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How do you count BMs?

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Posted 8/18/2018 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Self-explanatory and totally rookie question, but since that is something my gastro asks every time I see her (and she gave me no guidance) I wanted to get an idea from others.

Up until now I’ve been counting toilet trips but I’m not sure if that’s right. Mostly thinking of times where I might spend 45 minutes or more on the toilet, not pooping constantly, but due to the tenesmus and incomplete evacuation that I’ll probably need to pass more shortly and it’s easier to just wait. So when she asks BMs I might say “3 per day” but one or all of those meant an extended stay on the toilet.

Does a BM mean every time something passes, no matter how much or how little?

I am the queen of overthinking 🤷‍♀️
Posted 8/18/2018 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
How do you count BMs? Like The Count Von Count from Sesame Street, one, two, three ah ah ah!

Seriously though, you should tell your doctor you have "tenesmus," the medical term for having repeated urge to go and either nothing or little comes out. That means you have moderate to severe rectal inflammation and treating you with rectal meds: supositories, foams or enemas in either anti inflammatory mesalamine or steroid formulas is therefore recommended. It's the most annoying symptom we have with uc, and most here can relate and empathize with!

You can give him/her both numbers, had the feeling to 6 times but only passed 3 times. The most clinically relavant number is times you actually pooped (1-3 bms is no to mild inflammation, 3-6 is moderate inflammation, and 6 plus is severe inflammation. It's a noninvasive way to assess how well you're uc is doing.
Posted 8/18/2018 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I would tell her exactly what you wrote. You're definitely flaring....in conjunction with other meds, .are you also on rectal meds? And what and for how long?

q
Posted 8/18/2018 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
I count everything - small, large, mucus, blood, non-productive. If I went to the bowl and pushed, it was a trip regardless of what came out. When I was flaring badly, I'd do as you describe, and spend a lot of time on the toilet to attempt to avoid additional trips. I don't know how you count those, but I'd say, from experience, they definitely don't count as one trip... I could have stayed on the toilet morning to night and call it one, but that wouldn't make a lot of sense. I think if you're spending a lot of time on the toilet and you go a little, than a little more, then a little more, each of those is a trip. If you're needing to stay on the toilet to avoid a trip, that's a problem. I agree about rectal meds. Also perhaps stool tests just to make sure.
Posted 8/18/2018 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. I’m glad that we can count on such helpful and experienced people to answer our dumb questions.

A+ joke iPoop.

I am on no rectal meds at this time. I am just starting azathioprine, with continue on 4.2 mg of mezavant, along with supplements for iron and vitamin D deficiency. I did a suppository which didn’t do much good. Had a pretty decent experience with cortifoam but my doctor seems to be very anti steroid when it suits her.. last time I asked for it she reluctantly prescribed it but told me that she needed to get me off steroids (was also on budesonide at the time).

I described as above whenever my gastro asks the BM count question and she tells me she doesn’t understand what I mean. I don’t think it’s exactly a hard concept but perhaps I’m explaining it poorly. It’s not just the tenesmus, it’s that I know that by the time I get back to the couch, I’ll feel the need to poop (and actually poop more often than not). So to avoid wasting or dealing with the uncomfortable run back to the toilet, I just stay there lol.

Anyway, this question was sparked by the fact that I’m going to see a new gastro in October and I want to make sure there are no miscommunications. Current one is nice enough but I have zero confidence in her.
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