HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Number of BM's?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/14/2012 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
I hate to ask this...but I'm going to anyway.

I use the restroom several times per day (5-10)...most of the time, I only pass mucous and blood, without an actual "BM." Is this pretty standard for proctitis? I'm not sure if I should be including these trips to the restroom in my number of BM's or documenting this separate.
Posted 10/14/2012 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
yeah same as you...between as little as 4 and up to 10... or so.

before U.C, it could be between 1 to 3 in a day.
Posted 10/14/2012 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
When I'm keeping track of BMs (which I only do while flaring) I keep track of everything, BMs, gas, blood, urgency, cramping etc.

When not flaring I have 1-3 BMs and no other issues unless I eat something that I know I shouldn't.

When flaring it can be anywhere up to 12 or so, including trips to the toilet that are just messy or bloody gas.

I don't know what meds you're on, but I'd certainly be doing something to improve things if I were having your symptoms.
Posted 10/14/2012 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Nope, sounds like proctitis to me :). The blood and mucous are being developed at the end of your colon/rectum so that's partially why you get them coming out without any stool.

Whenever something physical passed out of my bottom, I always considered it a BM. My docs would ask what type of stuff would come out (and I would tell them the variations of blood and mucous only, diarrhea and mucous, diarrhea and blood, my all-time favorite "slude", etc.) but they never had me break it down specifically by type.

If you chart your BM's, however, I would note what stuff comes out when. If ever asked how many BM's you have a day, I would mention the total but also tell them that sometimes you only pass blood and mucous. It might be an indication of disease severity.

Post Edited (ActiveUCer) : 10/13/2012 10:39:12 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/14/2012 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
It is typical while flaring yes! once you can achieve remission you should only pass 'normal' stool.

I also keep track in detail while flaring so I may see I've been to the washroom 6 times, but only 2 were (S(stool), the others are E (enema) M (mucus) B (blood) Pk(pinkness) G(gas) C (cramps) P(pain) - usually a variety of letters for each visit.

I find it helps me see visually how things are progressing - if a blood is increasing - cause for concern... , decreasing - hopefully coming out of flare. sometimes you will see several good days than a bad - the bad one is very frustrating but if you have a record it is easier to put it in perspective... "ok, good week but a bad day -don't freak out... " : )

Once out of flare I stop recording - but I think when you have colitis, you will always always check the toilet bowl and keep a mental note of how many times you go, even after years of remission. My norm now is 2BM's in the first 2hours of the day - I used to be a 3x/week kind of gal!!!
Posted 10/14/2012 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
That's what happens to me too. I would keep track of them seperately. I have about 3-6 BM's per day with about the same amount again for gas & mucus. Since being on DGL and Monolaurin my gas and mucus episodes have been cut down tremendously and my regular BM's have had a slight decrease. I usually always have formed stool with no blood.
Posted 10/14/2012 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
i count all bathroom visits as a bowel movement if something is coming out of my butt. i track everything, too- time of day, frequency, consistency. it just helps me see patterns of what's going on.
Posted 10/14/2012 3:57 PM (GMT 0)

garylouisville said...
That's what happens to me too. I would keep track of them seperately. I have about 3-6 BM's per day with about the same amount again for gas & mucus. Since being on DGL and Monolaurin my gas and mucus episodes have been cut down tremendously and my regular BM's have had a slight decrease. I usually always have formed stool with no blood.

gary, I thought DGL was mainly for gastric/duodenal ulcers? Do you find it helps with your UC?
Posted 10/14/2012 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
The DGL definetly helps with mucus. I had a whole lot more before starting the DGL.
Posted 10/14/2012 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, 6-12 bms is about right for proctitis flares (sometimes more). You have to count every trip to the bathroom as a bm, even if it's just gas because it's sill an 'urgency' and interrupted your normal life activities.

Garylouisville, I can see the benefits of cutting down mucous production but does this 'DGL' stem the blood as well? Or does one go with the other?
Posted 10/14/2012 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I can't honestly answer your question regarding blood in my particular case anyway. With Asacol and VSL I pretty much have formed stools almost all of the time and almost never any blood. After adding DGL I noticed a definite drop in the amount of mucus, marginally cutting down on the number of those BM's which were for gas and mucus only but I can't say it does much of anything else. But, that's something, so I continue. I believe there is a doctor somewhere who is studying higher dose DGL as a treatment for UC. Don't think he is done with his study to post any results though.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply