Hi does anyone know if its normal to see food in your poo, do somethings not get digested? Is it alot of foods that are hard to digest? Also I cant find it on the internet but how long does it normally take from eating food to it then being digested and then having to go to the toilet? If anyone knows or can point me in the right direction to find out that would be great thanks in advance x
Undigested food in poo
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I think undigested food is seen more commonly in those with D or loose BMs as everything is passing through so quickly often there is not time for it to be digested properly. So perhaps that is why you are noticing it more at the moment, I get it a lot too but I don't tend to think too much of it anymore. It can also just happen to anyone if they have a diet which is very rich in fibre. Generally I think they say undigested food in a BM is not such a big problem unless accompanied by other symptoms such as a persistant and urgent need for the bathroom and weight loss, just to name a couple of examples.
Usually the average person goes to the bathroom from 3 times a day to at the other end of the spectrum only 3 times a week, that's considered still 'normal'. I believe I have read, although I'm not 100% sure on this that a really healthy sort of transit time, so the time taken from eating something to going to the bathroom, is around 12-14 hours but can be anywhere up to 36-48 hours. I think they say over 72 hours is an impaired and slow bowel and I guess anything less than 12 hours would be considered a little too fast. I know for me often it's only 1-2 hours!
Hope that helps answer your questions a little bit.
Usually the average person goes to the bathroom from 3 times a day to at the other end of the spectrum only 3 times a week, that's considered still 'normal'. I believe I have read, although I'm not 100% sure on this that a really healthy sort of transit time, so the time taken from eating something to going to the bathroom, is around 12-14 hours but can be anywhere up to 36-48 hours. I think they say over 72 hours is an impaired and slow bowel and I guess anything less than 12 hours would be considered a little too fast. I know for me often it's only 1-2 hours!
Hope that helps answer your questions a little bit.
What Natalie said... I think my transit time varies from about 4 hours to 24 hours at the mo. We know because I don't appear to be digesting sweetcorn... does anyone?
My Hubby reckons on going about 6 times in a week, on average. But of course occasionally for no apparent reason he'll go 3 times in a day.
My Hubby reckons on going about 6 times in a week, on average. But of course occasionally for no apparent reason he'll go 3 times in a day.
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standard transit from eating something and it leaving the stomach into the small bowel is supposed to be 4 hours.
Yeah food supposedly spends about 4 hours in the stomach before moving into the small intestine where most of the digestion occurs I believe. I'm not entirely sure as I'm only just getting to grips with learning the processes myself. I dropped out of biology after I scored 2 out of 40 on a class test...
From a little researching sweetcorn is apparently what is known as insoluble fibre and so passes through the digestive system whole. I don't think anyone digests it, personally I'm off vegetables which is poor considering I'm a vegetarian! :ylol2:
From a little researching sweetcorn is apparently what is known as insoluble fibre and so passes through the digestive system whole. I don't think anyone digests it, personally I'm off vegetables which is poor considering I'm a vegetarian! :ylol2:
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Captain Obvious
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Sorry, Natalie. That's terrible (from a fellow veg)
I definitely still have some of my food come out the way it went in - like corn, apples, onions (like onion rings), lettuce, sauce w/spices in it... stuff like that.
Sorry to all who have eaten or were just about to.
(from a fellow veg)I definitely still have some of my food come out the way it went in - like corn, apples, onions (like onion rings), lettuce, sauce w/spices in it... stuff like that.
Sorry to all who have eaten or were just about to.
nogutsnoglory
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It is completely normal to see bits of food in the poop, don't fret. Corn will come out that way in healthy people, beets turn your poop red, etc. Licorice may make it black, Just be careful to know that the black isnt a sign of internal bleeding.
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Here's my best explaination for my digestive tract. This is without my Colestryramine or Calcium tablets. They keep me in a normal state most of the time.
Let's just say I have had a good dinner the night before. Now, I'm up for the morning and do pretty well until I put something in my mouth. As soon as I swallow or chew anything, my brain says, "Wow, she's chewing, she needs saliva for digestion!" Then the stomach starts producing acids for digestion purposes. The bowels get word that something is coming down the pipe, and they start churning too. At that time, anything that is in my colon/rectum area is shoved out! Since forth, Diarrhea time.
This is always worse in the morning that any other time, because bile and stomach acids are produced during the night and just sit and churn. I can usually go without eating and do better if I go anywhere, then eat at home when I get back.
When I had a stricture and adhesions and small block, I could eat and know for a fact that it took 4 hrs exactly to get from my mouth to my terminal ileum where the problems were. If I could make it past that area without pain, I was good. If I was gonna flare, I'd know right then and there. I became paranoid about watching the clock for the 4 hr mark. Many times the pain would begin at the 4 hr mark and I would usually wait another 4 or 5 hrs (I'm stubborn) before going to the ER to get pain injections. The injections (Demerol/Phenarghan) were the only thing that would help my pain stop, then I could sleep it off and be open in about 6 hrs time.
