I have bowel problems due to a spastic colon and spastic ilealcecal valve. It can cause me to strain. I can easily see how the straining can exacerbate symptoms. When I want to get my system moving good, I spend a day eating beans. I'll have Bush's baked beans heated and piled on buttered bread for two consecutive meals. It is one of my age old comfort foods that gets my system moving easily. It may be worth a try.

I have a chronic TOS (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) condition that involves C-6 to T-2. I can't afford the physical therapy I have used in the past to relieve this problem so I just use high fiber foods to get relief.

In the past, I spent almost a year taking a spasmodic and softening laxative. The combination helped my system. The spastic colon had cause a distended colon that needed the spasmodic med to rebuild peristaltic muscle strength. Maybe you will benefit from the same long term meds. I bought generic spasmodic/softening laxatives in the Costco size container. It helped.

There are plenty of ways to get lots of fiber into your diet to make bowel movements much easier. Straining can be dangerous. Long ago, I had a friend who ruptured his aorta straining.

I can understand how frustrating it can be to have symptoms recur from just normal functions.

Do you ever get a feeling of a bloated belly between your belly button and your ribs?

I hope you can find a way to make this function less of a problem.

My best to you.