Intestinal shaped stools

[slirwin]

I am a 36 yo female w/ asthma & GERD. Taking pulmicort, albuterol, serevent, singular, asa, aciphex. The last 3 years I have been experiencing abdominal bloating/gas, constipation, and lower left pain (appr near left ovary) with worsening symptoms. Abdominal pain can be as severe to cause nausea & what feels like hot flashes. I sometimes have bowel movements only once a week, mostly hard round, sometimes large movements which cause pain/tearing in which I get a small amount of blood. Most of the time I feel as though I haven't completely evacuated. Last week after about 2 hours of pain and gas I finally had a bowel movement that is very peculiar. After what I thought was several hard round stools passing,I realized something was still "attached". I had to physically remove this stool which looked as though it had been molded to look just like my intestines. It consisted of about 6-7 ball like stool all strung together with a "string" that was as big around as my pinky finger. It had a chewing gum like consistency, and was about 8-9 inches long. I passed this type of stool 4 times within 24 hours. Today I passed what seemed like fat globules, white, about 1/2 teaspooon. Other significant information, I had just finished a 5 day course of prednisone and zithromax, no diet changes, no family history of GI problems. I am worried and a bit confused.  Any ideas?
Thank You.

[carolereed]

I've thought I'm crazy with all the SYMPTOMS in my gut! From mucos in stools to water poo's with snotty stuff. Cramping, twisting, stabbing... Anyone else relate to this? HELP PLEASE!!!?!!!???~

[melos]

A related discussion, Anxiety from Bowel or Liver problem? was started.

[pisten]

PS I am not suprised that your doctors have not diagnosed you as quite simpley constipated, many GPS missed the problem my son was having too, it wasnt until I WROTE EVERYTHING down and took it to the pediatrician that he easily figured it out.  You are RIGHT about the colon cleanse..basically that is what he suggested for my son....it was done with COLYTE a product from the drugstore that you might have to ask the pharmasist for (no prescription needed) it is a big empty gallon jug with powder in the bottom that you simply add water to and drink continually til your system is emptied right out.  This is a really important step that has to be done THOROUGHLY and then he recommmended Lactulose, DAILY.  Even though people and doctors discourage the use of laxatives, in THIS SITUATION it was better for my sons bowels and colon to have a chance to shrink back to normal after years of being stretched than to continue as things were.  He seems to be JUST FINE NOW after at least three years of sufferring and no GP figuring it out!!  I cant believe that all his health problems, headaches, behaviour outbursts were all related to being constipated and I didnt realize that either...nor did the doctors.  It sounds to ME like you have asimiliar problem.

[pisten]

My son spent alot of time in the bathroom during a bowel movement.  I didnt realize there was a problem.  Eventually he would have these BURSTS of behaviour (anger) accompanied by a severe headache and a huge eruption (bowel movement) that went all the way down his pantlegs.  I finally found out from a pediatrician that the problem was fairly simple, he was chronically constipated and probably had been for years.  The pediatrician told me there were physiological explanations for the headaches and the bursts where he would just get severe runs and a huge BM that was practically uncontrollable was when he had been plugged up for so long and then something pushes through uncontrollaby through or around the blockage.  He said that years of being chronically constipated will stretch the colon etc and that you need to give it a break by being very diligent about not getting constipated again.  Just taking laxitives wont work if you are extremely blocked..first you need to cleanse the entire bowel system before laxatives will even work.  It is dangerous also to suddenly increase your fiber dramatically because it will stretch everything and swell things too quickly.  He recommended a bowel cleanse similiar to what people have before surgery (drinking the terrible liquid)..its either that or an enema.  Once that is done and you are sure it has worked (this was determined by an xray) then the treatment of the laxatives begins.  He recommended my son be on laxatives for TWO YEARS to ensure that his colon had a chance to shrink back to normal.  After about 8 months I just eased into an extremely careful diet, I now read the fiber content on everything, and if my son has had alot of high fat dairy I just give him a tablespoon or two or lactulose and keep a close eye that he is having regular BMS now daily.

[liss4897]

I have had stomach and digestive problems since I can remember,  I'm now 28.  I'm always constipated, I have a couple "normal" poops through out the month and the rest of the time I either don't go or I have what I say is a build up and I just burst.  
This burst happens at least once a month but more often it's 2 or 3 times.  I have horrible cramps (feels like giving birth)I sit on the toilet for hours.  My stomach twists and untwists it hurts soo bad I want to die. Sometimes have to stick my hand down my throat to throw up to take some distraction off my pain.  
I have been to many doctors who have said it was a mental thing or ulsers. One doctor even suggested that maybe I had been molested (I hadn't)and sent me (12) to a shrink. I just gave up and decided to deal with it. I had been poked and prodded so much I gave up.  Nothing helped.
Fiber supps do not help, they make me go more but I still have the same bursts.  I also have extreme anxiety, which I'm sure has been brought on by my lifetime fear of one of these bursts happening when I'm not home.  
I'm  28 rarley go out and if I do I have to take 2 xanx or have a few drinks.  I have been drinking more & more so I can just relax.  
This has really screwed up my social life.  I'm married and at my own wedding I wore a diaper (just in case and to relax my fear).  I had a horrible time on my honeymoon because of this fear.
My last hope is colonics and colon clense.  I I'm hopng that it's a back up that makes me have these bursts and once I get regular I can move on with my life
We don't have any kids ye but I have it in the back of my mind that when we do I won't be able to do anything with them unless it's at home or somewhere I feel comfortable enough to have one of my bursts.
This angers my husband but I can't help my fears.  I feel bad he has a wife that won't go anywhere with him.
LONG story short, has anyone gone through this or are going through this???  

