danimal15
01-21-2005, 06:19 PM
Though I take Metamucil daily, my BM's are almost always poorly formed, and fall apart in the water. Sometimes it comes out almost like diarrhea. Sometimes they're formed but thin. I go about three times a day, and it almost never takes any effort. They just come right out.
The question is, what can I do to get back to having normal ones (it's been years since I regularly had well-formed BMs, although Metamucil helped at first - it doesn't seem to any more)
I've been to my doctor and he thinks it's irritable bowel - he did an in-office fecal blood test (not that those are worth much) - and found nothing. I've never seen blood in my stools or on the toilet paper. I've never had problems with stomach pains and generally feel pretty well. Just these poorly formed BM's.
I do exercise almost every day, usually running or the stair climber, and I go pretty hard. Could this contribute to my condition? And I probably go overboard on the fruit and vegetables - eating prunes every morning and lots of other fruits and veggies throughout the day. I also drink a lot of fluids. Should I cut back?
I'm 33 and male, by the way.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
The question is, what can I do to get back to having normal ones (it's been years since I regularly had well-formed BMs, although Metamucil helped at first - it doesn't seem to any more)
I've been to my doctor and he thinks it's irritable bowel - he did an in-office fecal blood test (not that those are worth much) - and found nothing. I've never seen blood in my stools or on the toilet paper. I've never had problems with stomach pains and generally feel pretty well. Just these poorly formed BM's.
I do exercise almost every day, usually running or the stair climber, and I go pretty hard. Could this contribute to my condition? And I probably go overboard on the fruit and vegetables - eating prunes every morning and lots of other fruits and veggies throughout the day. I also drink a lot of fluids. Should I cut back?
I'm 33 and male, by the way.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
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MrOwl
01-21-2005, 11:54 PM
Maybe you should back off the Metamucil at least some. It may be giving you too much fiber and hence the slightly loose stools. There are some who think that stools should breakup, at least when flushed. If you are not sore from it you might very well be just fine. Your diet and exercise look good to me.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
quincy
01-22-2005, 03:29 AM
I think the opposite. Cut back on some of the fluids, especially if you are to take the Metamucil with a full glass of water afterward. The other question.....are you using the flavoured Metamucil that is sugar-free? If so, it's got aspartame and is a colon irritant. Change to possibly the smooth Metamucil that's not sugar-free.
I have UC, and when I have diarrhea, I use the Orange Smooth Metamucil to bulk up the stool..and it works great.
As well....you can possibly cut back on some of the veggies, especially if they're uncooked. Do you also eat "regular" foods with protein?
It could be that your bowels are working too quickly and aren't as exercised as compared to eating foods that make the bowel work harder....and I'm not meaning insoluble fibre foods such as what's in veggies.
Just some thoughts worth considering.
quincy
I have UC, and when I have diarrhea, I use the Orange Smooth Metamucil to bulk up the stool..and it works great.
As well....you can possibly cut back on some of the veggies, especially if they're uncooked. Do you also eat "regular" foods with protein?
It could be that your bowels are working too quickly and aren't as exercised as compared to eating foods that make the bowel work harder....and I'm not meaning insoluble fibre foods such as what's in veggies.
Just some thoughts worth considering.
quincy
FireWoman
01-22-2005, 01:00 PM
Just one more comment to add to quincy's post. The prunes are a natural laxative, and a pretty strong one I hear. I think with the combo of the Metamucil, lots of fluid veggies and prunes, you are going to have loose stool. Maybe like quincy said, cut out some of the h2o with your metamucil and maybe cut back on the prunes a bit and see how that goes. NO ASPARTAME!! Bad bad on the intestines. Yes, definitely look for one without artificial sweeteners.
Good luck!
Good luck!
invisible1234
01-24-2005, 07:30 PM
danimal15,
If your bms don't get normal then I would hope that your doctor would order a colonoscopy. My bowels were not formed at all for at least 1 year and that was my only bowel symptom. I never really had stomache pain...just had to go about 10 times a day. I never had bleeding...occult blood was never found on the stool tests. I had a colonoscopy and "chronic inflammation" was found and I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 33. I am 36 now and after taking the drug "pentasa" for 6 months, my bms returned to normal. Then I stopped taking that drug and my symptoms started coming back and now I am back on it.
So, I suggest you ask the doctor if maybe a colonoscopy can be performed.
If your bms don't get normal then I would hope that your doctor would order a colonoscopy. My bowels were not formed at all for at least 1 year and that was my only bowel symptom. I never really had stomache pain...just had to go about 10 times a day. I never had bleeding...occult blood was never found on the stool tests. I had a colonoscopy and "chronic inflammation" was found and I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at 33. I am 36 now and after taking the drug "pentasa" for 6 months, my bms returned to normal. Then I stopped taking that drug and my symptoms started coming back and now I am back on it.
So, I suggest you ask the doctor if maybe a colonoscopy can be performed.
danimal15
01-25-2005, 01:37 PM
Thanks, everyone, for the advice. I'll decide which of it to take. Also, Invisible1234, thanks for your concern. However, your symptoms sound worse than mine. I definitely don't go 10 times a day, and often I've had ones with form. I think everyone here is right - it's a question of diet - probably too much fruit. I seem to have gone overboard trying to be healthy.
danimal15
02-09-2005, 12:49 PM
One more question:
Sometimes my stools are fully formed and have a normal shape. Other times they're a bit flat. The flatness worries me. Is there anything besides cancer that can cause that?
Sometimes my stools are fully formed and have a normal shape. Other times they're a bit flat. The flatness worries me. Is there anything besides cancer that can cause that?
MrOwl
02-09-2005, 07:22 PM
If your stools are a little soft then they may be a little flat. This is due to the way the anus opens. It is not round, but a slit, that then open wide is nearly round. Softer stools can easily be shaped by this.
Dtownstew
02-10-2005, 09:58 AM
Danimal15
hey, I took have that, and I am tend to get constipated some too. Have you ever tried Glycerin Suppositories? They work well to help me go completely, and they seem to make what is there into something that's together and easy to pass.
I am 31 male here. Let me know what you think? Let me a message here, and I'll give you more info on them if you want.
-Matt
hey, I took have that, and I am tend to get constipated some too. Have you ever tried Glycerin Suppositories? They work well to help me go completely, and they seem to make what is there into something that's together and easy to pass.
I am 31 male here. Let me know what you think? Let me a message here, and I'll give you more info on them if you want.
-Matt