Regularity?

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Alright, I've got some questions/concerns about regularity and such.

First let me describe a little here...

Sometimes I have bowel movements once a day. Other times every other day, and a bit less frequently a few days inbetween. When I do poop, it is always hard (and the "logs" or small pieces are made up of small balls packed tightly together). Sometimes I poop a lot, very large pieces/large amount, and other times barely any comes out, small balls of the even smaller balls packed together.
I drink a LOT of soda (and I mean A LOT) and eat TONS of cereal (1+ bowl per day). When it comes to water... to me it's just bleh! I just can't stand drinking water. Gatorade and such is fine, but as for water I just can't stand to drink it. The reason I'm posting is.. is there any kind of health hazard in the regularity and consistency of how I have bowel movements? I mean, should I be taking fiver supplements or something? My mom is always telling me just to go and sit on the toilet when I haven't crapped for a day or two, and it kind of works, but not enough as I don't "have to poop." (I dunno, it's weird)

Well, normally I wouldn't think twice about it and would just think that this is the way I have bowel movements, to each his own, yadayada. But I was just reading another thread in the bowel forums, and was reading about how if you get backups your colon can rupture/leak and you can die. And that kind of freaked me out thinking about how I have BMs, so I decided I would post. I'm 17 and I don't want to be worrying about this, and I certainly don't want to die from crap pileup (lol). Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

This is unrelated, but I figured I should mention it:
when on vacation staying hotels and going camping and such I get constipated, dunno it's just something about me where I find it hard to go to crap.

Also... is it normal to have a small amount of blood in your stool once in a while when it is hard, very large, or hard/somewhat painful to get out? I mean, does this sometimes damage the tissue a bit inside and cause a little blood to come out with the stool? This happens to me sometimes. But after doing some reading around on here I'm not so sure anymore if it's normal, and I'm thinking I might want to see my doctor about it next time it happens?

Okay now I'm like updating this post every so often as I read this stuff... and I just read the "color & texture" section under bowel movements about blood in the stool... and this stuff is starting to scare the crap out of me. I probably shouldn't be so worried, but reading about all of this stuff... Seeing a little bright red blood on toilet paper after you wipe could mean hemorrhoids, alright not that bad.. but it could be: bleeding ulcers, dead sections of bowels, cancers!? Is it possible to die worrying about this stuff after you read about it!? lol. But seriously... this stuff is starting to scare me. Dead section of bowels.... that sounds death-inducing! I'm going to become a hypochondriac.... I'm going to end up like calling my doctor 10 times a day and having like 2 checkups a month or some crap!!! Any info is appreciated before I die(of nervousness :-S)!

Okay... I continued to read some things, and I'm a little more calmed down now. I think what I'm talking about are anal fissures, most likely caused by the passing of my waste, because it is always of a very hard consistency and can some times be pretty damn large.

Wow... I'm surprised how embarrassing it is just to post this on an online forum to people who don't even know me in real life! But anyway, there it is.

Hello there.In your situation going once a day or every other day is not healthy do to your constipation. A healthy intestinal track will give a BM 2-3 times a day. 2-3 times a day is a standard amount, though BM's can be very individual. As long as there is no chronic history of constipation or diahhrea, a person can go once a day and still be considered having a healthy digestive track.You say you drink a lot of soda, as well as cereal (which is most likely sugary). Sugars can cause constipation (not to mention soda actually dehydrates you not hydrate you), so that can be part of your issue. But I think the bigger issue is that you are not drinking enough water to keep your system hydrated. Most people do not know this, but when your body is dehydrated it will actually take the fluids from your colon/intestinal track and can there for cause constipation. I would recommend adding more water into your diet. I know you say it’s gross to you, but get the flavored water if you have to like from Desani that has Lemon and Berry flavored water; they are still sugar free and healthy. Also adding more fiber into your diet won’t hurt you either. I am not sure of your diet but adding more fruits and veggies is a good way to add fiber. If you need to get Benefiber (Believe that’s the brand) in which you can add it right to your foods, it’s tasteless and will help add a good amount of fiber to your diet.Now as for the blood in your stool, that is not normal. It could be from hemorrhoids especially if you have to add extra pressure (Bear-down) in order to expel the feces from your body. You can get hemorrhoid cream from your pharmacy to help reduce the swelling. Though I do recommend if the bleeding continues to talk to your doctor.Hope this help you!Edit: To clearify what seemed to have confused another member.

