Not Only Am I Constipated, But I Have Hemorrhoids and Fissures. What Will Help?
These can cause quite a bit of discomfort. Let’s look at three considerations:
Consider your body position when eliminating.
Our modern set-up of sitting on a toilet is not conducive to how your body is built. Your body is adapted to be in a squatting position to have a bowel movement. This way, it’s easier to bear down and have the contents of your abdomen push out the contents of your rectum.
Many parts of the world do not use toilets. They have holes in the floor. There aren’t cases of hemorrhoids and constipation in these parts of the world. One reason is their having to squat when eliminating.
Living in the modern world, what can we do? There is an easy solution.
There are largely unrecognized devices, which have been developed to raise your feet during elimination. One is called the “Squatty Potty” and is easy to find. There are other similar products on the market. These devices allow you to have your feet raised 8-10 inches while sitting on the toilet. While in this position, you want to lean your body weight forward. This enables your anatomy to be used the way it was meant to be used. When your legs are up, your pelvis opens, allowing your body to empty the waste so much easier.
When using such a device, you’re less apt to be constipated, have recurrent hemorrhoids, and won’t have the strain associated with normal bowel movements.
I’ve also used a step stool to raise my feet. When you’re traveling, you can use those hard, square trash cans in the hotel bathrooms. Simply lay one sideways and elevate your feet on it.
Consider the time you spend on the toilet.
I recommend getting rid of magazine racks in the bathroom. If you think of the bathroom as a place to lounge, read, and relax, you’re going to spend way too long and end up straining your rectal tissue. This plays a part in hemorrhoids, weakened bowels, and constipation. So, avoid reading, writing, video games, or phone time. Just get in there, do your business and get out!
Consider the toilet paper you use.
Our rectum has delicate tissue, and we use dry toilet paper to clean it. Is this logical?
Think about it: If you have a kitchen pot that needs cleaning, do you use a dry paper towel? No. You use water. You use moist things to clean things. All the more with delicate parts of your body. You need to be gentle with them. Instead of toilet paper, use hypoallergenic wet wipes. I’ve had many patients with recurrent hemorrhoids, fissures, and other rectal problems who simply ditched the toilet paper and were helped!
Another plus to using hypoallergenic wipes is they do a good job of cutting the risk for recurring bladder infections. Toilet paper doesn’t clean well enough. Tiny amounts of E.coli from the stool can work its way into the urethra. This is how most bladder infections start. So, thoroughly clean with something moist, that is a non-irritant.
Give these bathroom tips a try. They could be a huge game changer for you not only in your bathroom time, but also in your overall wellness.