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Counting Bowel Movements - getting into the nitty gritty

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Posted 10/31/2023 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
When you count the number of bowel movements in a day, do you count every bathroom visit? For example, sometimes I need to pee and while I'm sitting there I decide to push a little just to see if there's some gas or maybe something else. I don't strain! Just push a bit. And sometimes there's a bit of mucus or a few remnant flakes of whatever previous bowel movement I had. Do you count that???

Or do you just count when passing something from your bum is the purpose of that bathroom visit?

(Likely I am overthinking things, but this is what I do. I am waiting for this to become an Olympic event; I will win gold!)
Posted 10/31/2023 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I count times I feel the urge to go and actually go to the toilet and have a movement.

If I go and then stand up and walk away and then feel the urge to go back and do more, right away, I don’t count that as another time.
Posted 10/31/2023 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
If it comes out the butth0le, I count it 😁

When i was flaring I made a graph in excel of my daily # of bowel movements....very interesting that was too... much easier to see the long term trends when you zoom out.

In the end I don't think it matters how you count it, as long as you are consistent in the way you count it every day.
Posted 10/31/2023 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Anything expelled, even just mucus, I consider a movement. However, I would still clarify specifically how many looked like what.

q
Posted 11/1/2023 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
I go by the urge. Even if nothing comes out I mark it down as urge then put in zero output.

I'm an excel person too.... and it does put it in perspective. I also had sheets for food eaten, symptoms, supplements, blood work... it's one of the things that's helped me a lot.
Posted 11/1/2023 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your input! Great points.

I do keep an excel spreadsheet, with times of day, a description of the output, food eaten that day, any exercise, my energy level... haha, I told you I overthink these things! What I haven't done is create a graph out of it ... but have to admit I am considering it now! smile
Posted 11/1/2023 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
I'm the odd one out, the only time I note bm's is when I am flaring. As far as food goes, after 20 years of having crohns I know what foods bother me. I am not about to let this insidious disease take more time away from me than what it already has.
Posted 11/1/2023 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, perhaps I should have clarified, I only do this when I am flaring. There is no need for it when I am in remission. I note my food intake (during a flare) because it sometimes does impact my output, and I am trying to discern patterns.
Posted 11/4/2023 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hahaha this forum always helps normalize! I thought I was the only one nerdy enough to graph my output smile Re: counting, I’ve always counted all times I need to go even if it’s just blood, but I do make a note so I can report accurately to the doc when I get a chance to.
Posted 11/8/2023 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
OMG 😲 I'm not alone in counting....anything that comes out is a number! Especially because I think I'm done, heading out of the bathroom and boom! Here I go again!
Posted 11/9/2023 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
If I have a bowel movement, I will count it. Even if it's just a remnant.

Yes, I still keep a food journal. It helps me monitor things. I have a j-pouch now since 2019 and it was redone in 2021. I very recently added loperamide to the mix and I've actually have formed stool. Sometimes, I even go to just pee. I'm so amazed.
Posted 11/20/2023 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone, I’m having UC since 2006 and currently taking Colozal 6 pills a day. Currently I’m in remission and my last scope in August showed everything normal mucosa line and no other signs. I’m also taking Align Probiotic 1 pill a day. My bowel movement is 2 times a day in the morning. Typically in the morning I get bowel movement and I go to empty out. Them after drinking a hot cup of tea I get second one and it finishes off everything mostly. I wanted to see how I can empty out everything in 1 bowel movement. I tried drinking tea first and empty out, but stil I had to go second time to empty fully. Not sure why I’m not able to empty in 1 sitting. These two bowel movements happen with in a time frame of 1 hour in the morning. Really appreciate if there are any tips or suggestions please. Thanks in advance.
Posted 11/20/2023 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
@Happy Living, congrats on being in remission, that's wonderful.

Not everyone has one BM a day including those in remission. My only thought is maybe when you go the first time try not to rush through it & try to relax. What is going on with you is not abnormal at all.

Take care.
Posted 11/20/2023 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
I am in remission and sometimes I even go 6 times a day! Mostly when I've eaten a lot of fibre. But most days I go 2-4 times and mostly all in the morning. Im not sure that aiming for 1x is something you can particularly control, unless you want to dehydrate yourself or eat a low fibre diet which I wouldn't recommend... It certainly doesn't mean your ibd is better controlled if you go 1 vs 2 times.
Posted 11/21/2023 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
I’m aiming for 1 primality because multiple trips are annoying me during travel times for work needs. Can you please help in finding the most fiber foods ? Also do you all think VSL3 probiotics can help in reducing the bowel movements?
Posted 11/23/2023 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
I take VSL#3, so no I don't recommend it for reducing bowel movements lol.
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