Keeping the plumber in a job

[tomparryharry]

Hello Folks. This bit is quite a bit serious, and the decorum is at toilet level, but I make no apologies for what it is. There are no names, no pack drill.

 

A chap I know received some sobering news a few days ago, in which he might be suffering from Bowel cancer. He & I are the same age group, being both in our mid-sixties. The person who I'm writing about is a pretty pragmatic person, and will look at problems as & when they arrive. 

 

Some years back, I read a German scientific  article whereby sitting down to pee helps the bowel evacuate a greater amount of fluid, being in a more relaxed position. Ladies, of course, sit down automatically. For men, however, it depends. Standing up, or sitting down makes little difference, the 'extension' takes care of that. If standing up, the pressure is relieved as soon as the bowels tell the brain... "That's ok".  The article went on to state that standing up doesn't completely evacuate the bowels; some is left behind. And that apparently is the problem. The article continues  that sitting down at toilet enables the body to completely fulfill the business of 'evacuation'. Apparently, the article originates in German East Africa, now Tanganyika and Tanzania, where German doctors cottoned on to the practice of evacuation and the lessening of Bowel cancer within the indigenous population.  

 

Moving forward to 2017, and I was incapacitated for several months. During that time, I remembered the article, and seeing how I was limited to the Po, I took some liquid capacity tests. The interesting facts that were borne out, was that the difference at discharge could at times be some 15-20% higher than a normal upright stance. Naturally, I now evacuate in the sitting position, and I take a book to relax. 

 

I remarked upon this to my acquaintance, and to my surprise, he said he'd never heard of it, and neither had his doctor. I in turn was surprised, as I thought it was common knowledge. 

 

There is some suggested stigma to sitting down to evacuate; It doesn't bother me. I'm still big enough to carry off your wives & daughters (well, stagger anyway, depending on the weight). What would bother me is seeing people being carted off, because of the lack of knowledge at 'taking a leak'. 

 

My sister was 66. Bowel cancer wiped her out....  I strongly suggest researching the subject. Sadly, I can't find the article, as I read it some 30 years ago. 

 

Best wishes,

Ian.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

There's a little confusion here.

Bladder, contains urine, evacuated via the urethra, plumbing detail varies between males and females.

Bowel, contains faeces, evacuated via the 'hindmost aperture with no name' according to this stupidly prissy s/w product, identical arrangement for both males and females.

 

Failing to fully evacuate the bladder has no connection I am aware of with bowel cancer.

Edited December 17, 2019 by 34theletterbetweenB&D
to substitute a term

[Fat Controller]

The Germans have recently revisited this advice; I've not visited Germany, but am told the normal pans have a ledge at the front, where one's production can be monitored  for blood-in-stool, parasites etc, before being flushed away.

The 'Turkish Toilet', upon which one squats, rather than sits, is probably even better for bowel health. A shame that one normally encounters them in the sort of establishment that encourages constipation....

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

1 minute ago, Fat Controller said:

... the normal pans have a ledge at the front, where one's production can be monitored  for blood-in-stool, parasites etc, before being flushed away...

These have been common in Northern Europe long term. One of my Dutch great uncles was a medical specialist in complaints of the bowel, and explained the function of this design to my four year old self in great detail, including the device that by appearance would also be handy for mashing potatoes, all much to my delight! I came back to the UK 'full of it' as only a small boy can be, at the age when scatological terms head up the 'naughty words' list.

[SM42]

I had need to  visit a hospital  in Mrs SM42's homeland of Poland  earlier this year, as I was suffering from a rather nasty  gastric complaint, (4 hours on a drip, don't ask)  the question was asked as to when did I last have a colonoscopy?

 

It seems that this is quite a common and routine thing there for people of my age.

 

I don't recall preacutionary screening being offered here until one has reason to visit the doctor with suspicious symptoms. 

 

And on the subject of the sit down wee, I can only describe it as bliss as you don't have to worry about other toilet related mishaps that may occur in the process

 

Andy

Edited December 17, 2019 by SM42

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

7 minutes ago, SM42 said:

...I don't recall preacutionary screening being offered here until one has reason to visit the doctor with suspicious symptoms...

Screening at three year intervals once over 60 is the UK way. Send your careful samplings on the pack of poo sticks kit that will be provided by post, and return by same method for examination.

 

Anyone over sixty not received such a kit and wishing to join in with the fun, enquire of your GP.

