I poop once every 4 days, is that normal ?!
Replies
-
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.1
-
Vyshness8699 wrote: »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?0 -
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.0 -
Given that the OP had this problem 4 years ago and hasn't posted since she either resolved her problem....
Or didn't.0 -
Actually one bowel movement every four days is some peoples norms. It's not abnormal.0
-
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.
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=21 -
kshama2001 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.
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.0 -
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.1
-
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!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.
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)1 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »
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!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.
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)
OK, but I think the warning is about eight years too late (or maybe only four years too late, if the post you were responding came during the second life of this zombie thread).5 -
2012? 2016? I wish!1
-
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. You're either on a roll or really pushing it to the limit.5
-
Zombie poop!🧟♀️💩4
-
Deleted because zombie thread.1
-
Someone revives this thread every 4 years. Is that normal?5
-
-
honestlysweet 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.
Shes already eating less than she should be, laxatives might make her eating even more disordered.2 -
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.2 -
not sure a poster with a deleted account from 8 years ago is going to provide credentials now
6 -
Ah, human. You wonderfully magnificent creature. 😅2
-
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.1 -
corinasue1143 wrote: »Someone revives this thread every 4 years. Is that normal?
...and yet, for whatever reason we keep clicking it.
1 -
paperpudding wrote: »not sure a poster with a deleted account from 8 years ago is going to provide credentials now
Gets me every time LOL2 -
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.0
-
Oh 💩 it!0
-
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!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.
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.0 -
kathy, I know poo is an ongoing topic - but you do realise poster you directly answered has not logged in since 2015?? 2
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions