Pooping can be complicated when living with cystic fibrosis
Let's normalize the open discussion of a challenging digestive process
Poop is a hot topic in my household.
For me, having cystic fibrosis (CF) means having pancreatic insufficiency. Therefore, I don’t produce enough digestive enzymes to break down my food. It’s a constant balancing act of ensuring that I take enough enzymes with higher fat foods and not too many with lesser fat-concentrated items.
That makes it challenging to gain weight, which is why I talk about poop. A lot. (Thankfully, I have an empathetic husband with a similar sense of humor who gets me, so this tendency doesn’t faze him.)
As a child, I remember daydreaming while on the toilet, where I spent a significant amount of time. I’d look out the window and create figures out of the cloud formations. In recent years, I’ve been scrolling through social media while trying to poop. It’s a nice distraction when I’m constipated. (What did we do before we had cellphones to keep us entertained on the toilet? Food for thought.)
My belly issues have impeded my ability to attend events, participate in activities, and work in some capacities. I often joke about it as a means to downplay how much of a challenge it can be; that’s the dark humor coming out again. But sometimes, it’s so frustrating when my belly dictates what I can and cannot do. And often, that’s not something I can control.
Constipation has landed me in the hospital for a weeklong stay. Another time, I had to go to the emergency room because I was having severe abdominal pain that felt like someone was stabbing me in the gut. It’s one of the most painful experiences I’ve had, and I’m no stranger to pain. After doctors saw evidence of a partial blockage, I was given the necessary medications to clear my system.
Still, I endured skepticism from medical professionals who treated me like I was faking it. That was adding the proverbial salt to a wound. It was awful to deal with extreme pain, let alone having to fight to get my needs met.
I definitely carry trauma related to the bathroom. People have said hurtful comments about my taking longer there than normal. (What’s a normal time to spend in the bathroom?) Others have embarrassed me in front of other people by making jokes about my digestive issues. I wish people thought before they spoke.
I wasn’t always this comfortable talking about pooping. It’s come from years of having my dignity stripped by the lack of privacy in the hospital before my double-lung transplant seven years ago.
In fact, I couldn’t leave the intensive care unit after my surgery until I pooped. Talk about pressure, whew! That was a fun adventure (not). And it was worse because my surgeon performed a “clam-shell cut” for my transplant, so I couldn’t move my arms to wipe myself. That’s right; I felt like I was a toddler again as my mother and medical staff wiped my butt for me.
It’s common conversation for my doctor to ask me at every checkup how my bowel movements are. Am I constipated or do I have diarrhea? Do I poop every day? How many times? Do the poops sink or float? There are so many questions and variables to consider when it comes to pooping.
Normalizing pooping
Hopefully by sharing all this experience with you, you’ll feel less alone if you have similar issues. Or maybe we’ll even share a laugh that normalizes one of our bodily functions. I hope I’m educating those without the pangs of belly issues to refrain from timing the bathroom breaks of those who do have gastrointestinal problems.
Honestly, let’s just establish some normalcy here. Everybody poops, even that girl or guy you have a crush on. Your medical team does. CEOs of major corporations and janitors poop, too. Everybody that you encounter in your daily life has bowel movements. There’s comfort in knowing that all of humanity experiences this weird phenomenon called pooping.
With that being said, I’m off to my office (the bathroom) to take care of business. Wish me luck!
Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.
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