I poop once every 4 days, is that normal ?!

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Replies

  • firststepformefal
    firststepformefal Posts: 180 Member
    Bran-buds or Fibre-one every day for breakfast. I was like you, 1 bowel movement every 4 to 5 days. Started with the high fibre cereal in the morning and I already drank a lot of water. Now I am regular and go every day and sometimes twice. I cannot say enough good things about getting enough fibre.
  • MissSusieQ
    MissSusieQ Posts: 533 Member
    It could be normal for you, but techinically everyone is suppose to have a BM after every meal.. but 4 days is alittle too long atleast every other day .. You need to increase your water and fiber intake plus lots of veggies

    three times per day to three times per week is 'normal'. but normal is subjective - have you always only pooed every 4 or so days?
  • TheLittleFangs
    TheLittleFangs Posts: 205 Member
    actually - not a dr however I've spent a hell of a lot of time in colorectal surgery wait rooms due to my health.

    what I've learned is some people go more than others and even once a week is fine if that's what you've always been like.

    HOWEVER BM changes that are recent and last more than 3 weeks need investigating. Blood even if only once needs investigating immediately.

    don't even get me started on your diet and calories though.
  • bpetrosky
    bpetrosky Posts: 3,911 Member
    Given that the OP had this problem 4 years ago and hasn't posted since she either resolved her problem....

    Or didn't.
  • xtina315
    xtina315 Posts: 218 Member
    Actually one bowel movement every four days is some peoples norms. It's not abnormal.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Bigmagus wrote: »
    Well I don`t feel bad now. I too am on a 900 to 1000 calorie per day diet. Protein, fruits and veggies...NO CARBS! I have about 150 lbs. to go still and am losing 12.5 to 15 lbs. per month. I was getting worried because I used to poop every day. Now, I only go about every 4th day. I don`t feel constipated or uncomfortable for that matter. I have been couch bound because of bad back, shoulders, heart, and weight. I am incorporating 30 minutes of weight lifting. I must be very careful with cardio because my ticker is in delicate shape. I`ve lost 30 lbs. in the last 7 and a half weeks. I guess there is just no poop to poop out. :blush:

    Like the original poster from four years ago, you're not eating enough. As a man, you should be eating at least 1500 calories per day.

    Rapid weight loss

    ...Rapid weight loss creates physical demands on the body. Possible serious risks include:
    • Gallstones, which occur in 12% to 25% of people losing large amounts of weight over several months
    • Dehydration, which can be avoided by drinking plenty of fluids
    • Malnutrition, usually from not eating enough protein for weeks at a time
    • Electrolyte imbalances, which rarely can be life threatening

    Other side effects of rapid weight loss include:
    • Headaches
    • Irritability
    • Fatigue
    • Dizziness
    • Constipation
    • Menstrual irregularities
    • Hair loss
    • Muscle loss

    Read more: http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/rapid-weight-loss?page=2
  • Becca_250
    Becca_250 Posts: 188 Member
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    Bigmagus wrote: »
    Well I don`t feel bad now. I too am on a 900 to 1000 calorie per day diet. Protein, fruits and veggies...NO CARBS! I have about 150 lbs. to go still and am losing 12.5 to 15 lbs. per month. I was getting worried because I used to poop every day. Now, I only go about every 4th day. I don`t feel constipated or uncomfortable for that matter. I have been couch bound because of bad back, shoulders, heart, and weight. I am incorporating 30 minutes of weight lifting. I must be very careful with cardio because my ticker is in delicate shape. I`ve lost 30 lbs. in the last 7 and a half weeks. I guess there is just no poop to poop out. :blush:

    Like the original poster from four years ago, you're not eating enough. As a man, you should be eating at least 1500 calories per day.

    Rapid weight loss

    ...Rapid weight loss creates physical demands on the body. Possible serious risks include:
    • Gallstones, which occur in 12% to 25% of people losing large amounts of weight over several months
    • Dehydration, which can be avoided by drinking plenty of fluids
    • Malnutrition, usually from not eating enough protein for weeks at a time
    • Electrolyte imbalances, which rarely can be life threatening

    Other side effects of rapid weight loss include:
    • Headaches
    • Irritability
    • Fatigue
    • Dizziness
    • Constipation
    • Menstrual irregularities
    • Hair loss
    • Muscle loss

    Read more: http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/rapid-weight-loss?page=2

    This.
  • WholeFoods4Lyfe
    WholeFoods4Lyfe Posts: 1,518 Member
    I generally go 3-4 days between BM's. I'm not worried about it. I'm not gassy and never feel constipated, that's just how my body works. When I'm not watching what I eat I will go more frequently, but I think that is due to volume more than anything else.
  • Noreenmarie1234
    Noreenmarie1234 Posts: 7,492 Member
    blynn2708 wrote: »
    There is nothing wrong with taking a laxative if you don't go. I do on a regular basis, and have for about ten years. If I don't, I won't go for five days. Stress usually does that to me. But there are many reasons for it. Take a laxative. You will feel so much better and regular.

