Constipation - It's all about the poop
Instead of "pillow talk," in my world it's more like "poop talk". This morning I had just made my oblilgatory two bag lunches for my daughters and sent one daughter off to high school and I had a few minutes before taking my other daughter to junior high. So, I did what any other computer dependent professional does, I checked my email.
One of them was from a writer who interviews me often and this morning she
had an interesting question for me:
What are some of the symptoms of a lack of fiber? Constipation...and?
To which I quickly responded:
That's the only 'symptom' I can think of. Your poop won't have as much buoyancy if you aren't eating enough fiber too (literally your poop will tend to sink in the toilet) and your movements might be more painful or difficult to pass. The fiber holds onto some water as it forms into stools and this makes your stools softer and easier to eliminate.
Before I had a chance to step away from my computer I got her response:
Thanks for the quick reply about poop, I appreciate it very much Elaine!
I wrote back:
I can talk about poop before my morning coffee--I'm a health professional (LOL).
To help us all get that wonderful fiber, here a some tips I put together in Why You Need More Fiber -- and 6 Easy Ways to Get It.
~Elaine
Related Topics: 6 Foods and Tips for More Fiber, FDA OKs Drug to Treat Constipation
Technorati Tags: fiber, constipation
One of them was from a writer who interviews me often and this morning she
had an interesting question for me:
What are some of the symptoms of a lack of fiber? Constipation...and?
To which I quickly responded:
That's the only 'symptom' I can think of. Your poop won't have as much buoyancy if you aren't eating enough fiber too (literally your poop will tend to sink in the toilet) and your movements might be more painful or difficult to pass. The fiber holds onto some water as it forms into stools and this makes your stools softer and easier to eliminate.
Before I had a chance to step away from my computer I got her response:
Thanks for the quick reply about poop, I appreciate it very much Elaine!
I wrote back:
I can talk about poop before my morning coffee--I'm a health professional (LOL).
To help us all get that wonderful fiber, here a some tips I put together in Why You Need More Fiber -- and 6 Easy Ways to Get It.
~Elaine
Related Topics: 6 Foods and Tips for More Fiber, FDA OKs Drug to Treat Constipation
Technorati Tags: fiber, constipation
78 Comments:
I understand this completely. I used to have the same buyoncy problem stated above, as far as sinking goes. Once the problem was amended, I had numerous "floaters". I stopped almost all of my fiber consumption to keep it at the proper semi-floating level, but still, like life-vests, they float. How can this whole submarine game be avoided in the bathroom?
Also, an occaisional pea is swallowed during a meal. During times of sinkage, the undigested peas float. Why?
I know I need more fiber. I have tried Benefiber, which I had no trouble using because it disolved easily in beverages or I could mix it in my oatmeal. The problem is that it made the already problem of flatulence (gas) a LOT worse. Any ideas? My husband uses and swears by Metamucil but he also has terrible gas. We find this very embarrasing! We take a product used by ostomy patients which helps a little to disguise the odor (It's called Devrom). My stools are so large and they sink, causing plumbing problems! We just bought a toilet with an extra wide hole in the toilet bowl to avoid this problem. HELP! This isn't a pleasant topic but I am glad that constipation is being addressed.
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My daughter goes through constipation and diareah cycles. She doesn't have a Bowel movement for about a month and when she does it is so compacted and big that it plugs the toilet. She has been this way for the majority of her life. She is currently 11. Before the big poop she has leakage that usually ends up in her underpants and she doesn't seem to have any sensations that tell her she has to go.
I have taken her to doctors and they don't know but this problem is not ok. Can you help me stop mopping up after flooded toilets every month and washing out poopie panties.
I know this might be a strange question, (or is it?)but after my dumpster leaves my body, i dont care if it floats or sinks. Why would a person prefer a floater?
Can anyone tell me why a 1,2, and 3 year old will have green poop when they haven't eaten anything green...thanks
Green Poop symptom - I get this every time I drink purple or blue coolade, lucky charms if there is blue dye or purple dye, blue or purple frosting, blue or purple candy.
2ndly: Most recently, if I am on a detox diet, and it is clearing out my liver.
Thirdly: Really hot foods will tend to put me into detox and I will have green stool.
