Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To ask you a very personal question?

67 replies

verypersonalquestion · 14/09/2017 23:57

Literally- how many times a day do normal, healthy people shit?

I've started going 4/5 times a day. Sometimes more. Not very solid either. Sorry TMI I know. But I'm now wondering why. Is this even an issue?

I think I have a good diet-

Breakfast- porridge with banana
Lunch- hummus sandwich, two more portions of fruit or veg, sometimes a small chocolate bar, ie, kit Kat.

Snack- cereal bar/ slice of toast/ etc...

Dinner- burger and a few onion rings, corn on the cob, peas

Is my diet shit?

So AIBU to ask your opinion on whether this is normal AND if it's not, do I need to go to the doctors?

Thank you

OP posts:

RiversrunWoodville · 15/09/2017 10:21

4-6 times a day but I have ibs and this is normal for me,in a real bad flare it can be a lot more
However I do agree with pps if it's a change for you get it checked for peace of mind

spaghettithrower · 15/09/2017 10:27

About 2-3 times a day normally.
Have you recently started eating hummus?
I really can't eat hummus because it gives me loose bowels and I am never off the toilet. Onion rings are another food with the same effect.
If you have recently added those to your diet try cutting them out to see if it improves.
Otherwise you really should get it checked out because the crucial thing is that it is not normal for you.

Serialweightwatcher · 15/09/2017 10:41

Do you have pain as well? Just asking because I know people with crohn's disease who have this problem - they aren't able to eat fruit and vegetables though, so maybe it's worth cutting those out for a couple of days and see if there's a difference. Obviously go to GP though if this is new to you - good luck ... I go once if I'm lucky and can only do that if I eat branflakes every morning but spent childhood on syrup of figs and milk of magnesia

scaryclown · 15/09/2017 10:48

Interesting.. I was pondering this recently. I think there is a difference between loose and solidish as sometime one go doesn't seem to get all of it out, so there might be another need later. I imagine this is like it being spread out more in the bowel, but I go twice a day, but sometimes the evening seems to be two for the reasons above. If there is no toilet it magically becomes one, so I am certain the availability of a toilet causes more visits!

PollyFlint · 15/09/2017 11:02

A sudden change in bowel habits without any obvious explanation is something you should probably see your GP about. There are loads of reasons it can happen, from medication to stress to food intolerance to a mild lingering infection to any number of other things, so it's probably nothing to worry about at all, but there are a couple of things they'd want to rule out so it's worth seeing your doctor.

Windytwigs · 15/09/2017 11:06

Sorry if tmi, but the longer it's in the bowel (as long as no other probs), the more solid it will be, so more frequent movements will be less solid. I've been told by the specialist that the ideal consistency is of mashed potato, which was news to me.

gingerbreadmam · 15/09/2017 11:06

my dm had similar and it was diverticulitus or something like that. Had a camera to confirm.

Offred2 · 16/09/2017 18:15

It could possibly be a symptom of Crohms disease, or ulcerative colitis.

Like posters above I'd say get it checked out by a doctor, not least because it can then take ages to be referred for tests, get appt dates etc. I'm speaking as someone who took nearly a year to get a ulcerative colitis diagnosis!

pollymere · 16/09/2017 19:33

Sometimes three times, sometimes a day or two without. Yours sounds like you need to get tested. You eat a lot of gluten containing products (bread and some porridge oats). I find if I eat a lot of yeast it upsets my gut so I avoid bread generally. Get checked out for Coeliac/Chrohns/diabetes etc and if it's all fine then a, don't worry unless it's affecting your life and b, try taking out different foodstuffs and seeing if it makes a difference. You might find that you just can't eat hummus!

Mummadeeze · 16/09/2017 22:38

Thanks for asking this question. I go loads and always have done. I pretty much go every time I do a wee. I have never questioned it though so am not sure if it is a problem because I have been like this my whole life. Am now wondering if I should get checked out too. It doesn't really bother me though. Can you give us an update if you do go to the doctor?

TriJo · 16/09/2017 23:20

3 times a day is fairly standard for me. Drops to 1-2 times daily when pregnant. Can't imagine going more than a day without a #2 tbh! I am quite aware of it though as bowel conditions are all over my dad's side of the family.

Xmasbaby11 · 16/09/2017 23:32

I go 3 times a day! I think it's all the coffee i drink.

Mustang27 · 17/09/2017 09:43

So I have chronic ibs and I'm coeliac so I can point out the things that might be causing digestive issues if you suffered from either of the above or another stomach issue, but if it's just started it's very unlikely to be that. However if you are stressed or feeling under the weather ibs can be brought in by that

Porridge unless gluten free

Hummus: chickpeas and garlic cause ibs flare
Bread: obviously wheat both can be an issue for ibs and coeliac.
Fruit and veg: lots of fruit and veg can cause issue with ibs (apples, pears, cauliflower, peas, Brussels sprouts) to name a few.

Cereal bar/toast again the wheat, barley and possibly rye are a trigger. As well as potential soya ingredients.

Burger: could be seasoned with onion and garlic also filled with wheat to pad it out.
Onion rings: onions again plus flour for batter
Corn and the cob and peas: both also an issue

Lol so if it is ibs pretty much everything you have eaten could cause loose stools bloating, pain and all the other nasty side effects.

You could check out a low fodmap diet and speak to a dr to get your bloods and stool checked to eliminate. Always speak to a dr!!! If they are happy to say it's dieters once all the checks have been done they will refer you to a dietician to help eliminate what is causing issues. Not an easy route but it has improved my symptoms dramatically.

Obviously this is just my experience and absolutely none of the above may apply to you.

If you are concerned go to drs as soon as you can.

Mustang27 · 17/09/2017 09:53

@halesie I'm so sorry for your friend .

That post alone highlights how important the drs are and if it's unusual for you keep pushing until you are happy with your diagnosis as being thorough and eliminating the potentially deadly issues. Blood, stool samples, scans and potentially an endoscopy, colonoscopy and laparoscopy to finally rule everything out.

TheEricaOlthwaiteGang · 17/09/2017 09:56

Hi OP - Hyperthyroidism made me like this. Worth a thought.

SpringBreak · 17/09/2017 10:00

This happened to me when I changed jobs and was living on nerves. Dropped half a stone by the end of it which has stayed off for the 10 yrs I've been in that job! Lasted a few months, went when I knew what I was doing

Gottagetmoving · 17/09/2017 10:05

Do you drink a lot of tea? Or increased caffeine intake?

I go every morning but if I drink a lot of tea it can make me go several times a day and is very 'loose'

Flip

1 2 3