Poop!

Alright this entry might "stink" a little, but this information might serve as a revelation to many!

Here's my background:

I have bloody stools on and off, usually accompanied by a sight tinch of discomfort. Many times, this doesn't appear as a threat or danger to me as I often regard it as constipation though I am passionate lover of fruits and vegetables. This went on for some time until one day, bloody stools became really "bloody" and the pain became increasingly painful. Alarmed and paranoid, I called dear's mom (who is a staff nurse) and told her my situation. She recommended me to see the doctor over at her clinic so that she can accompany me as well.

I followed her instructions and consulted a doctor. Ha I thought the problem could be detected with just some X-ray or poop test but no! The indian MALE doctor asked me to pull my pants down and lie on my side. With no idea what he was going to do, except the sound of him putting on his gloves with the "thwark" sound and squeezing some liquid from a bottle, I was gripped with fear. Thank goodness auntie Mei Lin was there, and her presence was really assuring! Then, the doctor stuffed his finger in, poked around the edges and asked me to respond if it hurts. He took out his finger and started breathing sighs of relief when a rigid, hollow, cold cylinder was stuffed up in me.

Quickly, I flinched and look back and saw the doctor peering through the anoscope. Thinking that it was some kind of stomach ulcer or weird disease that I've researched on the net prior to the consultation, the doctor took out the scope and said "It's an Anal Fissure."

The doctor then explained to me that this is caused by a build up of constipation. I quickly defended myself by telling him how regularly I eat fruits and vegetables. He said, "to some people, apples might cause constipation instead of contributing fibre!" I gasped. Part of the reason is because I drink coffee which happens to be a dehydrating agent. Hence, my stools are hard, pellet-like, and dehydrated! Doctor gave me some medicine:

So let me ask, what's your poop like today? Different kinds could mean different signs! Mine is definitely type 1!

What Does an Ideal Bowel Movement Look Like?

An ideal bowel movement is medium brown, the color of plain cardboard. It leaves the body easily with no straining or discomfort. It should have the consistency of toothpaste, and be approximately 4 to 8 inches long. Stool should enter the water smoothly and slowly fall once it reaches the water. There should be little gas or odor.

Stool That Sinks Quickly

Rapidly sinking stool can indicate that a person isn't eating enough fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, or drinking enough water. This stool is often dark because they have been sitting in the intestines for a prolonged time.

Pale Stool

Stool that is pale or grey may be caused by insufficient bile output due to conditions such as cholecystitis, gallstones, giardia parasitic infection, hepatitis, chronic pancreatitis, or cirrhosis. Bile salts from the liver give stool its brownish color. If there is decreased bile output, stool is much lighter in color.

Other causes of pale stool is the use of antacids that contain aluminum hydroxide. Stool may also temporarily become pale after a barium enema test.

Pale stool may also be shiny or greasy, float, and be foul smelling, due to undigested fat in the stool (see soft and smelly stool).

Soft, Smelly Stool

Soft, foul-smelling stool that floats, sticks to the side of the bowl, or is difficult to flush away may mean there is increased fat in the stools, called steatorrhea. Stool is sometimes also pale.

Mucus in Stool

Whitish mucus in stool may indicate there is inflammation in the intestines. Mucus in stool can occur with either constipation or diarrhea.

Green Stool

The liver constantly makes bile, a bright green fluid, that is secreted directly into the small intestine or stored in the gallbladder.

Loose Stool

In Traditional Chinese Medicine loose stools, abdominal bloating, lack of energy, and poor appetite can be signs of a condition known as spleen qi dificiency It doesn't necessarily involve your actual spleen, but it is linked to tiredness and weak digestion brought on by stress and poor diet.

Pencil Thin Stool

Like loose stools, stool that is pencil thin can be caused by a condition known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as spleen qi difficiency

Other symptoms of spleen qi deficiency are: easy bruising, mental fogginess, bloating, gas, loose stools, fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools with little odor, symptoms that worsen with stress, undigested food in the stools, and difficulty ending the bowel movement. Spleen qi deficiency can be brought on by stress and overwork.

Eating certain foods in excess is thought to worsen spleen qi deficiency. Offending foods include fried or greasy foods, dairy, raw fruits and vegetables, and cold drinks, all believed to cause "cold" and "dampness" in the body. Dietary treatment of spleen qi deficiency involves eating warm, cooked foods. Ginger tea and cinnamon are also warming.

Pencil thin stool can also be caused by a bowel obstruction. Benign rectal polyps, prostate enlargement, colon or prostate cancer are some of the conditions that can cause obstruction.

Infrequent Stool

With constipation, infrequent or hard stool is passed with straining.

Pellet Stool

Pellet stool is stool that comes out in small, round balls. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, pellet stool is caused by a condition known as liver qi stagnation. Liver qi stagnation can be brought on by stress. Lack of exercise can worsen the problem.

Yellow Stool

Yellow stool can indicate that food is passing through the digestive tract relatively quickly. Yellow stool can be found in people with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Symptoms of GERD include heartburn, chest pain, sore throat, chronic cough, and wheezing. Symptoms are usually worse when lying down or bending. Foods that can worsen GERD symptoms include peppermint, fatty foods, alcohol, coffee, and chocolate.

Yellow stool can also result from insuffient bile output. Bile salts from the liver gives stool its brownish color. When bile output is diminished, it often first appears as yellow stool. If there is a greater reduction in bile output, stool lose almost all of its color, becoming pale or grey.

If the onset is sudden, yellow stool can also be a sign of a bacterial infection in the intestines.

(Originally from here)

A long and lengthy post here, so head off to the toilets and start inspecting now!

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