I only have a bowel movement every 1-2 weeks. Is this okay??

[MommyGoblin]

Sorry in advance if this is too gross or tmi for anybody.
Like the title says, I only have a bowel movement every week or other week. Sometimes three weeks max. I’ve always been like this ever since I was a kid. And it’s always been normal excrement. Recently however, my stool has become really hard and it’s one extremely long piece. Any ideas of what could be going on or how to fix it? I have a dr appointment but the soonest they could see me is next month.

How do you leave the house??? 😅

Yes! My husband does (and it isn’t when I need help as some people suggest 😂). I have IBS and I can vary from having 3 a day to not going for 4-5 days. It used to stress me out but now I just accept that it’ll come back in a few days!

I would suggest you don't have enough fiber and fluids. You need to eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and peas. I'd also up the fuild intake to 2-3 liters a day. If your struggling with constipation eat pear or plumbs. Adding nuts will also help grease the wheels.

Without wanting to be too personal - though in fairness it’s a very personal topic you have posted - do you not start to give out an odour through your skin pores?

I’ve encountered a couple of people who just seemed to emanate a “poopy” odour. It didn’t seem to be their breath nor was it “fresh” enough to be a bad wipe job. It was just a vague “ elderly turd” waft. I couldn’t really figure it out but now I’m wondering if this is what was going on….

Do you have someone you feel you could ask? I’d be having a clean out I think.

I go once a day normally. If I eat fatty food, something heavily spiced or drunk alcohol ( never happens) I get terrible bubble guts and suffer.

My mother in law had a funny story about that. Also had that pattern, not really worried by it but GP sent her for a scan, and it turned out that she had two sets of intestines. Twin sibling nobody knew about that was reabsorbed. Must have been freaky finding that out at 70-odd!

Where does all the food go (honest question, am intrigued and confused)

All my life I have gone once a day within half an hour of my waking up regardless of whether I wake up early or late.

It wish g to me crude the volume is what I would expect from what I eat.

Where does three weeks of food go? I'm imagining it all backed up and it would be uncomfortable to bend or run etc

Are you overweight? I'm slender and all that food compacting inside me would surely show as a protruding abdomen, wouldn't it?

Same here. I have a healthy diet but very rarely poo more than once a week. I can go 2 or 3 weeks without pooing sometimes too.

Yes! Totally normal for lots of us.

Where does your food go?

Yes. I'm active, drink plenty of water and eat a healthy diet.

Good gracious! Definitely not Ok!

I was amazed by this when I read it on mumsnet. I go about 3 times a week.

I think if it's normal for you then that is fine. Before I became vegan I'd go every 3 days and it was uncomfortable and big, but I've been daily for the last 10 years and it is a total breeze.

Do you mean uncomfortable to lug about, or to egest?

Do you need more water op?

Blimey!!!

I can't believe this post

Egest. It literally used to tear my anus. I had a fissure and it was horrendous to poop.

Crikey. I feel like my bowels are having a day off if I only go once, and I'm chock a block with opiates most of the time. Do you eat?

That does sound horrific. 🙁

Maybe you need much more fibre? A consultant told me to eat loads more. I already thought I ate plenty but I upped my fruit and vegetable intake, changed to brown rice and wholemeal pasta, and focused on adding fibre to my diet. I think it's been really good for me. 2 or 3 weeks sounds far too long.

Yes people do have a poo three times a day. I do! The body needs to get rid of all that unwanted matter, not store it up to fester inside. Try prunes, either tinned or soft and chewable.

I think it’s something you should try to improve if possible. They’ve been looking at chronic constipation as a risk factor for colon cancer over the past few years.

Water intake and movement are the two big factors. You may be someone that needs to be careful of your fibre intake as well. In spite of what everyone often recommends, some people back up immediately if they eat too much fibre.