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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/14/2015 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
I've been told to get blood work and stool studies due to pain in my lower right gut. What exactly do I have to do for the stool study? What does it entail? What if I can't produce a bowel movement? Can you tell that I'm nervous about it?
Posted 4/14/2015 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
You don't have to produce a bowel movement on demand. You will take home a kit and you will return it to the lab once you have completed the instructions in the kit.
Posted 4/14/2015 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
all you do is put a little "hat" between the toilet bowl and toilet seat and you just poop in it when you're ready. if the the lab doesn't willingly put the hat in your bag, ask them. you must have it and some are just forgetful.

there is no time limit on when you can produce a BM. after you poop, you PUT GLOVES ON and grab a piece of poop and put it in the little containers. some labs give you a wooden spoon and some will not. i have been using my hands lately. if it is diarrhea, you can just pour it in.

some of the containers require that you shake them to mix the poop so make sure you read your directions. after that, you either leave the containers at room temp or in the fridge until you can take them to the lab. i always do it the same day and bring them in a bag with an ice pack since i sometimes have to sit in the waiting room for a couple of hours until i am seen.
Posted 4/14/2015 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
That doesn't sound too bad. Thanks for the info. I'm somewhat relieved.
Posted 4/14/2015 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Don't use one of your good hats. Just kidding.
Posted 4/14/2015 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
hah, i am picturing you in the bathroom at the doctor's office trying to produce a BM. Isn't it funny how you can go 10x and then you get there and you can't do it if you try - except when you don't want to, then you're running to the toilet with terrible urgency.

I've always brought the little hat home and dropped off the sample when it was convenient. I've had them ask if I wanted to provide one right then and there, how am I supposed to pull that off? I would love to, but it's never worked out for me, making the trip back toting a stool is never fun...

They always give me the wooden thing but I've had some that was like swamp material and that I poured. I love banana girl's descriptive instructions on how to do this stuff.

I hate when you go back to drop it off at the lab and they want to check the specimen, as if I am giving them an empty container or something... they usually look to make sure it's dated and tat your name is on it. Check the containers and fill them out before doing the deed.
Posted 4/14/2015 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
My GI ordered this test for me years ago (when he suspected I had also developed IBS issues along with my IBD) I was sent to the lab and they provided me with a paint can, yes you read that correct lol the look on my face must have been priceless because the lab tech handed it to me and couldn't stop smiling like she knew I was thinking what the hell???

I kept it in my toilet bowl, the coldness from the bowl kept the "contents" plenty cold enough for those few days I had to expel directly into it, it was awkward cuz I knew once I was done it wasn't going to be flushed away the way it's intended to be so it grossed me out but I got through it and it also helped confirm to my GI that IBS was definitely a factor with me as well.

I think the most humiliating part of it all was having to walk with the pain can back to the lab and hand it over, we all knew what would happen after they received it and that made me shutter so I can only imagine how the poor lab tech that had to do the testing must have felt...gawd this disease leaves a person with unimaginable humiliation that's for sure.
Posted 4/14/2015 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Pb4- I've never heard of that type of stool analysis! How many days did you have to collect??? How or what did they test it for that lead to them saying IBS??!??

Sorry, BumTum, don't mean to hijack! I've only had the poop test like banana girl described. My biggest issues was what to do with the hat full of poop AFTER I got my tiny sample out idea I ended up triple bagging the used "hat" and throwing it in the garbage outside. I feel bad for anyone who thought they'd dig through my trash that day! Lol.
Posted 4/15/2015 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
3 days for collection...generally speaking with IBS pains they tend to go away once you've pooped, with IBD they can continue to linger due to the inflammation...from my understanding based on that 3 day stool collection test they look for quantitative fats and with IBS you can get a lot of floaters (undigested fats cause floating stools)...and it was after he got the results from my test that he said he strongly felt that there were IBS issues going on with me besides my crohn's (20% of CD patients also have IBS) he also said the longer and more severe a crohnie's flare is (as was mine) the greater the chance of developing IBS.

He was right though cuz my crohn's colitis is in remission, I still had severe constipation along with frequency which doesn't happen when your IBD is in remission.
Posted 4/15/2015 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Well, at least we can try to find some humor in this horrid disease. Can't say that I'm looking forward to this test, but I'm feeling a little better about it. At least I'm not the Lab Tech who has to rifle thru stranger's poop every day.
Posted 4/15/2015 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the explanation pb4 :-) interesting info.

BumTum, don't worry about this test at all! It's done in the privacy of your own home and nobody touches or even looks at your butt smilewinkgrin in my mind, it's one of the easiest and most dignified tests we get! Lol (what a cruel life we live when pooping in a plastic cap and putting it in a jar to later hand to a stranger is on the "dignified" list, heeheehee)
Posted 4/15/2015 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
No problem toomuchpoopin, I should have added that in the beginning of my crohn's I didn't get horrid lower back pain during BM's like I did around the time my GI said he suspected I developed IBS but I think those excruciating back pains during a BM were from having the two conditions at the same time because now that only my IBS is present I don't get them near as bad, only very slightly while passing a BM.

Good luck BumTum with your test, it's not pleasant, as most tests of any kind usually aren't but hopefully the results will be a help you with treating your gut.
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