However, now I've had my 3rd bowel resection and have done very well to control the diarrhea with colestryramine powder (taken at night). This reduces the night time bile acids. Then with the Calcium Carbonate taken at meals, it absorbs the excess water and other bile acids.
My doctor always called it the 'BABY BOWEL' syndrome. My gut was just like a little newborn baby. Feed that baby and every time, it poops. I used to think that if I ate a burger, it was the burger I got rid of immediately, but it wasn't. Just the day before food.
Let's just say I have had a good dinner the night before. Now, I'm up for the morning and do pretty well until I put something in my mouth. As soon as I swallow or chew anything, my brain says, "Wow, she's chewing, she needs saliva for digestion!" Then the stomach starts producing acids for digestion purposes. The bowels get word that something is coming down the pipe, and they start churning too. At that time, anything that is in my colon/rectum area is shoved out! Since forth, Diarrhea time.
This is always worse in the morning that any other time, because bile and stomach acids are produced during the night and just sit and churn. I can usually go without eating and do better if I go anywhere, then eat at home when I get back.
When I had a stricture and adhesions and small block, I could eat and know for a fact that it took 4 hrs exactly to get from my mouth to my terminal ileum where the problems were. If I could make it past that area without pain, I was good. If I was gonna flare, I'd know right then and there. I became paranoid about watching the clock for the 4 hr mark. Many times the pain would begin at the 4 hr mark and I would usually wait another 4 or 5 hrs (I'm stubborn) before going to the ER to get pain injections. The injections (Demerol/Phenarghan) were the only thing that would help my pain stop, then I could sleep it off and be open in about 6 hrs time.
However, now I've had my 3rd bowel resection and have done very well to control the diarrhea with colestryramine powder (taken at night). This reduces the night time bile acids. Then with the Calcium Carbonate taken at meals, it absorbs the excess water and other bile acids.
My doctor always called it the 'BABY BOWEL' syndrome. My gut was just like a little newborn baby. Feed that baby and every time, it poops. I used to think that if I ate a burger, it was the burger I got rid of immediately, but it wasn't. Just the day before food.
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Questran, aka Cholestryamine, is a powder form. The Crohn's Colitis Foundation Of American had a book written in the '80's. In that, they mentioned that this drug was used to reduce bile acids for Heart Patients. By reducing the bile acids, it helps reduce the absorbtion, consequently reducing Cholesterol. That's why the drug was made, as a Cholesterol lowering drug. Then Crohn's people got word out that it was working for them. Too much bile acid is a huge factor in Crohn's patients with chronic diarrhea.
When I read this, I immediately took the information to my gastroenterologist. He looked at me and said, "Do you know what that drug is for?" I immediately said yes, and that I wanted to at least try it. I got the drug, mixed 1 scoop into a glass of orange juice and after about 2 hours, my diarrhea subsided. I've been on it ever since, and it was around '82 or '83.
There is also a pill form, known as Welchol. I must also say that on the label, it suggests that heart patients take the med after each meal. But, to be aware of the side effects....CONSTIPATION. Yippee, for me. I have over the years used this medicine as needed. If I had more diarrhea, I took another dose of medicine. You can't overdose on the stuff. My cholesterol level is great, by the way.
However, since finding that the Calcium Carbonate works to absorb water,fluids, and food. I'm taking the Calcium 2 -3 times a day and still the Cholestyramine at night. My main problem has always been the build up of acids during the night time.
And, if I stay off of the other type acids, like Dr. Pepper, Root Beer, Lemonades, I do remarkably well.
One other note, the Cholestyramine slows absorbtion. So, you shouldn't take it more than 1 hour before, and more than 2 hours after other medications. I don't take any night medications, so it works well for me.
I even make sure I have it in the hospital. For instance, if I went in for bowel rest with an NG tube. Once the bowel signs returned, they removed the tube, the first thing I did was take Cholestyramine. Because I knew I would then be passing bile acid deluxe, along with the liquid diet. Cholestyramine slowed that down. Heck pre Cholestryramine days, I could just stand up from the bed and poop water and acid.
I would recommend this medication for all Crohn's, Colitis patients with uncontrollable diarrhea. Talk to your Doctors.....
When I read this, I immediately took the information to my gastroenterologist. He looked at me and said, "Do you know what that drug is for?" I immediately said yes, and that I wanted to at least try it. I got the drug, mixed 1 scoop into a glass of orange juice and after about 2 hours, my diarrhea subsided. I've been on it ever since, and it was around '82 or '83.
There is also a pill form, known as Welchol. I must also say that on the label, it suggests that heart patients take the med after each meal. But, to be aware of the side effects....CONSTIPATION. Yippee, for me. I have over the years used this medicine as needed. If I had more diarrhea, I took another dose of medicine. You can't overdose on the stuff. My cholesterol level is great, by the way.
