Is using a LOT of toilet paper a sign something is really wrong with your gut health? How much do you use?

[weirdgrossbodies]

Not a poo troll, just at a loss as to where I can ask this. Can't imagine asking my friends. Have googled and somewhat alarmed to see that "on average" people use 6 - 8 sheets per visit to the loo, and that a number two takes an average person 3 wipes to be clean?

I thought my gut was healthy as no stomach issues, pain or anything else, regular habits etc. Things go out of whack before my period but assumed that was normal with the hormones.

But erm I use way more toilet paper for a number two? As in 15 - 20 sheets. I do have some OCD traits (as mentioned by NHS doctor not me, but not enough for an OCD diagnosis) so wonder if this is partly to do with it. But I definitely would not be properly clean at all with 3 wipes.

Is this a massive red flag my digestive system is actually sick and out of whack - that I must have "silent" food intolerances or an illness?

I have a lot of cancer in my family, including bowel cancer, and am just worried now my gut is damaged and I haven't been aware and should get a colonoscopy or something.

Looks very like an affiliate link tbh

Well assuming 50% of people will be below average and 50% above average, I'd say you're probably fine. If you're above a certain age (keeps changing so you'd have to check) or have any symptoms like blood in your stool you should get a screening done.

It is link to a product on Amazon that is all which can save people a fortune in toilet paper and wet wipes.

I wondered if it was a male/female thing. My husband reckons he could stand up and leave without a wipe most times -( he doesn’t btw)

What food, specifically, makes poo sticky I wonder?

Rushes off to name change.

Oh gosh @TruJay that must makes his and your life so difficult. I really feel for you all.

@IMustDoMoreExercise why are you posting the same link over and over?

Think of it this way - would you try to clean a babies bottom with just tissue paper? Can you imagine?

There are far better ways to judge your poos using colour, texture, the water around them etc etc. Not that I have health anxiety & have spent entirely too much time researching poo...😬

I know I've got great gut health as it was tested with Zoe. How many sheets - I would say 5 per wipe and yes about 3 wipes.

What does Zoe test for @decionsdecisions62 ?

The poor planet. I prefer to use water as they do in the middle east and Japan, toliet paper is disgusting really.

I think, in the nicest possible way of saying it, it’s related to the state of your bum-hole. If you have piles, fissures etc then it’s harder to clean in one wipe.

To save people money and save the environment.

I am going to bed now so will stop. You don't have to worry about it now.

Good night.

If you are worried, please see your GP, they will take you seriously. It might be that you've noticed something else, less consciously, and are reaching for toilet paper usage as a tangible explanation for your worry.

There is a bowel cancer awareness programme running at the moment, there is info printed all over toilet roll wrappers.

Many countries have introduced bowel cancer screening programmes, or are beginning to. In Scotland it is every 2 years from age 50: a kit appears in the post, very easy to use, post back, results in a couple of weeks. In England I think testing currently starts at 60? For those eligible, please do the tests, and encourage others to - response rate is nowhere near 100%.

(A family member of mine was in the screening programme trial, cancer detected, quite far along, whisked into treatment, and they are still with us many years later. So I'm all for paying attention.)

Yes, but there are certain things in your link (? Tag=) for example that suggest an affiliate link. Either way you're just spamming the thread.

I have bought this too and am pleased with it.

Yeah I read that as a possible reason.

However I have never had piles or fissures or anything like that.

Most of the time the paper comes away clean first wipe, but if not it usually takes a further 2-3 wipes to get fully sorted. I use 2-3 squares folded up per wipe so I guess theoretically I use anywhere from 2 to 12 squares per poo.

For a wee it's always one wipe with two squares unless there's a lot of discharge to deal with too.

I wondered if it was a male/female thing. My husband reckons he could stand up and leave without a wipe most times -( he doesn’t btw)

I had a (now deceased) very elderly male relative who 'didn't believe in toilet paper' - he didn't think it was a 'manly' thing to use.

In his later life, his poor DIL somehow ended up landed with the job of doing his washing, and the absolute state of his shirt tails was beyond boaksome.

A family member of mine was in the screening programme trial, cancer detected, quite far along, whisked into treatment, and they are still with us many years later. So I'm all for paying attention

That's amazing @Stravaig I'm so glad your relative was caught in time, cancer is a bastard.

I use loads @weirdgrossbodies which is fine at home but sometimes I find it stressful when out, in case there's not enough available.
I always have loads of tissues with me but that's not always enough.

This is all a revelation to me. An average poo requires 3 wipes? I have IBS and keep a daily record of all sorts of gut related details, not how many wipes each poo takes, but certainly if I need to wipe more than twice, I consider that an IBS symptom because for me a sticky poo is a sign of upset.

I couldn't tell you how many sheets I use though. I like a nice wodge. 😉

Surely it depends on the toilet paper? A thin cheap paper means you'll probably use more compared to a thicker paper.

I just copied and pasted the link from the web browser so not sure how there is an affiliate link (or even what one is).

I just wanted to save people money and the environment. I only found out that there was something like this due to MN and it has saved me so much money.

It is so wasteful flushing lots of toilet paper down the loo and so many people use wet wipes and flush those when the shouldn't because the manufatueres say that they are flushable when they are not.

That's mad to me!

I have never, ever thought I had IBS but perhaps I have had it all along?!

I hope your IBS is manageable.

Umm, based on our loo roll use in this house, most the residents are in trouble then, I swear they eat it or something, we go through tons and it's not me!