    Again, NO NO NO NO NO NO. Some laxatives can cause permanent damage to your mesenteric plexus (nerves that stimulate bowel contraction). As I said before, if pooping once every four days bothers you, drink lots of water and incorporate stool bulking agents into your diet (ie fiber). There are an array of fiber supplements out there in the forms of tablets, chewables and drink powders. You need to add bulk to stimulate your bowel to move, not take a laxative.
    This scares me a bit as I have been taking Senokot S for about 2 yrs now, 3 every night so I can poop! I have told my doctor but he doesn't seem too concerned about it. I tried more fiber and water, prunes, prune juice, flax seed, whole and crushed, ex lax, but it all makes me worse...I went 2 weeks one time without pooping!

    I know so many people who ruined their digestive system with senekot. 3 every night is A LOT. I am really surprised your doctor is okay with it. " Senna is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth long-term or in high doses. Don't use senna for more than two weeks. Longer use can cause the bowels to stop functioning normally and might cause dependence on laxatives."

    But if your doctor is okay with it, there must be a good reason for it. (Unless he is just not educated on the side effects, which even good doctors can lack knowledge in some areas)
  • charmmeth
    charmmeth Posts: 936 Member
    2012? 2016? I wish!
  • Mithridites
    Mithridites Posts: 600 Member
    Zombie poop!🧟‍♀️💩
  • LiftandSkate
    LiftandSkate Posts: 148 Member
    edited October 2020
    Deleted because zombie thread.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    edited October 2020
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    There is nothing wrong with taking a laxative if you don't go. I do on a regular basis, and have for about ten years. If I don't, I won't go for five days. Stress usually does that to me. But there are many reasons for it. Take a laxative. You will feel so much better and regular.

    Shes already eating less than she should be, laxatives might make her eating even more disordered.
  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    edited October 2020
    jessmars wrote: »
    No. No no no no no no. As a medical professional I will tell you this is absolutely not correct. Having a bowel movement once every four days can be perfectly normal. 1000 calories is not much food. Your poop is made up of stuff your body doesn't absorb, primarily fiber (ie cellulose). If you're eating 1000 calories of chicken you might go quite a while without pooping. There's no absolute medical definition of constipation but the following is generally accepted: Less than two bowel movements per week or the feeling of incomplete emptying or the feeling of needing to defecate but not passing stool. I don't think the first application (less than two stools per week) applies to you because you're simply not eating enough to make poop. If it doesn't bother you, don't worry about it. If it does, eat more fruits/ vegetables/ grains and drink lots of water.

    Side note, dropping below 1200 calories per day puts your body in starvation mode and slows your metabolism. It also makes it difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs. Additionally, once you start eating more you will gain weight because your metabolism is slowed and your body thinks you've been starving and need to save every excess calorie consumed.


    this^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    you don't have to have a BM everyday...especially not after every meal

    As a medical professional??? Yet touting starvation mode (myth)?? Credentials PLEASE.
  • ChristopherLimoges
    ChristopherLimoges Posts: 298 Member
    Ah, human. You wonderfully magnificent creature. 😅
  • Awesomizer06
    Awesomizer06 Posts: 5 Member
    You are the only one who knows if this is your normal BM habits or not.
    If not, then you are not eating enough fibers or drinking enough water.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,432 Member
    edited October 2020
    Someone revives this thread every 4 years. Is that normal?













































    ...and yet, for whatever reason we keep clicking it. :lol:











    4eouph.jpg





  • VeryKatie
    VeryKatie Posts: 5,961 Member
    not sure a poster with a deleted account from 8 years ago is going to provide credentials now ;)

    Gets me every time LOL
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    People usually don’t go as often or regularly if they aren’t eating enough food, enough fiber, or drinking enough water. Some medications and foods tend to be constipating too. It sounds as if you aren’t eating enough.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,275 Member
    edited October 2020
    Oh 💩 it!
  • Kathy535
    Kathy535 Posts: 31 Member
    blynn2708 wrote: »
    There is nothing wrong with taking a laxative if you don't go. I do on a regular basis, and have for about ten years. If I don't, I won't go for five days. Stress usually does that to me. But there are many reasons for it. Take a laxative. You will feel so much better and regular.

    Again, NO NO NO NO NO NO. Some laxatives can cause permanent damage to your mesenteric plexus (nerves that stimulate bowel contraction). As I said before, if pooping once every four days bothers you, drink lots of water and incorporate stool bulking agents into your diet (ie fiber). There are an array of fiber supplements out there in the forms of tablets, chewables and drink powders. You need to add bulk to stimulate your bowel to move, not take a laxative.
    This scares me a bit as I have been taking Senokot S for about 2 yrs now, 3 every night so I can poop! I have told my doctor but he doesn't seem too concerned about it. I tried more fiber and water, prunes, prune juice, flax seed, whole and crushed, ex lax, but it all makes me worse...I went 2 weeks one time without pooping!

    Sennakot promotes bowel muscle spasms (needed to move and evacuate the poo) and, used long term, this can make your bowel less inclined to spasm on its own. Eventually, you have to take the sennakot in order for the bowel to work. Google long term use of sennakot - it’s only supposed to be used for 2 weeks. If you’ve been taking it for 3 years then I’d suggest ramping down over a period of time and supplementing with a dfpifferent type of laxative - fibregel introduces extra fibre which helps move things along, Movicol draws water in from outside the bowel to make the stools softer.
  • paperpudding
    paperpudding Posts: 9,290 Member
    kathy, I know poo is an ongoing topic - but you do realise poster you directly answered has not logged in since 2015?? ;)