Constipation after Anal Sex

[rm71182]

So let me preface: I looked through the stickies section and found a few posts that touched on this, but only tangentially, and a Google search turns up conflicting opinions on the topic.

Last weekend I had several really intense sessions with my toys (I'm finally starting to enjoy the sensations of anal play). It was quite different from anything I'd done up until now-- nothing painful per se; absolutely no bleeding-- but before this I've only been practicing sporadically w/ toys smaller than what I used this time.

Anyways, ever since then I've had constipation where it feels like I can't "get it all out" when I go. Which leaves me feeling, a few hours later, like I have to go again. Very unusual for me, which is why I noticed it. Magnesia laxative did the trick, but was only temporary and the problem came right back.

Let me be clear (so I don't sound like one of those paranoid, "did I permanently damage my ass?" posters): I'm sure it's temporary and I'm not worried about managing the constipation. But damn, I hope this isn't going to be my body's reaction to anal sex. The only causal link I can envision is maybe I got inflammation in or around the internal sphincter that's making it hard to pass normal stools? Maybe someone with a medical background would know more?

In the meantime, lots of soluble fiber and water. Sorry for the gross question (but where else can you ask this stuff lol). Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[KaraBulut]

So, is the issue that your stools are hard and difficult to pass? Or is it that you feel like you need to go and that there's something still there even after you do go?

 

[rm71182]

So, is the issue that your stools are hard and difficult to pass? Or is it that you feel like you need to go and that there's something still there even after you do go?

I believe it's more the latter-- can't seem to completely empty my bowel. I guess that could, though, still be a result of a change in stool consistency that I haven't been able to detect. But no change in my diet lately, and I already eat a pretty high fiber diet as the result of a weight management routine I've been on for months. It "feels" like something's not pushing things out the way it should (whatever that means).

 

[sixthson]

I think that's where the expression "fudge packing" came from. Sorry, if I didn't say it, someone else would have.

 

[rm71182]

I don't mean to bump my own post, but I have an update to share. I'm worried my situation may be more serious than I previously thought: not only has the constipation not resolved, but I've developed a persistent pain in my lower left abdomen and an intermittent low-grade fever. My worst nightmare has always been seeing a gastroenterologist about something anal-sex related. So today I saw an internist at a practice that's LGBT-affirmative (I cannot recommend this enough: I know medicine should be a profession devoid of intolerance, but sadly it's not, and it was *so* refreshing to see a doc who was sensitive to gay issues. As someone about to enter med school myself, it's made me consider this as a line of work).

I'm getting a CAT-scan tomorrow. I really don't know what could have happened, but I was playing with a fairly large toy (8 inches long, 6 inches circumference) and was pressing it inside for a long time (~2 hours) with a fair amount of pain in my upper abdomen. This should have been a sign to stop immediately, but I'd seen things similar in porn and was trying to emulate them. Naive, I know. The abdominal pain and constipation followed immediately after.

For anyone with a medical background (Karabulut--you seem to be a physician): is it possible with a toy that size, and enough intensity of application, to shift or twist (volvulus) the lower bowel to cause a partial obstruction? Inflame the sigmoid colon? I asked my internist these questions, but I was so flustered I don't know how clearly I articulated these points. He said possible, but unlikely. First, he's testing for bacterial colitis.

I'll update this as I get more info, because people's sharing on threads like this has helped me immeasurably in the past. Maybe this will help someone in a similar situation.

 

[bankside]

Definitely smart to follow up with a doctor. No medical school background but I have played with large toys and have never accepted any pain as part of the learning curve.

Also it seems if things are not injured, they are at least irritated. Did you get any dietary recommendations that might help while everything settles down? I am assuming fibre in the diet, but not sure if that is right.

I have to say I think it is great you've found a caring doctor, but while he is screening for different conditions, I would not accept any deterioration in my condition assuming I could just tough it out. Follow your doctor's sequence of treatment as long as your condition remains stable, but hopefully he told you to report to an emergency room outside of his office hours if you feel the need.

