Stool looks like sand or gravel

[forum contributor]

I have an embarrassing question... wondering if any of you have had the same or similar experience.

Have you ever gone to the bathroom and it was sand- or gravel-like?

 

[drew_wymore]

I suppose you could call mine gravel sometimes .. mostly when I eat popcorn .. it doesn't cause cramping anymore but if I overindulge it is somewhat the consistency of sandpaper/oil based paint ..

 

[danman]

Are you taking Pentasa?

 

[jooles6377]

Wheet bix can do that also but if nothing obvious causing it I wouldnt worry as could just be one of those things

 

[forum contributor]

No, no Pentasa... only Lialda right now. However, as of Wednesday, my GI and I will be deciding on whether I'll be starting Humira or Remi.

 

[bradraz]

no questions are embarrassing on here lol

 

[forum contributor]

LOL I guess not, brad!

 

[BWS1982]

Lialda is similar to Pentasa, though I'm not sure what Dan was getting at by asking that question. They're both 5ASA drugs, Lialda is an extended version of Asacol more or less, which is in the family of Pentasa...

"Coffee ground" stool is a common description in the symptomology for diagnosing IBD, along side bloody stool and cramping. I'd say it's pretty common to have oddly shaped/appearing stool, the volume/presence of blood is something that I fear more than other appearances. If there's no blood that's one fear to be rid of.

 

[kello82]

Lialda is similar to Pentasa, though I'm not sure what Dan was getting at by asking that question.

i figured he was asking becuase the little tiny coats of the pentasa granules pass thru the system, so some people who take it find that they can see the granules in their poo. i would assume that it might give the stool a "sandy" appearance to have the little granules in it?
i think thats what danman was thinking when he asked that.

i wonder if since lialda is similar....if it has the same coatings on the granules that pass thru?

 

[BWS1982]

I suppose that could explain it, though when I was on Asacol, the shells were bright red, and aside from confusing them with blood, I could spot them fairly easily. Hm, I actually don't know what Pentasa shells/coatings look like.

 

[kello82]

they look like dippin dots ice cream!
waaaaayyyy smaller though. each capsule is packed with a ton of little teeny granules. mini dippin dots if you will.
the capsule dissolves and then the internal granules break open at a certain point.
or something like that im not totally positive lol