Sticky, messy stools

I'm having a bout of urgency today with messy, sticky stools. My stomach burns with gas everytime I seem to have them. Does anyone get this way?

I experience this however I'm not quite in the usual IBS category but I do find comfort/comaraderie coming here. I hate this messy stage, what I call the putty stage. Sometimes I'm so desperate to get out of it, I do a Fleet's saline enema. But usually I try to hurry along the bm's, by sipping hot tea (3 or more cups over several hours), drinking water perhaps, eating fruit, etc. I remain on my stool softener med though, since long term it helps me the most.

What you'll find is that if you haven't had part of your colon removed and this is just a stool stage you're getting into on a chronic basis, adding more fiber to your diet might be all that you need. Whole wheat bread (not Wonder but the Brownberry varieties), brown rice, whole wheat bagels, fresh fruit or perhaps just a glass of water mixed with Metamucil each night (you start out with low doses, working up to the full recommended adult dose). My husband has had Diverticulosis in the past and he finds that Metamucil works well for his system. He keeps saying I'd like it but I have tried it. It caused all this upheaval in my gut, lots of rumbling, activity that to be honest made me feel as though I was going to have full blown D at any moment. I much more prefer the simple stool softener at bedtime (50 mg Colace).

For now I would add natural fiber in your diet, up your water intake, perhaps begin a daily exercise regimen (my colon doc suggested I choose one of the four: brisk/fast walking, jogging/running, riding a bicycle (stationary or on pavement), or the best one of all, swimming laps).

stool color can and does vary. This is not an uncommon problem. It can also be from not eating enough or getting enough fiber.

Josette

Have you been diangosed with IBS?

Panda

have you been diagnosed with IBS?

Have you had your gall bladder removed? If so and you're experiencing yellow bowel movements, you may benefit from chewing a Caltrate calcium with Vitamin D pill with each meal. Perform a search here on past topics, for yellow bile diarrhea, inape is a member here who has provided valuable info on this condition (usually from having had your gall bladder taken out).