[astros18]

I use Nature's Sunshine products for my digestion and the first colon cleanse I did was a set of three colonics. I have done numerous all natural parasite cleanses. Make sure you use a qualified colonic specialist and she will be able to tell you what is coming out of your body. I did a Garden of Life Fungal Defense for 2 weeks following the instructions to the letter. I then got another set of 3 colonics. Dr. Richard Schultz also has some terrific products available online, although I've never done his cleanse. I know several people who have though who were pleased with the results. I have found a doctor who works with me and respects that I don't like going the prescription meds route. There are doctors out there who care about you, but you must remember to be proactive with your health. Nobody knows your body better than you do. Have faith in what it is telling you, and you will find the answers. Pain is your bodies "check engine" light. Pain IS NOT normal, don't let anyone tell you it is.

[Supragirl]

Hi astros,

I'm having all kinds of crazy symptoms. I'm intrested in colon cleansing, but I'm not sure what to use. Also, I'm afraid to see parasites that look like squids in my toilet !!!!!! YUCK!!!


I have been feeling like I have been poisoned. I even asked my husband if he was slowly poisoning me. I was half kidding, but that's how bad I feel.


I have had HepC for probably 25 years,  enzymes are all in normal ranges, and biopsy 2 years ago showed only a small amount of inflamation.

I haven't been tested for anything else like: gallbladder, or colon problems. I saw My doctor today and she just says she doesn't have any answers for me, and drew some more blood !!! Says it's not gall bladder because I don't fit the type. fat, forty, fair,and fertile. Well, I'm not fat, but I am fair(freckles), forty(41), and was fertile (11 pregnencies)before my husband got the snip. So what is she thinking?!

I don't mean to vent, but where is there a doctor who actually knows about the body,.

Does anyone else feel as frustrated as I feel ????  I feel like I'm going to die, I have good medical insurance, you'd think my doc would want to run all kinds of tests if only to protect herself.

Oh Well !!!

Thanx,

Supra

[shubunkin]

out of curiousity......what kind of colon cleanse did you do?

[astros18]

The fact that our bowels do not move as often as they should means that our digested and in some cases undigested food adheres to the intestinal lining where it can stay for years. Gas is food that is fermenting in your intestines. The processed foods we ingest on a daily basis along with the white starchy breads we eat make it very difficult on our digestive system.If you are only having a bowel movement once a week, yet you eat 3 meals a day, maybe 1 or 2 snacks a day, that makes for a lot of fecal matter remaining in your body. I lost ten pounds after my first colon cleanse, I kid you not. I had always had an extended stomach and when I cleansed, it was actually flat!I know it is difficult to change your mind about the validity of something when you've been told something different your entire life.Like I said, it has only been four years for me. I decided to take charge of my own health after suffering for many years with no results and different diagnosis every time I went to the doctor. Searching for our own truths is what is the most important.

[yoshi]

How can feces stay in the large intestine for years,it is a FIFO system,first in ,first out??

[astros18]

I know many adults whose bowels move at least once a day if not more, and I don't mean diarreah.I have spent the last 4 years of my life researching digestive health and the one constant that I have found no matter where I look is that if your bowels do not move at least once a day, you will suffer from numerous health problems.Slirwin described a bowel movement that was shaped like her intestine and encased in a "sack". The round of antibiotics she was on probably caused that to happen.That tells me that her colon is full of old dried fecal matter that has probably been there for years. A normal bowel movement should be the consistency of soft serve ice cream, not the shape of your intestinal wall.In my opinion, a toxic and backed up colon causes a toxic and backed up body, much like a septic tank. I speak from personal experience. It was not until I started paying attention to my colon and digestive health did I start getting better.

[yoshi]

How many 'adults' do you know move their bowel several times a day?I dont mean those who suffer from diarhea?

[astros18]

If you are only having a bowel movement once a week, there is no wonder you are having health problems.You should be having a bowel movement at the very least once a day, preferably 2 or 3 times a day. It is not normal for your bowels to move only once a week.Please do your research on colon health and do what you need to do to cleanse.The white globules could possibly be yeast from your antibiotics. Taking a good probiotic should help. ALL disease starts in the colon. A toxic colon means a toxic body.

[Isabeljo]

In my layperson's opinion, you should go to your gynecologist and get a laparoscopy exploratory surgery done of your abdomen. Not to scare you, but ovarian problems interfere with your bowels and create some of the problems you described.  This happened to a good friend, but you should at least rule it out.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Difficult to say without examination.  Possibilities can include hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, an anal fissure, or various types of malabsorption (which can cause a mucousy appearance with stools).  

Any change in stool habits - especially with your history of constipation - should be evaluated with an endoscopy.  This can be either a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.

These tests can give a more comprehensive evaluation of your symptoms.

You can discuss these options with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b