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.

No, they don’t. Their bowels don’t work properly. Things can go through them in a matter of a couple of hours if they’re untreated. Also, oftentimes it can simply be blood pouring out.

This is not normal. Surely you're in danger of becoming impacted? I'd get it checked out. Every day or two is normal for most

Is our infamous poo troll back?

@Calliopespa 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣💩💩💩💩💩💩🤣🤣🤣🤣

I go every day usually 2 more around my period. If i know one is ready to come out but struggling. I drink a few cups of hot water boiled and cooled and use the Squatty potty step.

Ha. I have issues due to gall bladder removal. When it's bad, for two or three hours in the morning I can go that many times an hour. Two times a day is a blessed relief.

Essentially if you're not digesting food it's bulkier.
People with this kind of issue are not digesting the food. Think the amount of wood you pile on a bonfire versus the ash left at the end. People with working digestive systems are pooping waste product, the ash. People with issues are pooping the whole damn undigested bonfire.

The water is reabsorbed in your colon, my dog does 3 poos a day, the first is a brick as it's sat there the longest, then they get progressively soft. I don't think this is good for you and as you get really old and weaker it may cause problems.

Good lord that sounds horrendous. I can't believe you're getting enough fibre. Fibre grabs toxins, which are then dragged out when you poo, so pooing is important.
I go once a day and feel hideous if, on a rare occasion, I don't.
Do you eat sufficient wholegrains, vegetables, beans/pulses, and drink a tonne of water?

Im exactly the same, no pain but interestingly I read on my NHS app that I was diagnosed with IBS in 2001 when I was only 10!

I take one super strong laxative every week or two to get it all out, sometimes it’s painful moving through me, other times it’s not.
i had various tests a few years back and was told that it’s just slow digestive system which can be ‘normal’ but I don’t really think that’s an acceptable diagnosis

I’ve read online that your body basically uses it for energy after a while.. absolutely gross. Keep thinking I’m most likely riddled in cancer given the amount of crap it’s absorbing!

basically I’m full of shit..

I'm not sure the bit about "toxins" is wholly scientifically accurate (no doubt though that fibre is important for good gut health). Do link if I'm wrong.

TBH I would try upping fibre first, then if that doesn't work, try Movicol or similar (you want macrogol/PEG 3350 as the active ingredient). It may also be worth checking with your GP especially if Movicol doesn't work. There are people who take that daily for years; it's very safe.

Just Google it. Yes one of the many roles of fibre in the diet is to 'scrub' the gut of bacteria and toxins.

I go once every 2 to 3 days, never had any problem of constipation or diarrhoea. If I am travelling sometimes I can go a week without pooping, not sure why. But I don't feel uncomfortable.

I eat everything and lots of fruits and veggies.

Prunes

I think you need this investigated. It’s not normal and the longer food hangs out in your system, the more toxic it becomes. You may have a mega colon or a problem with bowel motility. I hate to say this, but some cancers can cause obstructive issues too. It could be that you are severely dehydrated. Go see your GP.

I take a daily magnesium supplement- I use the nutrition geeks one- and the magnesium citrate in that is a great softener.

Fair enough - I'm sensitive to claims about 'toxins' etc as 90% of mentions of them are in the context of scamming about 'detoxes', and I couldn't readily see any evidence online (the AI answer links were not to any scientist backed study) but I checked again when you said the above and found a BBC fact sheet thing explaining it.
Please accept my apologies for rudeness, I'm off to have some branflakes!

If this is ‘normal’ for you, I wouldn’t be too worried but I think there is concern if it’s a change in bowel habits.
I only go once a week but been like it since a kid due to a health condition.

Don't engage with the poo troll. Ffs 🤣 🤣 🤣

I use to be 2-3 time a week I had a pretty poor diet, lot of processed foods very little fibre. I changed my diet and now go every day.

This is not correct. Whatever is normal for the individual person is what matters from a health perspective. It varies greatly between individuals.

And to drink lots of water!

I’d be seriously worried. Also, all that backed up must make you smell I would think. Drink lots of water and add lots of fibre!

I used to be constipated after I quit smoking, but with a few tweaks to my diet, a few prunes and a kiwi fruit and plenty of caffeine free drinks, I now go at least once a day.

I'm a Saturday gal