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Original poster

small amount of white mucus with poo. Normal?

26 replies

hildaogden99 · 16/12/2013 20:26

Firstly sorry for gross subject matter.....

Sometimes I've noticed a small, isolated blob of white mucous in the toilet after a bm. It's not much, probably no bigger than my finger nail, and is quite separate from the poo, not mixed in with it. The poo itself looks quite normal & definitely not mucusy. It doesn't happen all the time. Typically I'll see it for 2/3 days in a row then nothing for a week or more. Before today I'd not seen it for 3 weeks. I actually wondered if it might not even be from my bowel as I am prone to a lot of cm, especially when I have a bm. I also don't recall seeing it during my period. However, assuming it is from the bowel, should I be worried? I first noticed it about 6 months ago, I have no other symptoms & it hasn't got worse.

Thanks.

OP posts:
mummyto2boysandagirl3 · 17/12/2013 03:23

Maybe keep a food diary and c if there's a link? If ur worried go and c ur gp I know some food intolerances can cause mucousy poo but like u say could b cm maybe worth cin dr just to put ur mind at rest

Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 07:09

I did mention to GP recently while there for something else but she didn't seem concerned. Teen y tiny amount again this morning and I did have quite a bit of cm too but really hard to tell if they were one & the same.

OP posts:
RunRunRuby · 17/12/2013 07:52

If GP wasn't concerned and you have no other symptoms then it's probably just something to keep a eye on. If you have abdominal cramps or notice any blood with the mucus or changes to your usual bowel movements then see the GP again. The bowel produces mucus all the time for lubrication, just usually it ends up being mixed in with everything else passing through.

BrownSauceSandwich · 17/12/2013 07:59

Sorry, what's a BM? And a CM?

So, the mucous is like to be generated by your colon as a response to something that's irritated it. If the poo itself looks normal, then it seems unlikely that is anything more serious than a mild intolerance. I get this sometimes from eating citrus fruits, whole flax seeds, too much boozing, or if I've been ill in general. Totally agree with PP... If its bothering you, start by keeping a food diary and mark in where it shows up. Or if it's associated with cramping, fever, looser stools, blood or pus (ew, grim) in your stools, get back to see your GP immediately.

BumgrapesofWrath · 17/12/2013 08:08

Don't know if this is relevant, but if I go for a poo when I'm ovulating then sometimes I get globs of mucus in the toilet that have come from my vagina.

Dolallytats · 17/12/2013 08:11

I have IBS and it's not uncommon for me to have quite a bit of this following an attack. It scared me stupid at first. I saw my gp and they said it was all perfectly ok, just a side effect of my poor irritated insides!!

As the doctor is unconcerned, just keep an eye on it and if it increases or you are still worried, go to see your gp again-for your peace of mind if nothing else.

Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 08:22

BM - bowel movement, CM - cervical mucous - sorry!

I am very regular & have quite fast transit i.e. Last nights dinner is out first thing next morning! Normal for me. Maybe the mucous doesn't always get a chance to get fully mixed in. I have mild ibs symptoms when anxious or stressed. Will keep an eye but as I said it's only a very small amount and not all the time. Guess I'm on alert as dad had bowel cancer.

OP posts:
RunRunRuby · 17/12/2013 08:32

To reassure you, hopefully, I've had bowel cancer and only ever had a couple of incidents of mucus, possibly completely unrelated to the cancer, at the time I also assumed it was from my vagina rather than bowel. But I also had some bleeding. I was finally sent for tests when I passed a large blob of mucus and blood, on its own. If you have any blood either on its own or with bowel movements then do get checked out again. Otherwise it's probably just irritation or stress.

Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 09:16

Thank you - are you ok now?

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 17/12/2013 09:18

Do you have tummy ache and/or irritated intestines?

Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 09:20

No, no other symptoms.

OP posts:
RunRunRuby · 17/12/2013 09:53

hilda yes thanks I'm fine now Xmas Smile

Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 10:06

That's good to hear. What were your symptoms if you don't mind me asking?

OP posts:
LucyLasticKnickers · 17/12/2013 10:13

doesnt sound healthy.

stop looking,

what are your other sympotms?

LucyLasticKnickers · 17/12/2013 10:13

sorry, you have no other symptms

LucyLasticKnickers · 17/12/2013 10:13

anyone else in the fmaily have bowel cancer?

LucyLasticKnickers · 17/12/2013 10:14

and how old was your dad,

Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 10:16
OP posts:
LucyLasticKnickers · 17/12/2013 10:17

assuming your doctor knows about your dad.
any other cancers, at a young age?

as you have checked it out via GP, do you want to reassure yourself via GP again?

spiderlight · 17/12/2013 10:18

I'd get it checked out for peace of mind. I've had it and ignored it for a long, long time out of fear, even when I started to lose blood, but it turned out to be ulcerative colitis - not pleasant but now completely under control with a tiny dose of daily medication.

Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 10:27

Did you have much mucous spiderlight? As I said it's only tiny amounts & not all the time. From googling most pages say it's large amounts that may be a problem and that small amounts is normal. GP didn't seem fussed but I guess I could bring it up again in new year.

OP posts:
Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 10:29

Yes GP knows about dad.

OP posts:
spiderlight · 17/12/2013 11:07

It wasn't a huge amount initially but it got progressively worse.

Original poster
hildaogden99 · 17/12/2013 11:19

Ah. Mine has not got any worse since I first noticed it 6 months ago (could've had it longer but wasn't in habit of inspecting poo, just noticed it by chance one day and assumed it was cm). It's very intermittent and the quantity is usually very small - today's wasn't much more than a couple of specks that I probably wouldn't have normally noticed. Fingernail size (small short fingernails!) is the most I've ever seen once or twice.

OP posts:
RunRunRuby · 18/12/2013 09:07

hilda I had mild IBS type symptoms - intermittent diarrhoea, tummy cramps. Then occasionally blood when I wiped, which GP said was likely just piles. Suddenly cramps got worse and I had then I had the bloody mucus so I was sent for tests and they found it.

I will just say though, mine was caused by an undiagnosed genetic condition and is very rare so please don't worry that the same will happen to you! :) also 60 is around the 'normal' age to get bowel cancer so although it's worrying to have a family history, it's less likely to be a genetic predisposition than if your dad had had it earlier, but still a risk. I am very sorry about your dad Flowers

If you notice any blood or other unusual symptoms go straight back to the GP and please make sure they do an examination if they think it's piles. It's not pleasant but better than a misdiagnosis!