else over 45) to have one (younger if there is a family history of bowel disease) - in fact I had one today myself and can confirm that the bowel prep will sort out your problem in the short term.

Good luck.

[North County Pilot]

Have a can of Guinness with or after a meal. Worked for me everytime! Tastes good too.

[Rainboe]

Don't fear the colonoscopy. Doctors seem to like doing it under GA, but I insisted for my last that I wanted to be awake and watching the procedure on a monitor. Medium short term discomfort, but a fascinating exercise, with a wonderful 'release' afterwards (you are pumped full of air). The most unpleasant bit was the clearing of the system for the day before, and not being able to eat or drink anything but water or clear soup.

[BAMRA wake up]

Indeed Rainboe, nothing to fear there.
It's the camera down yer gullet that's bloody awful.
At least with the camera on approach downwind, so to speak, you can have a meaningful conversation with the medics.

[Loose rivets]

Thanks again for all the input. Finally I pressed the panic button and signed on with a local doctor.

He gave me Lactulose syrup, which he probably would have done anyway--in preparation for the prostate investigation mentioned in another thread.

I don't know what they put in it, but one thing's for certain: Poo doesn't like it . :ooh:

Flippin' heck. Getting old is like balancing half a dozen ball bearings - one on top of another. Get one out of line, and all the others go out of kilter.

[VH-MLE]

Hi Loose rivets,

Well done on going to your GP. Even if it is prostate related I still highly recommend having a colonoscopy if you haven't had one in the past few years. The worst part for me was going without solid food for near on 2 days, however it is a very worthwhile procedure as bowel cancer - which appears fairly common these days, is a largely avoidable disease.

For info, I had mine under sedation rather than a GA. In other words they put you to sleep for it and I noted that I was only out for about 20 mins.

I am going to start a thread when I get 5 minutes, on the role of the GP in our overall health as I personally see plenty of opportunity for improvement, but more on that there.

Good luck in any case.

VH-MLE

[tescoapp]

Must admit I was very anti my AME doing anything more than was strickly required on my annuals.

Now while remaining with the same one for a number of years I wouldn't change even if I moved. He is quite proud of the number of cancers he has found early and the almost complete recovery rate afterwards.

GP's are a problem for myself and presumably alot of other Pilots. Its virtually impossible to get an appointment short notice. They are usually booked up days in advanced by what appears to be either mums and kids or oldies. And unless you report ill its virtually impossible to get your roster changed to be able to see them if a slot does become available.

And as the topic of well man clinics isn't really discussed when your sub 40 it all comes as a bit of a shock the things you should look out for.

As with most things it is the fear of the unknown which tends to make people avoid contact with the medics.

So a thread on GP's and what they do and what they should be doing would be much apprecated. Also any common procedures which we can expect in future would be great as well. Women seem to discuss this stuff with each other alot in passing and seem alot more organised with t all.

[gingernut]

So a thread on GP's and what they do and what they should be doing would be much apprecated.

Hmmm, interesting concept, but I'm not sure if altogether practical due the multiple factors involved in preventing or detecting the plethora of conditions which affect man (and) woman kind.

I will try and start the ball rolling though, and perhaps use cancer care as an example.

Try and think of cancer as being a journey for the patient.

It starts with prevention. (Anyone care to contribute?), but I guess for most people, the start for them is a symptom, or a collection of symptoms. (Eg rectal Bleeding), through to the appt with the front line clinician, (usually a GP in the UK), through to a hospital appt with a specialist, through to investigations, through to further care, (surgery/chemo/radiotherapy) through to cure, relapse or death.

Common sense (and evdence), tells us that if you shorten any part of the journey, (eg the time between a patient noting his rectal bleeding to when he presents to the GP), then the patient generally fairs better.

Generally, the two ways of shortening the journey, (or parts of the journey), are to re-organise the services, and to stick to what we know works, and delivering it in a timely fashion.



This model is limited, and it has it's limitations, and what I've said is very much a generalisation, but maybe a starting point??

(I hope it doesn't dissolve into a moan, rather something more constructive!) cheers, ginge:)

[tescoapp]

Nearly what I meant.

Take cancer again.

What symtoms should we think "eeelad better get off to quack"

For the top say 5 bloke cancers.

And I must admit before reading this thread on hearing of a colonoscopy creates visions of either the thing that the drain blockage boys use down the drains. Or a sodding great funnel with a 8 battery Magnlight.

And a few people saying they have had it and its not that unpleasant makes a big difference.

Personally I think the change up to 12 months over 40 is maybe not as good an idea as first thought. My AME is more than happy to continue seeing us at a reduced fee if we should so desire every 6 months. Which I have taken him up on.

[North County Pilot]

As for prevention - a recent report published by the World Cancer Research Fund on Cancer and Diet makes for interesting if not painful reading ( no more BLT's for me!) Check it out at www.wcrf-uk.org.

In my experience your body will tell you if something is wrong - it's up to you whether you choose to ignore the signals and put that visit to the doc. on the long finger. GP's are only the first line of defence and if the problem does not clear up quickly its best to see a specialist asap. It's better to be safe than sorry.

[gingernut]

What symtoms should we think "eeelad better get off to quack"

I am trying to find a link to a document that I use frequently, but unfortunately I can't find it- I must say a search on google did reveal some pretty misleading info re cancer prevention, and warning signs.

As regards screening for disease in a well patient, the current technology is limited, I'm afraid.

Screening tests should fulfill the following criteria (WHO 1968)

(it's an old paper, bur relevant today).


World Health Organization — Principles of Screening.



The condition should be an important health problem.
There should be a treatment for the condition.
Facilities for diagnosis and treatment should be available.
There should be a latent stage of the disease.
There should be a test or examination for the condition.
The test should be acceptable to the population.
The natural history of the disease should be adequately understood.
There should be an agreed policy on who to treat.
The total cost of finding a case should be economically balanced in relation to medical expenditure as a whole.
Case-finding should be a continuous process, not just a "once and for all" project.'spose you could add a couple of things to the list.

11. Performing the screening should affect the outcome positively.
12. The benefits should outweight the risks.




It has to be said, if they don't we shouldn't be offering it.

Don't know what the others think, where's slim slag, he likes lists?

[VH-MLE]

Dear Loose rivets,

How are things going? It's been a few days now since your last post on this topic and was just wondering if there have been any further developments for you?

Regards.

VH-MLE

[Loose rivets]

Thanks for asking.

Well, the Lactulose syrup got over an immediate problem...erm, rather quickly.:uhoh: But now the prostate thing is rearing its ugly head. I'm orf to the specialist this AM, and will see what he has to say.

The doctor said. "It's a good cancer to have, takes years to kill you." :\ Thing is, that my mom was still charging around the village on her electric buggy at age 93. I often think young doctors think of 70 ish as being at the end of the spectrum. Like a good car, once past 50, its stunning how fast you seem to accelerate to 70.

My problem is that I was very fit and exceedingly boyish...nay, juvenile, at nearly 60. Back pain changed my whole life, and the sudden change is hard to accept.

I gave up a very comfortable lifestyle to be near the kids and grand-kids, and helped out with things like getting started with houses and odd small crisis management. The end result is that I can't really afford to live in the US. and our beloved government at home withdraw my right to medicine after 90 days. I guess they have to save it for folk that are flooding into the country.

The fact is that the rule has been in place since 1948, but that's the point. In those days it was reasonable to say that people that moved abroad should make their own arrangements, but now things are quite different. There are thousands of families that are split by oceans and now they are able to spend time with them because of aviation. The 90 day rule is obsolete in the modern world.

Must dash...I will return as they say.