Originally Posted By: NtroducingMyselfGoing once a day or every other day is not healthy. A healthy intestinal track will give a BM 2-3 times a day. Whoa.. Back up.. That's not true...Many people believe that the definition of a normal bowel movement is having 1 movement each day, but that is not true for everyone. There is no rule for frequency of bowel movements, but the general range is from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. Less than 3 movements a week may indicate constipation, and more than 3 watery stools a day could indicate diarrhea. http://ibdcrohns.about.com/od/dailylife/a/normalbm.htmHowever Dragonfly, it does seem to be the case that you have an issue with constipation and hence the cause of hemmeroids and bleeding. You should work on going more often.

Originally Posted By: sdpOriginally Posted By: NtroducingMyselfGoing once a day or every other day is not healthy. A healthy intestinal track will give a BM 2-3 times a day. Whoa.. Back up.. That's not true...Many people believe that the definition of a normal bowel movement is having 1 movement each day, but that is not true for everyone. There is no rule for frequency of bowel movements, but the general range is from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. Less than 3 movements a week may indicate constipation, and more than 3 watery stools a day could indicate diarrhea. No offense sdp but I see a gastrologist once a month. Accord to him, a doctor, a healthy system should be 2-3 times (three being on the high side of course) a day. Now this can vary between people but if someone is going less and has severe constipation than there is an issue at hand, same with someone who is on the higher side and has bad diarrhea. If the OP was going once a day and had no constipation than there would probably be no issue at hand, it’s just how his system works. BUT since he does have constipation and even states sometimes he goes a day or so without a BM, that indications a possible issue with his digestive track, whether it be diet related or something else.

I don't trust everything a doctor says.. anyways 3 times is really extreme.. I don't buy into your statement that unless you aren't going 2-3 times a day, your GI tract is unhealthy.But yeah like I did say to Dragon, he does have constipation, and needs to go more often.

Originally Posted By: Dragonflyguy73This is unrelated, but I figured I should mention it:when on vacation staying hotels and going camping and such I get constipated, dunno it's just something about me where I find it hard to go to crap. That is pretty normal. Take a laxative while you are gone, just not a really strong one. Basically you can't relax enough when your not at your own toilet. As for the other stuff, you need more pure liquids in your diet, fiber is definitely a must. All that soda can cause more problems than just the constipation (kidney stones, diabetes, UTIs, lowered immune system) Try the flavored waters that Ntro was talking about, or just put lemon in some regular water. You DO get used to drinking it after a while.

Originally Posted By: sdp

I don't trust everything a doctor says.. anyways 3 times is really extreme.. I don't buy into your statement that unless you aren't going 2-3 times a day, your GI tract is unhealthy.

But yeah like I did say to Dragon, he does have constipation, and needs to go more often.

I have a very good doctor (A specialist rather) and don't think he would lie about something like BM's, would be silly.

And perhaps you need to re-read my comment when I said "If the OP was going once a day and had no constipation than there would probably be no issue at hand, it's just how his system works. BUT since he does have constipation and even states sometimes he goes a day or so without a BM, that indications a possible issue with his digestive track, whether it be diet related or something else"

I also stated 3 would be on the high side. Regardless it's individual when it comes to BM's, but if there is constipation or diarrhea in the mix than there is an issue of either diet or possibly medically.

I understood everything you said, except I don't agree with your blanket statement that unless you go 2-3 times a day your GI tract is unhealthy, regardless of what your (1) doc says.

You apparently keep missing where I state it's very individual. AGAIN I said if a person is going once a day and not experiencing any issues like constipation than they, most likely, are fine. The time to worry is if you have chronic constipation or diarrhea. 2-3 times a day is the standard, not a rule. This can be from diet or just how an individual persons system runs.And as for my (1) doctor, I’d trust my specialist over someone over the Internet and (1) article. Plus it’s not just one doctor, I have been to 2 GP’s and a Specialist who all has all stated 2-3 times a day is the standard when it comes to BM’s. You make it sound like I am talking out my ass (no pun intended lol), With the issues I have been dealing with for close to 7 years now I have a lot of knowledge on this topic. I have done my own research as well as talking to my doctors and specialists. Am I specialist on the topic? No I’m not, but I am more than well informed. It’s fine we don’t agree, but to say I am wrong simply because you have read one article is a bit extreme.

I read many more than just that one. But yeah, you guys are right.Everyone, if you guys aren't crapping 2-3 times a day.. you're unhealthy.

You're starting to remind me of someone but I won't mention who.
Your sarasm is more than noted and completely unneeded and unfounded.
Sad...

You're right

KK...

Done with the nastiness now?

Dragonflyguy73, I agree with the information that sdp found (that normal is between 3 times a day and 3 times a week; it's not nearly the first time I've disagreed with a particular doctor).Drinking soda all the time is not good, especially if it contains sugar and caffeine, both of which tend to drive water out of your body. Gatorade is OK, in moderation, but you really can't beat water. Get really cold....it's not so bad. It's really the best thing to drink.The cereal you eat...what is it? If it's whole wheat or some other good fiber, that's great. If it's made from processed flour, though, it's not very useful. In any case, if you do eat a lot of fiber but you don't drink enough, your stool will be hard and you'll tend to get constipated. Fiber is great, but you have to drink enough water with it!Also, do you exercise? That plays a big part in keeping things moving.Blood appearing in the stool regularly is not normal. It may be from a hemorrhoid (which could be caused by straining while sitting on the toilet), or from a fissure or some other such thing (in those cases, the blood would be very red). You need to figure out what's up with that.--------------------------------Tangent: Doctors are not gods. They're not always up on the latest information, and they sometimes harbor some strange beliefs. For anything complicated, I'm a big believer second opinions.

2-3 shits a day!? Far out that would piss me off. I'm happy with my one every day or every second day!

Looks to me like its debated what is considered "regular," but less sugar/soda and more water/fiber sounds the best to me.

Originally Posted By: NtroducingMyselfMost people do not know this, but when your body is dehydrated it will actually take the fluids from your colon/intestinal track and can there for cause constipation. I would recommend adding more water into your diet. I know you say it’s gross to you, but get the flavored water if you have to like from Desani that has Lemon and Berry flavored water; they are still sugar free and healthy.I didn't know that! And also, I'm not much for the flavored water either :-P. I know gatorade has sugar in it, but doesn't that have a lot more water in it? I remember a little while back where I was only drinking gatorade and not soda and had BMs once a day. Originally Posted By: NtroducingMyselfIt could be from hemorrhoids especially if you have to add extra pressure (Bear-down) in order to expel the feces from your body.That is usually the case, and sounds most likely.Though like you also said about hemorrhoid cream to reduce swelling, I don't really get swelling. Thinking about it, I haven't had blood in my stool for a while. And lately I've had BMs a bit less frequently, but that is most likely due to the fact that within the last week or so I've been drinking a lot more soda (than usual).Edit: Okay, I've now read every single reply in this thread, and thinking about it, it sounds like this is all diet related (vacation constipation aside). I do rarely get raisin bran and eat that for cereal, but most of the time it's really sugary stuff fruit loops, fruity pebbles, captain crunch, etc. (the "good" stuff that isn't necessarily "good" for me, lol). And as I've said I do drink a lot of soda.So let's make it simple... I should:- try to get cereal that is more bran/fiber based and has less sugar/refined flour.- try to stomache drinking water, whether I need to buy flavored water, put a lemon in my water, drink really cold water, etc.- Drink less sodaAnd while on vacation: - Take weaker laxatives to help me dump the lump (LOL I just came up with that on the spot, and I must say, I found it quite amusing. That'll be the next big slang term! Haha) Oh and I suppose more activity couldn't hurt. I'm a couch computer chair potato, and am always at the PC playing games and such; Me and activity don't see each other often.Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the info!(Lol I am SUCH a perfectionist. You guys have no idea how many times I'll edit one post until it's perfect and I like how it looks, how it's organized, etc. lol! I've edited this one already too many times to count. :-P But I use the floor on one side of my room as my closet basically, go figure!)

I think you need to change your diet.If I were you, I would start drinking tea with organic ginger in it. Try taking aloe pills. And I would also start taking a multivitamin too.Perhaps add some Complex Carbohydrates to your diet as well, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.Incorporate apples, grapefruit, oranges, plums, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries into your diet.How often do you exercise? Do you move around often? Believe it or not, movement stimulates digestion.

Originally Posted By: Dragonflyguy73This is unrelated, but I figured I should mention it:when on vacation staying hotels and going camping and such I get constipated, dunno it's just something about me where I find it hard to go to crap.thats normal its called travelers constapationOriginally Posted By: Dragonflyguy73Also... is it normal to have a small amount of blood in your stool once in a while when it is hard, very large, or hard/somewhat painful to get out? I mean, does this sometimes damage the tissue a bit inside and cause a little blood to come out with the stool? This happens to me sometimes. But after doing some reading around on here I'm not so sure anymore if it's normal, and I'm thinking I might want to see my doctor about it next time it happens?every once in a while like once in a few month yea could just be a random hard stool but like once a week NO if its like that you need more fiber or theres something else wrong

Originally Posted By: websexinfoHow often do you exercise? Do you move around often? Believe it or not, movement stimulates digestion. I don't. That's part of the problem.I'm not sure about aloe pills, multivitamins, ginger tea.. all of that stuff just seems a bit much to me.I don't think all that is necessary. I think the best way would be to drink less soda, drink more water, eat cereal with more bran/fiber and less processed flour/sugar, and exercise more. Am I not right?