[melmerby]

I suffer from UC (mild fortunately) but that has meant I have had a few internal examinations by various mechanical devices.

I also have a high PSA count*, so I am well monitored down below by the GP fraternity.

*No symptoms of anything further in many years of monitoring & tests.

[Nick C]

35 minutes ago, SM42 said:

I had need to  visit a hospital  in Mrs SM42's homeland of Poland  earlier this year, as I was suffering from a rather nasty  gastric complaint, (4 hours on a drip, don't ask)  the question was asked as to when did I last have a colonoscopy?

 

It seems that this is quite a common and routine thing there for people of my age.

 

I don't recall preacutionary screening being offered here until one has reason to visit the doctor with suspicious symptoms. 

 

And on the subject of the sit down wee, I can only describe it as bliss as you don't have to worry about other toilet related mishaps that may occur in the process

 

Andy

 

Mrs C says she was quite surprised at how little precautionary screenings we have here, compared to Poland - apparently there it's quite normal to have a full checkup every year, complete with blood tests etc, which here you only get if you've got some underlying problem or other high-risk category

[SM42]

22 minutes ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

Screening at three year intervals once over 60 is the UK way. Send your careful samplings on the pack of poo sticks kit that will be provided by post, and return by same method for examination.

 

Anyone over sixty not received such a kit and wishing to join in with the fun, enquire of your GP.

 

But this is not as thorough as a camera up there annually (sounds grim)  to check for early signs from your mid 40s is it?, although it is comforting to know that there is something being done.

 

Andy

 

[Kylestrome]

Bowel cancer is one of the easiest forms of cancer to prevent and it saddens me that people still die from it. In my family a grandfather and my mother have died because of it and that is why I have a colonoscopy every two years, as a preventative measure. If any polyps are found, they are removed before they can develop into anything nasty. It seems to be easier to get this kind of screening in Germany, but it seems that in Britain you are also entitled to it at the age of 55:

 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/bowel-scope-screening/

 

Stay healthy,

David

[spikey]

2 hours ago, Fat Controller said:

... am told the normal pans have a ledge at the front, where one's production can be monitored  for blood-in-stool, parasites etc, before being flushed away.

 

They're still around but they're by no means as widespread in Germany as they once were.  Incidentally, the origin of the design lies in the Germanic predilection for all manner of pork sausages, the potentially dodgy curing of the pork therein, the consequent prevalence of intestinal worms, and the benefit of being able to keep an eye open, as it were ...

 

Re squat toilets, any GP will tell you tales of Indian patients who grew up using them then moved here, took to using a Western-style toilet, and before long developed piles just like most of the locals.   And in case it's useful to anybody to know, the way to mimic a squat toilet whilst perched upon a Western one and to gain at least some of the benefit thereof is to raise one's feet on something at least 6" high and/or bend forward at the waist.

 

A public service announcement brought to you by spikey, courtesy of his friendly local GP  

Edited December 17, 2019 by spikey
Clarity

[Free At Last]

1 hour ago, SM42 said:

And on the subject of the sit down wee, I can only describe it as bliss as you don't have to worry about other toilet related mishaps that may occur in the process

 

Andy

Like slipping on the wee soaked floor and splitting your head open on the urinal?

[rab]

I was diagnosed with bowel cancer as a result of a poo test.

An op and and a couple of rounds of chemo (another story

which I wont go into) and twelve months later I was

pronounced cured.

It's left me with a semicolon, which means when I have to go,

I have to go, otherwise when i do go I find I've been

 

PS, I agree the OP does sound somewhat confused,

      anatomy obviously not their strong point.

Edited December 17, 2019 by rab

[tomparryharry]

48 minutes ago, rab said:

I was diagnosed with bowel cancer as a result of a poo test.

An op and and a couple of rounds of chemo (another story

which I wont go into) and twelve months later I was

pronounced cured.

It's left me with a semicolon, which means when I have to go,

I have to go, otherwise when i do go I find I've been

 

PS, I agree the OP does sound somewhat confused,

      anatomy obviously not their strong point.

Yes, I did get confused, and no, anatomy is not my strongest suit. My original post was (is) to hopefully show some light on what can be a killer. If my ham-fisted approach is what's needed to illuminate this, then a smirk at my expense will be well worth it.

 

Ian.