I think its really smart that you got over any embarrassment. And I think you have to consider this like a sports injury to be honest….it's a lot like training too hard and turning the wrong way at the wrong moment and suddenly your ankle needs a doctor. Nothing wrong with the sport…just focus on getting well and then a little more patience with your technique next time.

 

[rm71182]

Definitely smart to follow up with a doctor. No medical school background but I have played with large toys and have never accepted any pain as part of the learning curve.

Also it seems if things are not injured, they are at least irritated. Did you get any dietary recommendations that might help while everything settles down? I am assuming fibre in the diet, but not sure if that is right.

I have to say I think it is great you've found a caring doctor, but while he is screening for different conditions, I would not accept any deterioration in my condition assuming I could just tough it out.

I think its really smart that you got over any embarrassment. And I think you have to consider this like a sports injury to be honest….it's a lot like training too hard and turning the wrong way at the wrong moment and suddenly your ankle needs a doctor. Nothing wrong with the sport…just focus on getting well and then a little more patience with your technique next time.

Thank you so much for a thoughtful reply. You've framed it exactly the way I'm going to approach it: tests can be done, but there's a sense of urgency to be sure. It's tricky because I think it's highly unusual for anal play (even with large toys) to cause these symptoms, but, I know my body, and there's a lot of things that make me think my body is the type that *could* have this sort of response. All the more reason I should've been more careful in the first place...but I wasn't. And now I'll probably need an endoscopy to confirm no permanent damage.

About "embarrassment": I want to make a quick comment. Where I live, it's not just a matter of embarrassment-- you can honestly get sub-standard medical treatment for being gay. I know because my family is full of docs: and prejudice leads to jokes among the nursing staff, apathy, not caring if you do a full work-up, thinking the patient "got what they had coming", etc. I know, it's ugly stuff, but it happens every day. So my fear isn't so much embarrassment, as substandard care.

 

[KaraBulut]

More than likely, the cause is a more common condition like internal hemorrhoids or prostatitis, both of which can cause the sensation that you're describing. Since these are common conditions, logic dictates that they occur in other people without prolonged use of a dildo. So, you don't necessarily have to reveal that you had excessive quality time with your toy, you only need to describe your symptoms and how long they have been occurring. If the physician wants to know more about what might have triggered the event, they will ask and you can make a choice as to how much information you want to reveal at that time.

The area where you live also has one of the highest rates of billing for procedures, so you won't have any trouble finding someone who will do an endoscopy.

 

[rm71182]

The area where you live also has one of the highest rates of billing for procedures, so you won't have any trouble finding someone who will do an endoscopy.

Lol. By the way, Karabulut, I come across posts of yours on other forums whenever I Google anal sex and health: you're owed a real debt of gratitude for all the info you've put out. You seem to be a gastroenterologist? (or at least had some training/did rotations in it). I'm a soon-to-be med student and I've heard it's a fun field (nice blend of diagnostics + procedures).

You would be doing me the biggest favor if you could answer the following question. It's more of a general physiological question than anything else. I'd really like to know: is it possible for (intense) anal sex with a large enough penis/toy to cause
(a) irritation, inflammation, or some kind of mild physical displacement/modification of the upper rectum/sigmoid colon, that would in turn
(b) disrupt normal transit/peristalsis of stool into the rectum
(c) reduce stool size and diameter
(d) make it difficult to expel gas (and thus cause bloating)
(e) lead to a persistent, dull pain in the lower left abdomen, at the level of the pelvic crest (either from the irritation/injury itself, or the resulting constipation, gas, etc). ?

I'm not one for anecdotal evidence, but I have been struck by reading accounts (albeit few) that are uncannily similar to my own recent experience and this constellation of symptoms. From a mechanistic standpoint, is this even plausible? Or am I part of some cohort of people with abnormally sensitive upper rectum/sigmoid colons? I was using an 8-inch toy, which I know is borderline for reaching the sigmoid juncture, but maybe mine is at a shorter distance that most? Felt a good deal of discomfort during the act.

