how often should you have a poo?

Question

i only go once a week any tips on how to go more without taking laxatives.i am 26 year old female and do eat quite alot i weigh 9 stone and i am 5`1.i allways have tummy ache HELP

Answer 1

Normal is defined as anything from 3 times a day to once every 3 days.

The important thing is not how often you go, but whether it's easy to have a bowel movement when you do. Even if you only went once every 3 days but the stool was easy to pass, you wouldn't be constipated.

If you're only going once a week and it is difficult to have a bowel movement you need to increase your fibre intake as well as your fluid intake. You should also do regular exercise which stimulates the bowel. If these don't help, you should see your doctor who will prescribe a type of laxative which is gentle on your intestines.

Answer 2

There is no normal amount of time, its what is normal for you. If you are passing a healthy stool every three days without straining or passing any blood then you are ok. Oncew a week does sound a little long between and you say you have tummy ache.

Don't make any drastic changes to your diet or take drugs without seeing your gp, but you could try eating more fibre. Try not to rely on bran as your source of fibre as it's molecules are sharp and can scratch the bowel wall. Eat fruit that is fibrus like oranges and dates. Also try drinking orange, pinnapple or prune juice. It's very important to drink plenty of water.

Aloe Vera is very soothing to the bowel and may help with the pain you are experiencing. You might need to try a bulking agent such as senacot to get things mmoving. Senacot increases the amount of matter in the stools so it is easier to pass them. Lactalose increases the size of the stool by ioncreasing the amount of water in it, making it easy to pass. With both of these you must drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated. Never use laxatives long term without medical supervision as they can lead to the bowel muscles becoming lazy and weakened so that you are unable to cope without them and have problems later in life. Talk to a pharmasist before taking medication.

If you have had these problems for a while its best to be safe and see your gp as yo may be suffering from a desease such as IBS or chrones which will need medical attention.

Answer 3

I think you need to change your diet, and eat some more fibre, once a week is not normal, you should go at least twice a day. I think you are probably eating the wrong foods or maybe suffering from IBS. Maybe you should see your doctor. Good Luck

Answer 4

you should go on a yeast free, sugar free and dairy free diet. this will help your disgestive system . do this for 1 month. i was having terrible stomach problems and just a week on this showed great results. its a very strick diet as there is sugar in almost everything but it will be worth it in the end. after the month increase other foods back in slowly but try and stay off the junk drink plenty of water,eat lots of fruit and veg
good luck

Answer 5

Have you been to the docs? you should really be opening your bowels every three to five days! You may have a condition of the gut that could easily be treated! If you really are against medical intervention then you should try eating plenty of fruit,vegatables and fibre in your diet every day and drinking plenty of water.

Answer 6

Eat lots of gammon stew with plenty of carrots turnip potatoes and pulses & barley,leaks and onion makes me go to the toilet 5-6 times a day .its the turnip or swede that does it

Answer 7

a healthy person goes once a day or once every other day. You need to eat more fibre, drink more water and eat plenty of fruit and veg, 5 portions a day. Try buying bran flakes and having them with sultanas and a banana for breakfast every morning then drinking a pint of water, this should make you more regular.

Answer 8

Dried apricots and dried figs are brilliant s**t shifters - especially if eaten first thing in the morning on an empty stomach or immediately after exercise.

Answer 9

i would say once a day, to do that try drinking lots of water and eating foods such as fruit and vegetables, and small amounts of brown bread, brown rice, bran things like some cereals etc.

Answer 10

you should go everyday try having a weetabix and a piece of fruit and a glass of orange juice for your breakfast every morning after a couple of days you should be going like clock work..