What is normal???

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:53 pm

Okay, probably too much time on my hands today. All of my life, until the MC hit, I had C probably due to gluten. Now I don't....
so why does one bm a day seem to be normal. My baby grandson goes after every meal. Might that be normal? I suspect that we sometimes hinder our bm's to make them convenient. When I travel, I regularly don't "go". Has once a day become the norm because it is more convenient. Inquiring minds want to know! :)

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:19 pm

Hi Deb that's a good question... It's commonly defined as:

nor·mal
/ˈnôrməl/

Adjective
Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.

Noun
The usual, average, or typical state or condition.

First I know your talking about what is a normal BM. As I read the definition I come to the conclusion that 'normal' is what is usual, typical or expected by each individual. MC and other IBD's affect and change each individual in a unique and very personal way. I guess normal = what's normal for me, what's expected with the meds I take and the diet I eat. In the end I ended up re-defining what was normal for me. I expect many of us have done just that

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:29 pm

I don't think there is a normal. I go once a day ( now that my D is under control) and have always gone once a day. I do however know of people who go three times and are perfectly happy and healthy :)

Leah

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:00 pm

I am starting believe that we are just causing ourselves more stress by thinking that only once a day is "normal". I really don't have a normal to base things on and as long as I'm feeling okay, I think I may be okay, even if it's several times a day but it's manageable.

tlras · Post by **tlras** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:45 pm

Interesting. I used to think going almost every day was normal then I started hearing in the last few years that it was good to have one after every meal (not the watery kind, of course). I always went every day or every other day. Then once I got on probiotics I started going twice a day which I considered normal but a little annoying...lol! Of course, they were all Normans. For me, 3 watery D's a day is not the Norm and I think would cause issues later on. I think they say it's actually called "diarrhea" if you go more than 3 times a day. Whatever!

I'll be interested to see if I go back to my old Norm when I get off Pepto. Something tells me my new Norm will be a little different but hopefully tolerable. Six days to go!

Terri

Post by **tex** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 8:19 pm

BM frequency and volume is highly dependent on diet. Herbivores eat a high fiber diet, so they have high volume/frequency BMs. Carnivores tend toward once or twice a day, since their diet produces little residue. Omnivores tend to be somewhere in between. Increased dry matter in the diet (low moisture foods) reduces output, also.

What is normal is strictly a personal matter, mostly based on habit and convenience.

Tex

fatbuster205 · Post by **fatbuster205** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 3:59 pm

The Bristol Stool Chart is what the medics (here in the UK) refer to. 1 & 2 is "constipated"; 6 & 7 is "diarrhea".

That said, when I am in flare anything between 5 - 30 x a day of 4, 5 and 6 is so not normal!!! And the pattern is 1 or 2 "4's" to begin....

I agree that one a day is not necessarily "normal" in the sense that your body finds it's own rhythm! But for me, if I am going 2 or 3 times but they are formed, bulky and cause no pain; and then if I don't go 1 day and have no pain then I guess that is normal! In the dim and distant past of my childhood I generally was a one a day! But I eat ridiculous amounts of veggies - recently all very well cooked - so I tend to expect bulk! I will be more than happy if my recent pattern or 1-3/day of 3-4 BSC becomes my normal!

Great and very interesting discussion because a lot of us - I think - can lose perspective because we're ill for prolonged periods! And when you get Dinosaurs as GI specialist telling you (in 2005) that 5 episodes of 6-7 BSC was "what you are going to have to accept as normal for you"! [I jest not|] you really do just get on with never being well and yet trying to function as a normal person!!!

I so wish I had found this Forum back then!!!
Anne

H@ns · Post by **H@ns** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:04 pm

I've always lived by the rule; quality before quantity.
the influence of stress, diet, travel, habits, sleep and probably even more factors seem effect my BM rate. But on average i'm a one's a day person.
But what really interests me when i go (these days) is the quality. I keep a sharp eye on consistence and appearance; does it stick to the pot? what's the color? does it float or sink? what did i eat yesterday? does it take effort? stuff like that.

I guess i'm just a conscience BM'er

Post by **tex** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 10:38 pm

Hans,

Virtually everyone who has this disease quickly becomes a bowl watcher, and once that happens, it seems to be a tough habit to break. LOL.

Tex

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:11 pm

I am 1-2/day. My crazy healthy "nutritarian" aunt who eats kale by the bushel says she often goes 4 times each morning! But bulky, normal stool. My daughter goes once a day at 6:30 pm on the dot...and it's horrible, explosive, orange, undigested food D. So I think it's definitely about quality, not quantity.

gluten · Post by **gluten** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 1:12 pm

Hi, I always the looked at the BM'S. Before the dental work and antibiotics, normal for me was once every two to three days and the BM was a solid 4 on the BSC. It would curl up like a snake. LOL Finally back to the 4 but no snakes. I take no meds. Only diet and supplements. Jon