By the way, prostate exam showed no prostatitis and no hemorrhoids. Bloodwork normal so far. Seeing a gastroenterologist next week but these questions are really nagging at me. Bottoming is definitely my sexual role and if I can't do it, I don't know what I'll do.

 

[KaraBulut]

... is it possible for (intense) anal sex with a large enough penis/toy to cause
(a) irritation, inflammation, or some kind of mild physical displacement/modification of the upper rectum/sigmoid colon, that would in turn
(b) disrupt normal transit/peristalsis of stool into the rectum
(c) reduce stool size and diameter
(d) make it difficult to expel gas (and thus cause bloating)
(e) lead to a persistent, dull pain in the lower left abdomen, at the level of the pelvic crest (either from the irritation/injury itself, or the resulting constipation, gas, etc). ?

Possible? Sure, anything is possible. Likely? No particularly.

Anal sex, with the real thing or with a reasonably-sized toy, is unlikely to cause any lasting changes.

Why? Because what is done by a penis in the relatively short period of time it's in your ass is far less stress than the daily doldrums of normal bowel function.

The symptoms that you've listed are common enough to point to the problem not being anal sex but probably a more common condition. Common conditions like poor diet, inadequate fiber, IBS, ulcerative colitis, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance are all much more common conditions and are more likely to cause the symptoms that you've listed. But a GI doc would need to make that diagnosis.

 

[rm71182]

Sorry to bump my own thread-- it's just that I hate when people have a problem and say that they're going to a doctor, but never post the results of their visit or what the doctor said.

I had a colonoscopy that revealed inflammation; biopsies of various sections of the colon ruled out Crohn's disease and IBD (note: IBD does not = IBS).

"Focal active colitis" was found in my sigmoid colon -- precisely the place I felt pain and discomfort. This could be due to (1) bowel prep needed for colonoscopy; (2) self- limited inflammation (from a bacterial/viral infection that's resolving on its own); or (3) ischemia --restricted blood flow-- which recent research shows could be caused by chronic use of NSAIDs (Advil, Motrin, Aleve, etc).

Given that I take/took copious amounts of NSAIDs for arthritis relief, it could easily be an NSAID issue. Karabulut: I'd love your opinion on this. Could ischemic focal active colitis be the result of mechanical injury/trauma from anal intercourse (w/an 11 inch long Dildo by 6 inch circumference)? Or is this a case where my meds just caught up with me at the wrong time?

I played with the toy in such a way it seems possible blood flow could've been disrupted, as there was discomfort and pain (and pressure on one side of my rectum for an extended period).

Karabulut: can you shed some light?! Thanks!

 

[rm71182]

(I need to add the following for the sake of transparency: my initial constipation symptoms began to resolve prior to my colonoscopy. So being the researcher I am, I reenacted the toy play that led to my problems in the first place, 3 days before the colonoscopy. My intention was that, had there originally been any damage, I wanted it to be present when the colonoscopy was done. All the more reason I fear the sigmoid inflammation that was detected may be a result of taking a large toy/cock. When I stick long toys up my ass, I feel them bending left. Maybe I have a short rectum so my sigmoid gets irritated??)

 

[supersaiyan23]

Hey rm71182!

I was just wondering if there were anymore updates to your experience? I bottomed for a very large top ~24 hours ago, and (unlike you) am getting a bit worried about some constipation.

Thanks!

 

[Luka]

Sometimes after my bf fucks me really hard I get constipated and also can't pee, but it usually only lasts about an hour.

 

[Smilo123]

Hey rm71182!

I was just wondering if there were anymore updates to your experience? Or if someone has experienced this?

I have exactly and the same problem: left side mild pain and i am constipated.
4 months ago i played with Mr. Marcus Dildo (9 inch, 7 inch insertable), and since then I've developed a persistent pain in my lower left abdomen and a persistent constipation. But man, constipation is the biggest problem I've ever had since now.

Has anybody experienced this? Thx