Butt Pain... Tmi

[pajamama2]

Okay, this is an embarassing topic but we need to know. Dh has celiac. He's been gluten-free for about 1.5 years. He has done real good about staying gluten-free but lately if he is accidentally glutened he gets sick for a week. The problem that lingers on so long is his butt pain. He doesn't think it's hemrroids. He swears (and this is the TMI part) that up inside his butt tightens, therefore he can't poop. He said he's not constipated, that his BM is soft but again swears it's up inside that's tight. Can anyone help us with this? Is this a symptom of celiac? What can we do to help him? For a week afterwards it is very hard for him to sit and is very painful. Thanks so much for your input.

[Ridgewalker]

Has he tried an anti-inflammatory, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve)? That may help reduce swelling and inflammation. Analgesics like Tylenol won't help for anything that is inflamed.

If that doesn't help, or doesn't help enough, I'd consider seeing a doctor and asking for a non-drowsy muscle relaxer. There are a couple on the market that won't make you loopy, but are still good. I use Skelaxin for my back- it's effective and doesn't make me tired or stoned. You can, and should, take a muscle relaxer at the same time as an anti-inflammatory. They work best together.

Another thing that can help spasming muscles is heat. A hot bath may help. Or a heating pad. He shouldn't sit directly on a heating pad though. Hmm. Maybe try this- have him lay down on the bed and prop a couple pillows under his knees. Then put the heating pad sort of half under his butt, half against this thighs. Know what I mean?

I hope this helps, good luck!

[TestyTommy]

Has he tried drinking more water?

The feeling he describes sounds like something I used to get -- especially at night. I'd wake up in the middle of the night with this horrible pain inside my butt.

One factor in C is dehydration -- your body needs lots of water in the colon to form a passable stool. I found relief (and, eventually, a poop!) by drinking several good-sized (12-16 oz) glasses of water. For some reason, it seems like my body was using up all the water I drank (and I drank plenty) before it got to my colon. Gluten made me VERY thirsty!

Your body can only absorb so much water at a time, so separate the glasses of water by 30-60 minutes. And drinking plenty of water throughout the day keeps the dehydration from happening in the first place.

And make sure it's just plain water. Drinks like pop and tea didn't seem to help me. Coffee made it worse.

Hope this helps!

[hayley3]

Is the pain in his rectum?

I had the sensation of the rectum closing and not being able to poop. I would run to the bathroom and when I got there, it's like a valve closed and wouldn't open back up. Does he take calcium and magnesium and vitamin d? I always thought it was a muscle dysfunction related to vitamin deficiencies. I'm not sure which vitamin fixed me, but I thought it was the mag, but I've read alot about vitamin d deficiencies and muscle weakness. I've tried so many things to get well, I can't remember, like giving up all processed foods, etc.

I also had pain in the rectum as well after I had tried to force out the poop, but mine did not linger that long. Mine was like a boring pain.

Okay, this is an embarassing topic but we need to know. Dh has celiac. He's been gluten-free for about 1.5 years. He has done real good about staying gluten-free but lately if he is accidentally glutened he gets sick for a week. The problem that lingers on so long is his butt pain. He doesn't think it's hemrroids. He swears (and this is the TMI part) that up inside his butt tightens, therefore he can't poop. He said he's not constipated, that his BM is soft but again swears it's up inside that's tight. Can anyone help us with this? Is this a symptom of celiac? What can we do to help him? For a week afterwards it is very hard for him to sit and is very painful. Thanks so much for your input.

[cozy]

Okay, this is an embarassing topic but we need to know. Dh has celiac. He's been gluten-free for about 1.5 years. He has done real good about staying gluten-free but lately if he is accidentally glutened he gets sick for a week. The problem that lingers on so long is his butt pain. He doesn't think it's hemrroids. He swears (and this is the TMI part) that up inside his butt tightens, therefore he can't poop. He said he's not constipated, that his BM is soft but again swears it's up inside that's tight. Can anyone help us with this? Is this a symptom of celiac? What can we do to help him? For a week afterwards it is very hard for him to sit and is very painful. Thanks so much for your input.

[cozy]

Hello. This sounds very much like colitis, which is an inflammation of the colon. I don't know what the cause of the colitis might be. I would get it after taking certain antibiotics or after depleting the natural flora with antibiotics . I'm sure there are many other causes of colitis. To get rid of it you need to avoid whatever is causing it. My colitis was quite painful. the tissue of the colon actually gets swollen, and irritated. It happened to me several times before I went to the MD who told me what it was. I believe the medicine flagyl can help get rid of it for you. 250mg 3 times a day for about a week . It hurts to have a Bm with colitis, It hurts to sit on the swollen area etc . It almost feels as though the area is protruding out and since it is swollen it is not easy to have a bowel movement fit through that narrowed opening. Other things aggravate colitis once you have it. Like drinking acidic orange juice ,etc when the tissue in that area is already inflammed. A health food thing I use to do before I figured out how not to get it again was to take alot of probiotic pills and when the pain was bad I would drink a large swollow of aloe vera juice from the health food store many times a day. It seemed to coat the tissue to prevent pain. Some people have told me they use aloe vera gel on sunburns etc .so I guess that is the same kind of idea. Good Luck. I hope this helps you some.

Cozy

PS I don't know what relationship celiac disease may have on it. I just was researching celiac disease I don't know if I have it.

[evie]

Hello. This sounds very much like colitis, which is an inflammation of the colon. I don't know what the cause of the colitis might be. I would get it after taking certain antibiotics or after depleting the natural flora with antibiotics . I'm sure there are many other causes of colitis. To get rid of it you need to avoid whatever is causing it. My colitis was quite painful. the tissue of the colon actually gets swollen, and irritated. It happened to me several times before I went to the MD who told me what it was. I believe the medicine flagyl can help get rid of it for you. 250mg 3 times a day for about a week . It hurts to have a Bm with colitis, It hurts to sit on the swollen area etc . It almost feels as though the area is protruding out and since it is swollen it is not easy to have a bowel movement fit through that narrowed opening. Other things aggravate colitis once you have it. Like drinking acidic orange juice ,etc when the tissue in that area is already inflammed. A health food thing I use to do before I figured out how not to get it again was to take alot of probiotic pills and when the pain was bad I would drink a large swollow of aloe vera juice from the health food store many times a day. It seemed to coat the tissue to prevent pain. Some people have told me they use aloe vera gel on sunburns etc .so I guess that is the same kind of idea. Good Luck. I hope this helps you some.

Cozy

PS I don't know what relationship celiac disease may have on it. I just was researching celiac disease I don't know if I have it.

Also sounds like colitis to me, mine was caused from antibiotics...I agree that lots of water is neccesary to keep things going well. i am not sure what to do about this problem, so far just enduring, at least do not have it every day!! 'Good Luck' evie

[DeerGirl]

Hi - sounds very much like it could be one of two things - try webmd or google --

proctalgia fugax

or

levator ani syndrome

both are muscular issues - remedies include dietary changes, warm baths, physical therapy or medication -- a good GI or lower-GI specialist should be able to help.