My Constipation Journey
One of the first personal questions most patients ask during an initial evaluation is, “Why did you become a pelvic health physical therapist?” I often respond with my usual story about how I became interested during my observation hours in college and how my love of pelvic health PT solidified during an elective course in physical therapy school.
When we open this subject, I have the opportunity to share what I love most about pelvic health PT. Much of my passion stems from my life experiences and personal need for the very same education and treatment that I give to my clients. The pelvic health specialty can benefit us all at some point in our lives and I have personally experienced the benefits in two aspects of my life: my constipation and pelvic pain. I want to spend my first post telling you my constipation story.
I grew up in a small town in south Texas, and as a teenager, I struggled with what most teens dreaded, ACNE! Acne, heavy menstrual cycles, and constipation, were the bane of my teenaged existence. I tried everything from antibiotics to creams with no visible changes in my skin. The only options left to me by my dermatologist were birth control or Accutane. Due to my fear of the repercussions of Accutane on my liver, I chose birth control. I started taking a high dose oral birth control daily. My acne did get better within the year and so did my cycles.
I then continued to use high dose oral birth control for 9 years before I decided to stop taking it in physical therapy school. There I was, 23 years old, with a return of acne, continued constipation, and moderately heavy cycles. Dealing with my teenaged problems in my twenties was disheartening to say the least. The only upside was that I felt better emotional regulation without the additional hormones in my system.
I realized that in my journey to find answers, I received little to no diet education. I had asked my dermatologist and primary care doctor about removing junk food and received inconclusive answers and shoulder shrugs in response. In order to find out if my diet was involved, I attempted the Whole 30. It took me a few tries to be honest. I have a bit of a chocolate problem… and a sugar problem… and a Dr. Pepper problem. I am a Texan after all!
While following the Whole 30 diet, I noticed that my bowel movements were regular within the first two weeks. New pimples stopped showing up. My gas and bloating disappeared. My emotions felt more stable and I was focusing better in class.
When I began to reintroduce foods, dairy caused a return of all of my gastrointestinal symptoms. I immediately stopped having the sensation of needing to have a bowel movement and struggled to pass any stools at all. I guessed that I could no longer eat my daily yogurts and drink my weekly gallon of milk!
By removing dairy from my diet I was able to have more regular bowel movements, less abdominal pain, and avoid the straining that caused my persistent anal fissures. I did still struggle at times, but I no longer dreaded the toilet!
As I grew in understanding with my pelvic health education, I changed my bowel routine habits, water intake, posture, breathing, and fiber intake to continue improving my bowel movements. I even noticed a change in my pregnancy nausea with more well managed bowel routines! My final stage of recovery involved the addition of visceral manipulation to my treatment. I have scar tissue from a bilateral inguinal hernia repair and an ectopic pregnancy that created restrictions around my large intestine. After 2 sessions of visceral manipulation, I now have daily bowel movements, even when I cheat a little and eat some cheese.
These experiences have not been fun but they have shaped my practice and my compassion for people who struggle to poop. I remember those years (and tears) I spent sitting on the toilet begging my body for a single piece of stool to come out of my bum. I remember the chronic gas and bloating. I remember the brain fog and nausea when I went 8+ days without a bowel movement. Now I know that there is FREEDOM from chronic constipation and that freedom is multifactorial.
Please do not stop seeking answers for your bowel concerns and join me in celebrating our victories over constipation!
