BM Question
October 18, 2017 2:00 AM Subscribe
Possibly TMI (but not graphic) question about bowel movements...
I notice that my feeling of well-being is often tied to how efficiently I am eliminating, and I noticed a pattern:
On days that I do not go to the office, I have a bowel movement pretty soon after eating breakfast (and lunch). It's neither too loose nor too hard.
On days that I go to the office, I often don't have a bowel movement until later in the day, or sometimes not until I get home in the evening.
Possibly related:
I usually work out before breakfast on days when I go to the office. On days I don't, I will usually not work out until later in the afternoon.
I eat same/similar things for breakfast either way.
I don't have a problem with using the bathroom at work for bowel movements.
When at home, I usually sit cross legged (both feet under me) on the couch after eating. (in general that's just how I sit at home anyway) When I go to office, I am usually sitting with both feet on the floor.
My goal is to determine if I can also have frequent BMs on days when I go to the office, because I feel much better when I do. When I don't, I often have a general feeling of bloatedness/unease.
I notice that my feeling of well-being is often tied to how efficiently I am eliminating, and I noticed a pattern:
On days that I do not go to the office, I have a bowel movement pretty soon after eating breakfast (and lunch). It's neither too loose nor too hard.
On days that I go to the office, I often don't have a bowel movement until later in the day, or sometimes not until I get home in the evening.
Possibly related:
I usually work out before breakfast on days when I go to the office. On days I don't, I will usually not work out until later in the afternoon.
I eat same/similar things for breakfast either way.
I don't have a problem with using the bathroom at work for bowel movements.
When at home, I usually sit cross legged (both feet under me) on the couch after eating. (in general that's just how I sit at home anyway) When I go to office, I am usually sitting with both feet on the floor.
My goal is to determine if I can also have frequent BMs on days when I go to the office, because I feel much better when I do. When I don't, I often have a general feeling of bloatedness/unease.
Humans tend to understand the relationship between our sleep patterns and our work/play habits. If we are stressed at work, we don't sleep well at night, etc. However, we are much less understanding about that same relationship as it relates to our bowel habits. I agree with hazyjane. You are pretty normal and have recognized a relationship between two things that you did not know might be related. I would put it in the category of, "hmmm, that's interesting" and move on.
posted by eleslie at 4:34 AM on October 18, 2017
posted by eleslie at 4:34 AM on October 18, 2017
Many people find that exercise has a temporary effect of slowing the gut. The physiologic basis is generally that blood flow is diverted from the GI tract in favor of skeletal muscle during periods of high metabolic demand -- digestion is a task that can be "put off" but your muscles need oxygen and nutrients right now.
All of this is to say that my suspicion is that your bowels are slowing during morning exercise and don't become active enough to stimulate a BM until later in the day.
The other factor at play is that eating can often stimulate a BM (via the gastrocolic reflex -- essentially food arriving in the stomach stimulates motility of the colon), so on non-workout mornings you're stimulating a morning BM with breakfast, but not on days when you go to the gym before breakfast.
Probably the easiest thing to try would be having a small breakfast (do you drink coffee?) at home before going to the gym and see if you can have a BM before you workout. Yes, it may mean finding an extra 30 minutes or so in the morning, so you have to decide where your priorities lie.
With all that said, it sounds like you have a BM every 24-36 hours at the most. This is completely within the limits of normal. I don't think it's unreasonable to try and move around some meals or activities to get into a more convenient/comfortable pattern, but I would not introduce laxatives or any other kind of bowel regimen at this point. All in all you have a very "normal" pattern that many people would envy.
posted by telegraph at 4:53 AM on October 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
All of this is to say that my suspicion is that your bowels are slowing during morning exercise and don't become active enough to stimulate a BM until later in the day.
The other factor at play is that eating can often stimulate a BM (via the gastrocolic reflex -- essentially food arriving in the stomach stimulates motility of the colon), so on non-workout mornings you're stimulating a morning BM with breakfast, but not on days when you go to the gym before breakfast.
Probably the easiest thing to try would be having a small breakfast (do you drink coffee?) at home before going to the gym and see if you can have a BM before you workout. Yes, it may mean finding an extra 30 minutes or so in the morning, so you have to decide where your priorities lie.
With all that said, it sounds like you have a BM every 24-36 hours at the most. This is completely within the limits of normal. I don't think it's unreasonable to try and move around some meals or activities to get into a more convenient/comfortable pattern, but I would not introduce laxatives or any other kind of bowel regimen at this point. All in all you have a very "normal" pattern that many people would envy.
posted by telegraph at 4:53 AM on October 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Do you drink enough water at work? Hydration levels have a big effect for me.
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:04 AM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:04 AM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you don't drink coffee, and you want to help things along, you could try a mug of Pu Erh tea. It tends to do the job.
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:14 AM on October 18, 2017
posted by Too-Ticky at 6:14 AM on October 18, 2017
Do you drink more on some days more than others? Hydration levels can play a big part, possibly youre not drinking enough after working out. Or it could be what you drink. Do you drink more or less coffee or something else on one day or another.
posted by wwax at 6:32 AM on October 18, 2017
posted by wwax at 6:32 AM on October 18, 2017
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posted by hazyjane at 3:16 AM on October 18, 2017