Poo is looking a bit weird... massive TMI, sorry

[Assuredlynotthepootroll]

....please see username for my stance on this matter - bit embarrassed to be asking for thoughts really!

Over the past few days I have been passing what I refer to (inwardly!) as 'pellet-y poos'; I.e. like a scaled-up version of what rabbits and goats produce. Some of them are coated with mucus, and the final ones have some red blood too. I'm vegan and am on a diet, so assume I'm getting enough fibre and water; basically I am at a bit of a loss to explain this event

The only recent change I can think of is that I've been avoiding things with gluten in (not on purpose; more an accidental effect of avoiding carbs); can you develop a sudden gluten intolerance aged 37?!

I had thought it was simply women's issues til now and thought little of it, but my abdomen is now aching slightly all the time and I'm a little worried. I'm also a bit gassy.

Any thoughts, apart from the (perfectly reasonable) injunction to see a healthcare professional? If anyone recognises these symptoms and can say "I had that, got checked and it was fine" then it would put my mind at ease. I will still go to a doctor though, don't worry.

Are you dehydrated? Try upping the water and see how you go in a couple of days and maybe some Lactulose

If you are low carbing you will almost certainly need to drink masses more water. And then more after that. It's a notorious diet for causing constipation.

I don't think I'm dehydrated as I wee all the time! Straw-coloured too.

As for low-carbing, I'm really just trying to avoid bread, cake, pasta and biscuits. Fruits, veg, pulses, legumes etc are all fine, and they have a fair chunk of carbs/sugar. So I'm not sure it's that either.

I'm not constipated, it all emerges fairly readily

This can be a symptom of IBS, but there is not normally any blood just mucus and rabbit like pellets. If you haven't been eating tomatoes (the skin can be mistaken for blood) you should have it checked out, take a sample to your GPs for testing.

Or beetroot.....

I'm a bit pellety, OP! Vegetarian but don't drink as much water as I should. It's just how I am. Get the 'blood' thing checked out just in case, but it might be undigested tomato skins.

I have fairly terrible IBS (officially diagnosed) and am a low dairy veggie (only a bit of cheese) and I'm prone to this periodically, especially when I low carb. I can do a vlcd (shake type thing if I can get a low dairy on) but not do a low carb without horrendous erm bleeding from the back end. I was actually being tested for Crohns etc at one point (pregnancy put a halt to that process).

Weight wise at the moment I have put on lots due to breaking my knee so I'm thinking of looking at veggie slimming world (now I haven't yet so don't know how much dairy is involved to know if it's possible yet). I'm 37 btw.

I did have some tomatoes the other day but they are doing an outstanding job of blood mimicry if they are the culprits! I have had an anal fissure before (urgh) and it looks like that did, in terms of bloodiness.

Sounds like I should definitely see a GP then...

How weird about low carb diets bringing on bleeding I never thought that might be a thing!

One thing that inclines me more to the sudden intolerance theory is that I made seitan yesterday (it's essentially fake meat made out of gluten) and the symptoms seem to have ramped up. Maybe I should put the seitan down for a few days and see if it abates. It's been going on for a while though, so can't be solely seitan induced.

Low carb and low fat causes me constipation too. And honestly, it probably isnt enough fibre. I use MFP, but if you track you may find you don't have enough.

Hmm. Have been trying to limit fat too.

Ah, bollocks my body is ganging up against me in solidarity with the fat. Stupid body.

When you are burning fat to release energy, you make more water therefore pass more urine. So, you are probably constipated. Have a look online at the Bristol Stool Chart, I would say that you are constipated.
As for being gluten intolerant,although I appreciate you might have been avoiding gluten by way of your diet, unless one has been diagnosed as such, it is not a good idea to avoid foods with gluten.
And I think that is just a fashion fad.

Ozymandius I would tend to agree with you I was just slightly worried I'd made myself intolerant to it by avoiding it for an extended period! I had similar with dairy when I became vegan; I gave it up, then accidentally had some in a soup 3 months later. Oh my goodness, my gut did NOT like that at all.... I am quite happy to keep eating gluten :)

Will consult the Bristol Stool Chart....

Sounds like you need to up your fibre to me.

Me too, Biscuit. An odd problem for a reasonably health-conscious vegan who eats shedloads of oats, legumes and pulses, but it's what the evidence indicates!

I get this all the time. I have ibs which is what causes the mucus in me but it can be caused by hard stools as it’s the intestines way of lubricating... I’m guessing the blood as it’s being red is just a haemorrhoid or cut from the poop pellets. However, mucus can sometimes be an indication of inflammation too. If you’re at all worried go to doc and mention the blood and mucus and they should do a stool sample. They can check for blood and there’s also a test called a fecal calprotectin test which lets them test for signs of inflammation.

Sounds like a mild case of constipation. Pellets happen when you are constipated.

Don't worry about it, it will right itself. Do drink more water though, it's good for you generally.

I would consider a GP visit. The presence of both mucous and blood could be signs of inflammatory bowel disease. Constipation can even be a symptom. Best to get it checked out.

Thanks all - I ate some more of the seitan stew yesterday (whilst drinking 3l of water - not exaggerating) as an experiment. A couple of hours afterwards I was gassy, feeling abdominal aches and passing more mucusy, bloody pellets. I was also suddenly really tired!

I'm going to keep it seitan-free today (whilst maintaining the water/fibre approach) and see how I go. If I have a symptom-free day then I think it would indicate that the seitan is the culprit. Arse :(

Of course I have been a bit gassy in general recently, but I am a vegan and do eat a lot of pulses too many variables!