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What Causes Soft And Bulky Stools?

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Posted on Mon, 14 Sep 2015
Question:  Hello Doctor,
Good Day.

I am writing after 10 days following your advise to stop all ointments & try sitz baths to ease my symptoms post fissure surgery.
It has worked well & spasms have reduced. 
I am strictly on a high fiber diet & try to take lots of liquids.
On close self evaluation I feel that on certain days when my stools are bulky & soft I have the least symptoms & a pleasant day. But there are some days when the initial stool causes mild discomfort (tightness) on its way out but is followed by a softer stools. (I cant tk sitz bath for over 2-3 mints Before bowels as i get the urge immediately).

This initial discomfort makes the area sore & feeling I havnt completely evacuated. After breakfast I get another bowel moment (30mins-1hour after the first bowel moment) & this time its easy to pass. Spasm are very mild & the sitz baths are helping.

Only I need to ensure that the stools are not dry & always easy to pass in SINGLE sitting. I almost take the same food daily so dont understand the reason why results are not consistent. I have ordered VSL3 (probiotic) and multivitamins and will receive it after 7days. 

Here is my daily diet - Breakfast - Wheetabix with milk/ white meat tuna with brown bread sandwich.
Lunch- Any vegetable with spinach & chapatis (2-3) / Brown rice (twice a week)
Pre Dinner - Fruits/Yoghurt (curd)
Dinner - 1 Bowl Vegetable Soup (corn/mushroom/lady finger/spinach)

One more thing I like to know if Isabgol husks are safe to take daily. I took them 2-3 days & discontinued.
U mentioned in earlier reply that its best effective taken 10 mints after mixing in warm water whereas the packet reads - to be taken immediately. Please advise dosage. Also I have read that Olive oil is a good lubricant before bowels. Can this option be tried?

Thanks once again .
doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (20 hours later)
Brief Answer:
As explained.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for feedback.
Nice to know your progress, the diet and the routine you are practicing.
It is fine that you you can take Sitz bath even for 2-3 minutes as you get the urgency to pass the stool.
Please do not strain in a hope to pass motion in a single sitting, it is OK even though you are passing stool twice.
The results may not be consistent in spite of your efforts because the bacterial flora, the daily routines and many such factors can bot be the same.
The initial stool is the the first to get in touch with the large bowel and hence is exposed to maximum absorption of water hence the occasional initial stool will be harder.

Another simple solution can be to pass a glycerin suppository per-rectally the moment you get up, this will help to overcome the problem of initial discomfort.
Olive oil works the same way.

We advise ghee in children with fissure- orally as well as per-anus to make the passage softer.

Isabgoal husk: The idea is to take it with water. Pre-mixing helps it to absorb water and make palatable. Yes, the package say take immediately. Allowing it to mix well and stir well and consume before the plum occurs. Do not allow the plum/sediment to occur and take more than a glass of water with it.
The dosage will depend upon your body's response.

Another option is to take it 2 hours before your dinner.
Yet another option is to take half the dose in the morning and half the dose in the evening. This is as per the physiology of hte body and can help to alleviate the first passage problem you have talked about.
This is a permutation and combination, our aim is to stop the recurrence and to have absolute normal passage of stool in the morning.

Rest of the things you mentioned to be continued as it is giving you the best results.

I hope these answers your queries , please feel free ask further relevant queries if you need to or if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

Wishing you all the best.



Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (3 hours later)
Hi Doctor,
Your sound advise has helped my recovery physically & most impt psychologically.
Truly grateful for the same.
I agree that if the initial stool is soft then most issues will be resolved. For glycerine suppositories please advise duration of use.
Also will take 2tbsp isabgol 2 hrs before dinner with only one glass water & continue till symptoms disappear. I just hope my body doesnt become dependent on it in long run.
Best regards








doctor
Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (54 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Do not worry about the dependence.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your appreciation.
Please use glycerin suppositories for say 3 weeks.
You will not be dependent on anything later on. Once there is proper healing all the measures we are taking are to be tapered of. Like start using alternate day and so on.
Secondly, Isabgoal husk is a pure herbal preparation so no worry of any side effects.

With best wishes.
http://bit.ly/askdrtchandrakant
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19777 Questions

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What Causes Soft And Bulky Stools?

Brief Answer: As explained. Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for feedback. Nice to know your progress, the diet and the routine you are practicing. It is fine that you you can take Sitz bath even for 2-3 minutes as you get the urgency to pass the stool. Please do not strain in a hope to pass motion in a single sitting, it is OK even though you are passing stool twice. The results may not be consistent in spite of your efforts because the bacterial flora, the daily routines and many such factors can bot be the same. The initial stool is the the first to get in touch with the large bowel and hence is exposed to maximum absorption of water hence the occasional initial stool will be harder. Another simple solution can be to pass a glycerin suppository per-rectally the moment you get up, this will help to overcome the problem of initial discomfort. Olive oil works the same way. We advise ghee in children with fissure- orally as well as per-anus to make the passage softer. Isabgoal husk: The idea is to take it with water. Pre-mixing helps it to absorb water and make palatable. Yes, the package say take immediately. Allowing it to mix well and stir well and consume before the plum occurs. Do not allow the plum/sediment to occur and take more than a glass of water with it. The dosage will depend upon your body's response. Another option is to take it 2 hours before your dinner. Yet another option is to take half the dose in the morning and half the dose in the evening. This is as per the physiology of hte body and can help to alleviate the first passage problem you have talked about. This is a permutation and combination, our aim is to stop the recurrence and to have absolute normal passage of stool in the morning. Rest of the things you mentioned to be continued as it is giving you the best results. I hope these answers your queries , please feel free ask further relevant queries if you need to or if you feel that there is a gap of communication. Wishing you all the best.