Hi
Does anyone else go through times where their bowel movement looks different every day?
Different shape, width, consistency with each bowel movement?
One day long, one day short, one day thinner, one day thicker. Some day softer consistency, other days more solid
Let me know if this is you. Thank you
Yes, I never know from one day to the next whether my bowel movement will be: soft, too-soft, normal, or rarely but sometimes constipated. It's often a 4 to 5 on the Bristol scale. Some days it's perfect (4) Then out of the blue, too loose (6) And sometimes shocks of definitely diarrhea with umpteen toilet visits in 24 hours.
And the days when I am definitely constipated but that resolves naturally and healthily, then I'm back to "okay" -ish again, before another flare up of the D happens.
The only good things so far and have been the same for a few years now are that my bm's are never weird coloured, show undigested food, or have a bad smell. There's also a completely normal form and shape when I am not too loose.
I can't propose a diagnosis of anything but, except for the last paragraph, Luisa's post sounds like my normal. And (like others in my family with recurrent bowel/digestion issues) I've never actually been diagnosed with IBS.
Yes....this is me. Never know from one day to the next. I can get spells of complete normality when I'll think, great, everythings normal and what was the fuss about. Then it will change. Like you, sometimes long, thin, thick, flat, round, even had triangles 😳 it used to terrify my years ago, but you get used to it.
Thank you for sharing
Has your bowel movements always been this way?
Or does it happen when your stressed?
Do you have a diagnosis, like IBS? have you had colonoscopy done?
I feel like when I'm stressed anxious my bowels change
IBS really can't be diagnosed, there's no specific tests for it so they test everything else in order to eliminate other diseases and complaints. I've been like this for over 15 years, before then, I was pretty normal . Mine started when the menopause kicked off and my anxiety which I've had since a child, went worse. I started with Doctors about 11 years ago and kept on telling them what symptoms I was having. I was asked if I wanted a colonoscopy and I've always refused , my nerves won't stand it. So over time, they've done Faecal tests, blood tests etc, physical examination, no lumps or anything, and tests always normal. I've had several of those Bowel Screening Tests that we get when we're older through the post, I'm nearly 66, just done another one recently, all have been normal. So, the doctors blame IBS and I just think that if it was anything other, I wouldn't be here now or at the very least, I'd be very ill. It's not all about food but it does play a big part, I've learned what to avoid over the years. When I'm having anxiety spells, mine starts, BMs change shape and consistency, diarrhea, or constipation or both, feel washed out and tired, headaches, sweating, pains, and really depressed, worrying, palpitations, no appetite and I can't seem to shift it until it all passes. This can go on for 2 days to a week or two, depending on what life throws at me, but mostly, it lasts about 3 days. I live on porridge for a couple of days. When I'm feeling ok, everything else is ok. I try to get out and walk as much as I can, symptoms allowing of course. I like to cycle too and I'm always, always busy and on the go at home. It's better if I keep my mind busy as well as my body. I just live with it like everyone else in here.
Have a look around this site, there's good tips to pick up from people, but we're all different and IBS can affect us all differently.
Miss Pomfrey, your IBS sounds excatly like what happens to me. And like you, I keep going too and keep living my life outside doing a lot of physical things. There have only been a few times when I've had to stop and give in to the awful exhausted feeling. Most times doing some outside work helps me.
Yes me too, outdoor work and leisure are the only things that keep me going and in winter I hate it as it restricts me. Even then though, I do my best to get out, it's the short days I dont like and dark early 😔. I've had quite a lot going on over the last month and a flare up lasted 2 weeks on and off, but I seem to have stabalised for the moment.I hope you're feeling well just now Luisa and free from symptoms and worry. Take care 😘
Yep that is me
Has anyone seen pieces of food in their bowel movement? After eating some watermelon, have you seen little pieces of red 🍉 in your next bowel movement?
I haven't personally but I have seen it in my grandson.
Yes mine is never the same from day to day. It only freaks me out when it is real dark brown or really light brown. Mine is usually on the constipated side. Sorry if this is too much information! LOL.
Thank you for sharing. Never too much. don't worry.
Meaning you have different consistency and shape every day? Sometimes I'll have like a bristol 5 and sometimes it will be shorter and wider or sometimes it will be long and thinner and it makes me nervous
I don't know if it's stress related
Yes it's strange. Consistency is different almost every time. I don't go every day because I'm on the constipated side, lol. Sometimes it's perfect, sometimes it's pellets, sometimes it's smaller, etc. I remember years ago I had some that were pencil thin but this lasted only a few times and then it was more normal.
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