Having 2-3 bowel movements every morning - is it normal?

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I'm currently being investigated for potential IBD after a short bout of blood in stool. As a result I've been thinking about my bowel habits, which I always thought were pretty normal. However, after thinking about it I have realised in the morning I do have to plan my day/what time I wake up due to my bowel movements. I often have 2-3 bowel movements in the morning, fully formed. I've always found it surprising how much I poo, as sometimes it seems that I poo more than I eat.

There is a slight pattern to it, with stressful weekdays I have more bowel movements than on the weekend. On Monday mornings I barely get any work done (I WFH) as I'm constantly going to the loo. When I go out, I wake up 2 hours before I know I need to leave to ensure I've had a time for at least 2 bowel movements. By poo number 3 I'm usually not passing much or if I am it's softer in consistency, but still feel the urge that I need to go.

Does any of this sound familiar with anyone with IBS or IBD? Or anything

I have this morning routine as well - I’ve been diagnosed with IBS. On a bad day, I can easily go 8 or 9 times through the day. Mostly though, it just 3 times in the morning then twice more later in the day.

Is this every day for you? It does seem like a lot.

That’s normal for me. Some people just need to go more than others. I go about 3-4 times a day. I do have IBS though!

I had this and it was bile acid malabsorption, I also have IBD.

Do you drink coffee?

You could try taking two Imodium before you go to bed at night. This was recommended to me by my gastroenterologist before we did the tests for BAM. It didn't work in my case but if you have straightforward IBS it might work for you. He says the time you take Imodium is as important as the medication itself, and most people don't take it at the right time.

It's about £1 in cheap shops like B&M so worth a try.

I’m exactly the same. I’ve got some relief by taking a sachet of Fybogel each evening. It seems to bulk up the stool so I only pass one, maybe two rather than anything up to 6 times a morning

I do that if I drink coffee: that empties me. I don’t have IBS/IBD.

Otherwise I usually poo approximately 20 mins after every meal: my gut has a ‘one in one out’ system. I only found out in my thirties that not everyone does that 🤷‍♀️🤣

I have IBD (Crohn's disease) and that sounds nothing like my symptoms when I was at my most ill (Ive been in remission for a few years) . I was in agonising pain, going to toilet 20 times a day and was so malnourished as a result my hair was falling out. I'd say you sound pretty normal OP! Don't worry x

I have IBS and have many days like this, sometimes far more frequent than you describe. I seem to cycle from constipation, very frequent bowel movements to 'normal' pooing, then back to constipation.

Ha ha me too! My husband makes fun of me!

I always go at least twice in a morning, often 3 times and probably once more during the day or evening. I have IBS but stress is a well known trigger which might explain why you go more some days. My brother is like @Shol and barely finishes a meal before he’s off to the loo!

It’s normal for me. Go as soon as I wake up, and then twice more before 10am ish. Usually once in the evening too.

when I’m away from home it isn’t as much but I don’t feel as if I can control it.

I have IBS and usually go 2/3 times a day or I go days without, it’s seemingly random and very annoying, I’m not sure what I can do though really.