I was a nurses aide where someone had purple stool... plus diahrea that was very serious SEE YOUR DOCTOR about hepatitis or other liver problems.
Overly Large Stools/Constipation/leakage:
My son was molested when he was around 6 , he then demonstrated that he did not want to poop and when he did, he would even have some initial bleeding, he then went through huge poops the diameter of the huge large candles. He would leak into his underwear and this went on for years.
Solving the problem:
1. Drink 2 cups WARM water every morning.
2. One cup at every meal.
3. Full cans of corn at a time first thing in the morning-season it to the childs liking. Alternate with fresh carrots with a dip like ranch dressing to keep it palatable. After a while she will get tired of the regiman so keep getting it diversified. The corn was the most effective for my son.
4.Stay away from breads - eggs - peanut butter - and lots of meat - all these will constipate-
5.Explore fruits, vegetable recipes
6. If she loves cereal, let her eat this as a dry snack and try to limit it to a cup in the afternoons while she is watching tv or doing homework.
If she is lactose intolerant, use this to her advantage and have her drink a cup in the evenings with chocolate or strawberry quick mix to keep it palatable. It will help her keep the stool loose.
7.Keep the meats for noon time. It appears to be a lifelong problem that she will need to keep in control of, once the colon appears to have overly stretched it is prone to doing the same thing.
8. Whether she needs to use the bathroom or not encourage her to go with a warm glass of water. It is important to keep her regulated because she will gain weight after a while of this, and the colon could be more susceptible to disease and cancer. If she begins to gain weight she could start going on weird diets when it is just the need to get the feces out of her system. She should be pooping every day one to two times.
I did get my son to poop more regularly but it is important to impress upon your child to learn to SELF- REGULATE so that she is not always dependant on you to do it for her.
Talk to the school teacher and mention the problem so that the teacher is aware that she will need to use the restroom when she gets the urge to go... talk to the principle and let him know how important that she goes to the bathroom when she gets the urge. They will need to understand the reason. Otherwise if she is forced to hold her poop it will further constipate her. Make sure she is able to carry a drink bottle in the classroom. Our school is required to do so for the health of the child. Investigate your school policies and the state health policies for your school district.
I grew up with spina bifita and always had to deal with the same problem of contipation but not over large poops, but now I have colon problems as a result of not having had adequate nutritional care as a child.
Take care.
My husband has been having access leakage throught the day. Is this something to worry about or is it common for men who GO alot?
What if you're an adult and your poop is green and you haven't eaten anything green?
I have IBS and I cannot go unless I take Mirlax everynight before bed. I have been using this for over a year now. If I skip a night then the bloating, and pain comes back. My doctor knows I'm still taking this but I afraid my body will become depended on it. But I also don't want to stop cause the pain is really bad.
HELP
I am 13 years old and every time i go #2 i clog the restroom and i get in trouble cause they have to call someone to fix it. I try to go r/room when i go out to the mall so i wont get in troulbe i dont know what to do?
I will go days without going. I eat a lot of fresh fruits and raw veggies. What am I doing wrong? Can't eat corn: allergic.
my son is 19 years old and goes to college, he plays sports and is on the college baseball team. He is a catcher and has to squat hundreds of times a day. He told me that he has been going #2 about 6 times a day or more; please help worried dad
i;m 16 and i had green direahish poop whats up with that?
I am also a 56 year old adult and this last year my stool has been army green and I cant get any answers. I have always been regular and suddenly the color changed. I do not consume many green vegetables and my eating habits have not changed. I dont know if I should be concerned or not. I have asked several doctors and they just blow me off.
To anonymous directly above me:
I did a search on WebMD for "green stool" and the results indicate that it can be caused by vitamin supplements and certain medications. You might try that search and see if any of the medications or supplements are ones you take.
To anonymous at 6:39pm with diarrhea,
Here's an explanation of diarrhea and why your stool color can change.
thank goodness i read that there is such a syndrome as green poop syndrome. i have been freaking out for the last 2 weeks because my poop has been bright green but i havent been eating anything green! and my poop is still hard and not like diarrhea at all. and it's because i've been drinking all this purple gatorage lately! how funny is that?
i am eating lots of fiber, i still dont get why i am constipated and its green !
