Hello All - I find this problem to be very baffling, hope that someone could point me in the right direction. Whenever I lay on my left side I immediately have to make a trip to the restroom, regardless of day or night. I'll really appreciate your input on this matter.
Hello This is puzzling. We don't have anything from Dr. Weil that we can find that might explain this for you. Have you seen a doctor for this question?
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As a structural body therapist for over 25 years (Certified Advanced Rolfer - you can see what Rolfing is at www.rolf.org), one thing I would think of is some imbalance in body structure.
Perhaps the deep abdominal muscles on one side are impinging on organs in lower abdomen - pressure on the bladder or lower intestine (you didn't say which eliminative function is affected) could cause the urge to eliminate. Or, a rotation in the spine could be stimulating a nerve in some way that induces an urge to go. We all have rotations; I have yet to see a perfect spine, but everyone is affected differently.
From my experience with many clients over the years, I have seen beneficial changes in eliminative function, sexual response, digestion, etc. The work of Rolfing frees the whole myofascial (muscle-connective tissue) system, including the deep abdominal muscles.
Assuming you have ruled out the possibility of a medical problem, perhaps giving yourself the gift of some fabulous body therapy could help. If you go to a Rolfer, make sure you feel comfortable with the person, and if you don't, don't give up - try someone else. (Though it is easy to feel comfortable around the Rolfers I know - the vast majority of them are really cool people). ;-)
While not exactly the same problem, I have something similar happen to me. When I lay on my left side, with my arm extended and under my head, I belch. Not a shy belch, but a large, sometimes multiple belch. It's as by laying that way and having my arm stretched up and out, I clear a passage for which trapped air bubbles can release. It's only been in the last 2-3 years that this happens, but it's almost everytime I lay that way.
I experience the same thing; usually, though, it is not as extreme as a full trip to the bathroom. I get very gassy, though. I wish I could remember where, but a few years back, I read online that lying on your left side helped with digestion and constipation. I don't know why/how, but you are not crazy, and I don't think there is anything wrong with you. :-)
Couldn't it just be as simple as the fact that the descending colon is on the left side, therefore when you're on your left side you're putting pressure on it and stimulating the need to go to the bathroom? I've had a similar experience when I've been sick with diarrhea - if I lay on my left side, I'll be up all night, running to the bathroom, but if I turn to my right side, things calm down.
Dear Cherrylynn, The descending colon, or large bowel, is on the left side. Whenever people have difficulty passing gas and are having abdominal pain from intestinal problems, they are advised to lie on their left side. Enemas are given while the patient is lying on their left side. Lying on the left, facilitates passage of whatever is in there. Hope this helps. DP
I'm not a doc, but did you have a hysterectomy? I've come across articles that say your organs can drop and put pressure on the bladder if you've had one.
I don't have your exact problem, but similar in that--when I lie on my left side and raise my right leg even a bit--I experience flatulance, burping, heartburn, etc. Strange but true!
I see that some people already chimed in to tell you that the descending colon is on that side and that would explain it.
I have had IBS for about 50 years, and on one of my visits to the gastro-enterologist many years ago, when I complained about having painful gas cramps, I was told to lie on my left side when I have those cramps, and sure enough, it helps the gas pass. I've shared this knowledge with my husband and he's had relief from it too from time to time.
If you have that problem on an on-going basis, I would be concerned that you aren't evacuating your bowels totally, and there is always something that still wants to exit your body. Perhaps if you try lying on your left side for a few minutes before you try to go to the bathroom, things will sort of settle and you'll go more efficiently. Once you've begun to evacuate your bowels properly, you might even be able to sleep on your left side again.
Thank you all so very much for your input !!!! I really appreciate your feedback and definitely I'll work on your suggestions. Thanks a bunch!!!! Sunny
I heard a lecture from an ayurvedic doctor who recommended lying on your left side to enhance digestion. In Dr. Douillard's book, "The Three Season Diet" he talks about a trip to India where he learned this ayurvedic technique. Apparently because of the asymmetrical shape of the stomach, lying on the left side allows the food to flow through it and into the small intestine. It is an old remedy for indigestion, particulary for people with heartburn and ulcers. Also, apparently the concept of the "siesta" was not to sleep necessarily, but to rest and let the large mid-day meal digest, thereby avoiding afternoon fatigue. It might be interesting to test your "transit time" by eating some red beets and seeing how quickly they pass through. People are often surprised (or scared that they are bleeding rectally) when they see red three or more days after eating beets, because their colons are sluggish.
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