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Suggest Remedies For Frequent Bowel Movements
Question: I have been having frequent bowel movements. Three to 5 Friday. Two to three a day after that. Two already today. The stool is not watery. No cramping, no fever, no pain, no difficulty in passing stools. I had a colonoscopy last week. Everything was ok. Why am I having frequent movements not caused by food?
Brief Answer:
Will need more information.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,
I have read your queries and will be answered by me.
If you are having frequent stools daily 3 to 5 times that it doesn't necessarily mean that you have diarrhea or any other infection in intestine.
The character and the consistency of stool is more important than the frequency. So,if you do not have watery stool and without pain,fever or any other bowel problem then I would not be worried much (also your colonoscopy was normal)
However,I will need some more information,
What is your normal bowel frequency few days ago?
Since how many days your bowel frequency increased?
Any gas trouble or flatulence problem (means passing gas)?
Any change in diet recently?
Meanwhile,below mentioned dietary measures may help you.
1) Eat food which easily gets digested like rice,banana etc and chew food properly,
2) Avoid foods that may increase stool output such as fresh fruits and vegetables, prunes and caffeinated beverages.
3) Decrease concentrated sweets in your diet, such as juices, candy and soda, to help decrease amounts of water pulled into your intestine.
4) Reduce alcohol consumption (if you take).
5) Try incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. These fats may have an anti-inflammatory effect. They are found in fish and salmon.
Hope this will help you and get back to me with more information.
Regards,
Will need more information.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to health care magic,
I have read your queries and will be answered by me.
If you are having frequent stools daily 3 to 5 times that it doesn't necessarily mean that you have diarrhea or any other infection in intestine.
The character and the consistency of stool is more important than the frequency. So,if you do not have watery stool and without pain,fever or any other bowel problem then I would not be worried much (also your colonoscopy was normal)
However,I will need some more information,
What is your normal bowel frequency few days ago?
Since how many days your bowel frequency increased?
Any gas trouble or flatulence problem (means passing gas)?
Any change in diet recently?
Meanwhile,below mentioned dietary measures may help you.
1) Eat food which easily gets digested like rice,banana etc and chew food properly,
2) Avoid foods that may increase stool output such as fresh fruits and vegetables, prunes and caffeinated beverages.
3) Decrease concentrated sweets in your diet, such as juices, candy and soda, to help decrease amounts of water pulled into your intestine.
4) Reduce alcohol consumption (if you take).
5) Try incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. These fats may have an anti-inflammatory effect. They are found in fish and salmon.
Hope this will help you and get back to me with more information.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
I usually have bowel movements about twice a day. I have seen an increase since Friday, today is Tues. I have been passing gas. That decreased on Sat. No change in diet. i do eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Not as much fish as I should. (about once or twice a week). I do not use caffeine or alcohol. I am type 2 diabetic and try to avoid carbohydrates. A1c= 6.1. I have rheumatoid arthritis and take a biologic intravenously every 8 weeks. I know you can't examine me, but what about weak anal muscles? Could that be a factor? I do feel the urge to go but there is no straining. Two more movements today and it is 5:30pm eastern time.
Brief Answer:
May be related irritable bowel.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for sharing more information,
As per the more facts,I do not think about the possibility of weak anal muscles.
As I said earlier,the character and the consistency of stool is more important than it's frequency.
Here,it may be related to irritable bowel and because which you are getting more bowel motions than usual.
In that case,dietary changes may help as we discussed earlier.
Eat more fruits in your diet and always take salads (like cucumber,carrot etc) in your meal which will make your stool bulky and may help to pass all the formed stool at a time and thus reduce the frequency of stool.
Antispasmodics like Mebeverine (Brand Name: COLOSPA) can be useful to regulate the bowel motions if underlying cause is irritable bowel.You can try it.
As your were passing gas which I guess reduced now but if the problem of flatulence comes again,then I would suggest you to check your routine blood investigations (CBC,ESR) with stool examination for Routine/Microscopy and ova,cyst to rule out any infective pathology.
However,there is no need to worry much as you do not have watery motions,pain,fever or even difficulty or straining at stool.
So,at present,I do not think there is much medical attention required here.You can make some dietary changes and drink lots of water and wait for couple of more days.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
May be related irritable bowel.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for sharing more information,
As per the more facts,I do not think about the possibility of weak anal muscles.
As I said earlier,the character and the consistency of stool is more important than it's frequency.
Here,it may be related to irritable bowel and because which you are getting more bowel motions than usual.
In that case,dietary changes may help as we discussed earlier.
Eat more fruits in your diet and always take salads (like cucumber,carrot etc) in your meal which will make your stool bulky and may help to pass all the formed stool at a time and thus reduce the frequency of stool.
Antispasmodics like Mebeverine (Brand Name: COLOSPA) can be useful to regulate the bowel motions if underlying cause is irritable bowel.You can try it.
As your were passing gas which I guess reduced now but if the problem of flatulence comes again,then I would suggest you to check your routine blood investigations (CBC,ESR) with stool examination for Routine/Microscopy and ova,cyst to rule out any infective pathology.
However,there is no need to worry much as you do not have watery motions,pain,fever or even difficulty or straining at stool.
So,at present,I do not think there is much medical attention required here.You can make some dietary changes and drink lots of water and wait for couple of more days.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip Kabra
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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