[chris p bacon]

1 hour ago, God's Wonderful Railway 1835 said:

Yes you are offered a chance to be screened for bowel cancer when you get to 55

 

I got one 18 months ago at 55. When I went they said "any history of bowel cancer in the family" I replied " I've lived 5 years longer than my mother"

 

Had the Endoscope where they found some nasties, so went back for the full colonoscopy where they were removed.  I found it fascinating watching the screen (no pain meds) but did laugh when he said "There's your appendix so all done" I asked him where he'd stuck the camera as my appendix was removed when I was 12 (perotinitis(?)) 

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

12 hours ago, chris p bacon said:

... I asked him where he'd stuck the camera as my appendix was removed when I was 12 (perotinitis(?)) 

Maybe you have regenerated and grown a replacement. I wouldn't put anything past the human body.

 

'Peritonitis'. The sepsis caused by your gut bacteria entering the abdominal cavity, common 'natural cause' a ruptured appendix. Before the ability to control infection - nowadays mostly using antibiotics - this event was almost always fatal. (A very few did survive naturally, the body managing to encyst the infection site and expel the mass through the abdominal wall.)

[chris p bacon]

20 minutes ago, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

Maybe you have regenerated and grown a replacement. I wouldn't put anything past the human body.

 

'Peritonitis'. The sepsis caused by your gut bacteria entering the abdominal cavity, common 'natural cause' a ruptured appendix. Before the ability to control infection - nowadays mostly using antibiotics - this event was almost always fatal. (A very few did survive naturally, the body managing to encyst the infection site and expel the mass through the abdominal wall.)

 

Sounds about right, I had gangrene and apparently stunk the hospital ward out. The appendix had burst on the Wednesday during school games but I wasn't operated on until Saturday afternoon as I had no signs apart from a temperature, it was only when I couldn't walk that a smart doctor (Dr Ali) suspected something was wrong with my appendix.  My father was abroad at the time in Japan and when mum rang him his reply was "My brother Peter died of that when he was 12" ....not what mum wanted to hear.. Peter had apparently lasted 12 hours  and got to hospital in time but the surgeon didn't want to operate as the King was visiting Cambridge the following day and he didn't want to miss it, he died overnight. I count myself as very lucky to be here.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

1 hour ago, chris p bacon said:

 I count myself as very lucky to be here.

The inflexibility of the available reactions. The like is for your gratitude for life, rather than the premature death of the uncle you never knew.

[Nick C]

16 hours ago, spikey said:

Re squat toilets, any GP will tell you tales of Indian patients who grew up using them then moved here, took to using a Western-style toilet, and before long developed piles just like most of the locals.   And in case it's useful to anybody to know, the way to mimic a squat toilet whilst perched upon a Western one and to gain at least some of the benefit thereof is to raise one's feet on something at least 6" high and/or bend forward at the waist.

 

A few years ago, we had a succession of groups of people brought over to our office the UK for a couple of months for some kind of training. It soon became clear that many of them were not used to western-style toilets, and an illustrated instruction guide appeared on the inside of each cubicle...

[spikey]

And by way of a little light relief ... one of the very wonderful Mr Wilbur Sargunaraj's excellent educational videos

 

 

[Free At Last]

Quote

And by way of a little light relief ... one of the very wonderful Mr Wilbur Sargunaraj's excellent educational videos

 

He didn't mention how you dry your posterior after washing, I saw no towels hanging up. You don't want to be walking around with a soggy bottom.

 

Edit - Re- using those footstool thingies (squatty potty), you need to have a fat ar$e to stop you falling down the pan.

Edited December 18, 2019 by Free At Last

[chris p bacon]

Why does that sound like my local restaurant....

[jcredfer]

On 18/12/2019 at 19:09, chris p bacon said:

Why does that sound like my local restaurant....

 

Have you considered moving to a more salubrious area??          

 

With every sympathy for you predicament.

Julian

 

[J. S. Bach]

On 17/12/2019 at 11:37, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

Screening at three year intervals once over 60 is the UK way. Send your careful samplings on the pack of poo sticks kit that will be provided by post, and return by same method for examination.

Just think of the person that has to open that package!

[Free At Last]

On ‎17‎/‎12‎/‎2019 at 16:37, 34theletterbetweenB&D said:

Screening at three year intervals once over 60 is the UK way. Send your careful samplings on the pack of poo sticks kit that will be provided by post, and return by same method for examination.

 

Anyone over sixty not received such a kit and wishing to join in with the fun, enquire of your GP.

Recently received one and it now consists of one stick in a bottle requiring only one sample.