My daughter is 11 and about 85-90% of the time she has poop(well it looks like she has tried to hold it or she went to the restroom and didn't wipe her butt) in her panties, when she takes a shower at night she and I see it in there, I ask her about it and all she says is that she don't know how it gets there.She says she is not holding it and when she hast to go she goes. Can someone help me help her to stop it. she don't like to stay away from home because of it and if she dose stay somewere she takes about 3 or 4 pair's of panties with her. Do any one have any answers..I'm tired of cleaning out panties (she is potty trained). I have tried taking stuff from her but that don't do any good.. Please help us..
I need some help here, I am having constant diarrhea. Every morning I usually go to the bathroom at least 3 times(this is all in a hour in a half) All of my morning bathroom visits is nothing but diarrhea. Today my stool was black, yesterday it was green! Sometimes it has an unusual smell (smells like metal). Sometimes the smell is so bad (I know it's not supposed to smell like bed of roses!) the gag reflexes kick in. I haven't had a normal poop in over ten years. Can someone please tell me something.
I still don't understand, does anyone know if you are healthy whether your poop should sink or float? I know I have good fiber intake, but still my poop sinks no matter what? Can this be fixed or is it good?
my daughter is two years old and for the last week her poop has been bright green and in abundance. It has ne smell and can almost fill her diaper completely two to three times a day. I was wondering if this is something i should be concerned with or if it normal?
i find it very interesting how much people are concerned, and from a person who's had issues all their lives, i'll hopefully help!
i have severe IBS - Irritable Bowel Sydnrome. I've been to see many specialists and have the following pieces of advise:
- check you diet. Poop changes color and consistancy with what you eat, when you eat it, what part of the "cycle" you are in (for women), etc. I can only eat salads for lunch and the two before i ovulate. weird, huh? if i don't follow my body's "rules" - i pay for it!
- food journals always helped me throughout the years (and yes, recording bowel movements) to discuss with your doctor. i felt crazy - but you learn alot!
- stress and it's play on your BMs - main cause for my IBS and for the change in diahrrea and constipation (seen alot in sports athletes
IBS is something that probably won't be cured with my body, but it is manageable. you just have to find what works and what doesn't, and while I sometimes have to cut beer out of my Friday nights and eat yogurt alot (hate the taste, love the benefits)- that's what works and makes me feel "normal".
Everytime I have a bowel movement I bleed into the toilet, and onto the toilet paper. But nothing shows up on my underwear, and I don't strain when i have a bowel movement. What is this?
Regarding gas wtih fiber supplements: I will admit that I am a fairly gassy individual, but have had GREAT success with a product from Standard Process; I believe it is called SP FIber. It does not make you gassy, bloated, constipated, have diarrea, none of the bad things. It regulates your ourput and puts you on a wonderful schedule. Even when I am not taking it, my body is now conditioned to go without the fibers help. This is only available through health professionals. Get it- it is great!
I am athlete, I drink alot of water and eat alot of food. I always poop at least 3 times a day. Is that bad?
hi..I need some advice. My 10 year old daughter typically has small-medium round stools..almost every day. My other kids seem to have more regular kinds of stools. We focus on high fiber, and place a fiber food additive at her doctor's suggestion. Yet, I was just wondering if other parents have a similar situation. I can say that my daughter seems to worry...and takes everything in. I often wonder if it is because my job has taken me many places and, with that, several moves. I hope not.
Thanks for your advice.
I was under the impression that poop would sink the more protein you ate. Does anyone know the cause of green poop if you don't remember eating anything green? What makes it change color from brown to green? Does it mean something is wrong?
To all asking about green poop:
Here's the answer to why it's green and what it means.
my wife has been having problems going the past couple days. she feels the need to go, but she just can't, she will have a little dhiarhea but nothing else. she feels incredibly bloated and it seems to be hurting her. she is talking bloating pills not sure what but it doesnt seem to help. if anyone knows please help.