However, since finding that the Calcium Carbonate works to absorb water,fluids, and food. I'm taking the Calcium 2 -3 times a day and still the Cholestyramine at night. My main problem has always been the build up of acids during the night time.
And, if I stay off of the other type acids, like Dr. Pepper, Root Beer, Lemonades, I do remarkably well.
One other note, the Cholestyramine slows absorbtion. So, you shouldn't take it more than 1 hour before, and more than 2 hours after other medications. I don't take any night medications, so it works well for me.
I even make sure I have it in the hospital. For instance, if I went in for bowel rest with an NG tube. Once the bowel signs returned, they removed the tube, the first thing I did was take Cholestyramine. Because I knew I would then be passing bile acid deluxe, along with the liquid diet. Cholestyramine slowed that down. Heck pre Cholestryramine days, I could just stand up from the bed and poop water and acid.
I would recommend this medication for all Crohn's, Colitis patients with uncontrollable diarrhea. Talk to your Doctors.....
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A couple of other things regarding Cholestyramine. It can possibly cause a little gas, but I don't care! I do know that the powder does work faster than the pill form. Maybe because of my normal gut absorbtion.
I could rid acid/poop 20 or more times a day if I didn't take this drug. When I do, with the combo with Calcium, I might go 3 times, normally.
I could rid acid/poop 20 or more times a day if I didn't take this drug. When I do, with the combo with Calcium, I might go 3 times, normally.
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Thank you! It's my great testimonial! I actually need to put that article idea on my Crohn's site. Have a good evening.
I actually need to put that article idea on my Crohn's site. Have a good evening.
GoJohnnyGo
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Cholestyramine does not work for me. I'm up to six packets a day, augmented by Imodium, Calcium Carbonate, Metamucil every now and then and Inulin every now and then. I still have 8-9 poops a day, of which only the early morning one is of any bulk. It quickly deteriorates after that.
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I'm so :sorry: to hear of your situation. Could I ask about your diet? I'm just wondering if you have monitored the acid intake, such as ascorbic acid, phosphoric acid, and benzoate. I've been finding various forms in almost everthing. Even the 'vitamin water' has added stuff. By cutting down on sodas, kool-aids, popsicles, some candies, vinegars, lemons, and bottled teas has helped me.
Do you have 'short bowel' syndrome? My doctors have always suggested that I may have it, but I do have good absorbtion, thank goodness.
I feel pretty lucky because I quite Imodium. I found it doing more harm than good and I didn't start getting regulated until I stopped it. I was having an anormous amount of gas and malabsortion (floaty fat stool).
GoJohnny? What does make you feel better? Do you ever have good days? :frown:
Do you have 'short bowel' syndrome? My doctors have always suggested that I may have it, but I do have good absorbtion, thank goodness.
I feel pretty lucky because I quite Imodium. I found it doing more harm than good and I didn't start getting regulated until I stopped it. I was having an anormous amount of gas and malabsortion (floaty fat stool).
GoJohnny? What does make you feel better? Do you ever have good days? :frown:
egg,
I have been wondering the same thing and am glad you asked this question as the other posts have been really helpful to me to. I like you seem to have a very fast transit I eat and the between 10-30 minutes later have to rush to the loo. Which can be really difficult when eating out or at work!
Theresa
I have been wondering the same thing and am glad you asked this question as the other posts have been really helpful to me to. I like you seem to have a very fast transit I eat and the between 10-30 minutes later have to rush to the loo. Which can be really difficult when eating out or at work!
Theresa
Hi Theresa Im the same I seem to have to go anything between and hour and 3 hours after i have eaten it does make life complicated!!!!
I have the poo thing floating on the top of the loo too never heard of this absorb thing and acid extra its all new to me. Thanks for the ideas x
I have the poo thing floating on the top of the loo too never heard of this absorb thing and acid extra its all new to me. Thanks for the ideas x
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Its interesting that you mention the floating poo thing. I was wondering about this just now as mine sank heavily to the bottom of the loo as it usually does. Is it better to float or sink!!??
I'm sure someone can answer this!
I'm sure someone can answer this!
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Interesting - I guess I am absorbing fat then as sinky poop means no fat! So, for me that is a good thing. For one, I need all the fat I can get at the moment as have only managed to put on less than 3 kg of the 6 I need. And for two, it seems a lot of Crohnies have fat absorption troubles but for now I am not one of them - YAY!
And I am taking calcium and STILL have sinky poo so must be really good at absorbing fat!
So now I just wonder where all that darned cheese is going as I haven;t seen it on my body yet!
And I am taking calcium and STILL have sinky poo so must be really good at absorbing fat!
So now I just wonder where all that darned cheese is going as I haven;t seen it on my body yet!
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:ylol2:
