TMI- Is it normal to have at least 3 bowel movements a day?
Question:
My husband and my co-workers (who I think are weird for keeping track of my potty breaks) all say that I have way more bowel movements than a normal person. Once a day at most, is what I am told is normal.
By noon most days (my work days starts at 6am) I have already had 3 movements. I usually have a couple more before 8pm. Not loose stools or small amounts either.
Yesterday I actually went into the double digits and I had some stumoch discomfort, but again no loose stools.
I am Lactose Intolerant, BUT I take a daily supplament that reduces the effects dairy has on me. I eat fast food not even 3 times a week, so I can't blame McDs.
I have mentioned it to my Doctor, and she says it's not IBS, and thinks its related to my Lactose Intolerance. She actually is always after me to add more fiber to my diet!
Answers:
More than 3 times a day is certainly well above the average but not necessarily a problem. Anything between 3 times a day and 3 times a week is supposed to be normal.
If you suffer from lactose intolerance there are two very easy solutions. You can get lactose free milk at major supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths or you could switch to soy milk.
Your condition is obviously an unusual one and your doctor is almost certainly right. You are obviously not ingesting enough fiber. With this condition you should be concentrating on achieving a high fiber balanced diet.
If you start to experience sudden weight loss, get back to your doctor. That kind of development could be very dangerous for you.
The number of bowel movement that an individual has varies from person to person. If this is your pattern then I wouldn't worry about what your nosey coworkers say.
Added fiber in your diet would have the effect of slowing your system down, so would be a good thing to do for you.
and look at it this way - you will probably never get hemmorhoids from straining!
According to everything I've read on the topic, we're supposed to have a bowel movement after every meal to keep our tract healthy. It sounds as though you have an overactive system, but there's no immediate harm in it. If you've had your electrolytes checked and everything is all right-forget what the co-workers say. How many of them are doctors or nurses? Adding some Benefiber and maybe Activia would help to regulate your bowels. It may not be much comfort to you, but it sure beats being constipated.
No it does not sound normal, going once or twice a day is normal, but going so often that you have abdominal discomfort is not normal (or going 3 times before noon is really a lot more than "normal") it could be your lactose intolerance (don't eat dairy at all then... the pills may not be working), or you might have some other GI disorder.
You may have IBS or a leaky gut syndrome, Chrohns disease/ celiac disease Gluten intolerance etc.
I would go seek advice of a GI specialist & not your family/primary doctor.
good luck
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