Am I the only weird one..I dont poop but once in a great while. and sometimes i get so sick i swear i vomit poop bile..yuck i mean projectile for about an hour..and so much darn pain...any one out there with help
anonymous above,
There's no real substitute for an in-person examination by a qualified health professional to diagnose and treat your condition, but you're welcome to try posting your question on our Digestive Disorders message boards to see if others have had similar experiences.
im 13 and i go #2 regularly everyday
but just this week i went to the bathroom and it was so big it kinda hurt
then when i wiped it was a little bloody.
it feels like there is a cut or something down there
cuz now when ever i do #2, (and sometimes pee) i still get blood when i wipe
can someone help me?
In response to anonymous at 12:44 pm...
Atheletes as a whole tend to defecate more than the average human being. As a dancer, I expell my waste at least two or three times a day. This is caused by a combination of extra movement from our bodies, which can speed the movement of digestion in the intestines, diets containing more calories to replace the ones burnt off, amd a constant necessity of the body's hydration, taking more water from your stools. It's not anything to be worried about. I hope this helps.
In response to 1257 Anonymous.
I too had severe pain, had upper and lower exams, found no answers. I was told it could be Celiac disease. I went on that crazy diet for months with no improvement. I suffered for 2 1/2 years. I finally blocked off completely. I vomited one whole month. If I ate anything, 3 days later it came back up, undigested. Finally the emesis smelled like stool. After another test, this time barium swallow, they found I had a mechanical blockage in my ileum, the lower part of the small intestine. The blockage resolved with hospitalization and an NG tube. At that point, no one wanted to do surgery because "the problem was resolved." I forced the issue and insisted on surgery. They removed approximately 4 inches of my ileum. I had coencentric bands and at one point the opening was approximately one fourth an inch. I had many more compromised areas, but the surgeon thought I could be managed medically. Less than 10 days later, I obstructed again. Same horrible pain and vomiting. I was taken back to surgery, and this time 24 inches of small intestine were removed. I had a fold with a 90 degree angle that was obstructed. It was such a blessing to be able to eat again. I have had a few problems since and there are a few foods I cannot eat, but after the severe pain I endured for over 2 years, this is a breeze. I don't absorb iron, so I have to have blood and iron transfusions approx every 3 months. I looked at this site because I was having bile green stools and was concerned. When I read your note, I was greatly concerned for you. Feel free to contact me.
Everytime i go to the bathroom the is blood ib my waste and it really hurts when i'm taking the poop out.
my son has for the last few years had adnormaly large poops,about the size of my forearm. he always clogs the toilets unless he has a public restroom with lots of pressure in the plumbing. He goes about everyday,sometimes once every other day. Why is it consistantly so very very large????
ok i wasn't feeling good today, and then pooped green poop. the weird thing was that i didn't eat anything green or with any color dyes in it. what happened and do i need to go see a doctor?
what causes you poop to be green?
To all of you asking about the color of your stool, why it might be green, what it all means, please click here for an explanation. You can also find answers here.
If you still have questions, I'd suggest visiting our Digestive Disorders message boards and posting your question there.
Thank you.
My 3 year old has not pooped in 3 weeks she still between potty and diaper she will not poop in potty when is time to get DR opinion
I have a 2yr. old that has had problems since birth with bowels. DR now says bowels may be stretched. Son put on fiber and fruit diet, no change. He can go weeks without bowels or passing gas unless meds. are used. I am lost and don't know what to do? any advice
my stool is black and i have been costipated can some one tell me if this is serious
Hi, for a few years every month or two(for a week) I have bleed when I pooed, at first I could just see it on the toilet paper more recently I have seen it in the toilet almost like it's my period. When it first started it didn't hurt but now sometimes I can't get comfortable until a day or two after laying or sitting down. It's not aids, I have not had sex. I don't know what else it could be. I don't really want to go to the doctors for some reason I don't really want someone to stick something up my butt. Can anyone help? Please hurry.
I'm 49. I have been having black stool for about a week now. I wonder why?
I'v has black stool for the last week. Can anyone tell me why they think.
Katie, I have had bad constipation
really bad for the past couple of
years, and have been to the doctor over and over. But for the last two to three weeks, my poop has been black and green and I have
to use stool softeners and a laxative the doctor prescribes which makes everything like diaherra but I also have extreme gas and pain in the colon area. I had a colonoscopy and edg about 2 yrs. ago. I don't know about this
green and black, should I have another colonoscopy? If anyone has any ideas. please help.
I am 19 years old, male. Sometimes when I go #2 I bleed. It is not usually a huge problem bleeding, just noticed it. No pains at all, and I did once notice this a long time ago when I was about 11 years old, but It seemed to have gone away. But in the last couple of months this has come back. I am slightly worried. I have no allergies that I know of, no illnesses. Im healthy.. I am not homosexual nor have ever tried Anything what so ever in my rear end.
I don't have any disease's. I am slightly over weight but not gigantic by any means. 6'0 220lb.
Some advice? Or diagnosis? Should I be worried?
I have a problem with bowel movements in a public restroom, At home I am fine everyday sometimes twice a day but when I am at work sometimes a month at a time all they have is public restrooms while I amout so then I won't go for about a week or a little over a week at a time. I tried laxatives and that still won't work, and when i do go it starts out big and thenturns into diareaha. aay ideas?
jimbo i knowed a lil blood in my poop should i get it checked out
To all asking about their specific conditions:
Our health professionals cannot offer you a diagnosis. Only your own health professional can do that after an in-person examination. You're welcome to post your questions on our Digestive Disorders message boards for other members to give feedback.
I am 25 year old woman and I would like to know why my poop is green. I started drinking Tea (not green tea :) And taking vitamins could this be the cause. it has happened a few times now. please let me know what you think!
a friend of mine has pain at her anus and also the sensation that she has to hve a bowel movement. she has chronic diahrrea too. has anybody ever heard of that?
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My friend says she has been having black poop when she goes what does that mean?
I have custody of a 2 year old who doesnt want to poop and when he does go it is very large. We give him mineral oil and miralax to hel[ and it does but there are times when he wont go for a couple of days and we have to help him. this is called fecal hoarding and he came to us from a bad sitiuation with my son. Does any one have any suggestions or comments about this , he is on a good diet of foods and has been with us 6 months and is much better, but once in a while it reoccurs.
The size of his poop concerns us for a 2 year old and having to give him laxative type stufff does that have to go forever. The doctor suggest getting his colon and intestines xrayed bout that would be so traumatizing to him. Can you help
I had really bad IBS with diahria
I was to professionals and couldn't get it under control. I read a small thing on cranberry grape juice in a Self magazine. 3 ounces of the juice every morning.
Well for me no diahria..for my sister who is constipated she is now regular. It took 9mos of taking but I am normal now. I have passed this tip to others and they are thrilled at how this works. Some how the anti oxidents in the juice makes us all better. I hope this helps some of you as it has me. Sue
I'm a 25 year old male and was on Skelaxon for a pulled muscle in my back. I have stopped taking it because I have been feeling better and since I have stopped, I have had headaches, a little dizziness, my stomache is bubbling and when I try to go to the bathroom it doesn't really come out. I wiped the today and it was black. I generally eat the recommended amount of fiber everyday and keep myself well hydrated. What is wrong with me?
is it possible to have green stool from eating pickles or kiwi?
my 7 year old son also has poop in his underwear almost daily for about 2 weeks a month, related to constipation I believe. sometimes i will find him in the shower in the middle of the day washing up- or hiding his underwear in various potted plants around the house- does constipation result in leakage before the elemination??? HELP!
In response to the bleeding when going #2, I too had this problem. I went to a doctor and finally had a colonoscopy. They discovered hemorrhoids, which caused the bright red bleeding. They did say that if my stools were black, that it indicated bleeding in the upper digestive tract, like the stomach, and that I should consult a doctor.
i have a problem with my bile movement. before surgery i was going and it would be smotth but when i would have my men/cycle it seem to get conserpated and could not go.after a day then my system would come back to normal.just a few weeks ago 7weeks i had surgery after the surgery the systoms seems to be the same my doctor give me some reglan to help move the bile down out of the large intestine and i take three stool softer every day the stool softer work but my bile is coming out in peices and not hold and sometime i have to make my self go please tell me what i need to do to get my biles back to moving like they should
how can i stopo my stomach from bubbling constantly. when i take tests and its really silent my stomach acts up and starts to make wierd noises. it is so embarassing. So i constantly ask to use the restroom, so i can avoid it. But how can I STOP it?
I have a stool that I can't pass...it i right at the opening but I can't push it out. It is making me sick to my stomach. How can I get rid of it???
Please help!
I am 21 yrs. old and when I was younger, I used to have a little trouble with constipation. Occasionally the poop would be so big it would tear the skin and there would be a little blood. During college I never had that problem.. I was regular. I suppose I have the school dietician and regular excercise to thank for that. Now that I am out of school, I have recently been passing poop so large I feel light-headed after I'm done.. last time this happened it was my first movement in 3 days, the poop was long and large in circumference, when I wiped there wasn't just a little blood, it was all blood.. even a few clots.. healthy people don't poop like this. My husband gets mad at me for clogging the toilet.. but it's the enormous size of my poop! Too big for the pipes. I will be drinking more water, eating more fiber and exercising more often and hopefully I'll be able to poop like a normal human being.
Last night I got very sick to my stomach and felt like I was going to throw up..instead i got diarrhea. And its been going on ever since. The stomach pain is still there, and still no throw up, but now the diarrhea is black. Can anyone help with this?
anonymous above,
Here's information about diarrhea that might help you. Please take note of the information about black stools and pain -- you should contact your health provider and get an appointment for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
I hope you feel better soon!
I've been reading over a lot of posts, and noticed some have said they have had blood in their stools. If you have any blood, you NEED so see a doctor. This is a very big warning sign for colon cancer!! My grandfather had colon cancer and he ignored the blood because he thought it was hemorrhoids. So PLEASE see your doctor if you notice any blood at all!
Does anyone have an explanation for why the diameter of a bowel movement would suddenly have a markedly smaller diamter?
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My son's bowel movement has a distict moth ball smell? Any suggestions on a cause or cure?
Hello. I am 16, and im currently in somewhat of a worry. I am currently suffering from states of light headedness and bleeding every time I have to poop, and im wondering if those two are related. I have moved recently and there has been a slight change in diet, but im wondering what that case might be.
My 19 month old daughter has been passing gas for past 4 days. She has had yellow watery poop and she has pooped already 6x today. I have cut off all juice and giving her water and pedialyte. She has been poopin like this the past 3 days.
So I have been having diareah for the past 4 to 5 days. My stomach was hurting and i had alot of gas. My diareah was normal i just thought it was something that i was eating but now 4 days later my diareah has turned black.. can someone please let me know if this is normal?
asking about the poop ....when i go its in the am alot , ery skinny and intact but skinny , cramps and the feeling of i have to go now , i am stressed alot does that have anything to do with that? i eat crazy and all the time so food should bot be a problem , should i get more fiber in my system , not sure if i taake any in now at all
I'm just curious what it might mean if it hurts to poop. Everytime I go I feel like it is tearing and I do bleed. It is usually a brighter red color. I thought it was the size of my stool at first, but they are not big at all. Is it a diet thing? Stress? Or something more serious? Any help would be awesome.
thanks.
I have been having weird movements from time to time but now it won't go away. I take pain meds(methadone 5x10mg and loratabs 3x10mg a day) and thought this was causing it so i lowered my intake and still it stays the same. I can only go every three days and when i do, it feels like it is ripping my o-ring out. It comes out hard dry big clumps that usually have blood on them. Sometimes i actually have to use my finger to pull them out since they will not come out right. I find it easier to squirt about 20mg of water up there before i go to help with the movement. This is very embarassing. I am a very healthy eater and prefer good home cooked meals over fast food. I don't eat sweets, i don't drink, i only take my pain meds cause if not i can not move thanks to my back injury. I have been taking the meds for over 2years and only recently in the past 5months has this started. Any help would be awesome.
i'm a 35 yr old male that has fallen into a cycle of consipation followed by diarreah. i'm looking for any suggestions on how i might get this under control. i'm a chef so this irregularity is seriuosly hindering my ablity to do my job. my wife tries to feed me a/d pills but unless my diarreah cycle is off the chart i try to suffer through b/c the pills will double my constipation cycle. does anyone have any reasonable suggestions?
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