Question 1

how do i know if my colon is completely empty?

Accepted Answer

Why would you care?: Your colon is never completely empty unless you abuse laxatives and enemas or prep for a colonoscopy.

Question 2

how much does an empty colon weight?

Accepted Answer

About 250-350 gm: At autopsy, especially in people who have been very sick and not eaten, it's not uncommon to feel an empty colon. We usually do not weigh it, but this is my recollection, allowing for the usual amount of fat in the appendices epiploica but removing the mesentary at its junction.

Question 3

how long does it take to empty the colon ?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Some colon can empty in hors while others take days.

Question 4

i have to clean out my bowel. how will i know when my colon is completely empty?

Accepted Answer

Clear yellow: Your bowel movements will be liquid and usually a light yellow or greenish color. After using the toilet, if you were to drop a penny into the water you could see it through the diarrhea.

Question 5

at what point do i need to worry about colon cancer? i've had pencil thin stool for a week now and can't completely empty my bowels.

Accepted Answer

Unlikely at your age: It would be very unlikely for someone of your age to have colon cancer, unless there's a strong family history that would suggest a genetic predisposition for such.  However, with these pencil-thin stools, you may have an infection or inflammation within the colon which needs identification and treatment.   A CT scan and colonoscopy would be in order to investigate this.

Question 6

i drank the gatorade & miralx cleanse (64oz) because i was extremely constipated.i don't think my colon is empty. should my bowels be normal?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily: Sometimes the MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol) prep does not clean out very constipated patients completely.  Ask your doctor to see if there are better regimens for your constipation if it is a recurrent problem.

Question 7

what can i do for slow colon emptying. also my food digestion is very slow. severe constipation because of it. i do not have a bm for 5-7 days.

Accepted Answer

Be : Be sure you are drinking plenty of water every day.  Be sure you have enough fiber in your diet.  Foods such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruit have fiber.  If you can, walk at least one mile a day which will increase your digestion.  Sit on the toilet for at least 3 times a day and gently try to have a bowel movement.  Even if you don't, this will stimulate your bowels and start "peristalsis", or movement of the bowels.  If the constipation is new for you, or if you have any bleeding, pain, or weight changes, be sure that you have had a complete medical evaluation including a colonoscopy to be sure you don't have a specific cause of your constipation.  There are also medical causes such as thyroid so please see your doctor and be sure you don't have a medical condition causing your constipation.

Question 8

what happens if you swallow popcorn kernels while your colon is empty? what if you don't eat for another 48 hours after swallowing popcorn kernels?

Accepted Answer

You will likely be: Passing popcorn kernels in your stool. Your question concerns me however in two ways--why did you take a colon purge, and why did you fast for 48 hours afterward? Neither are recommended, unless under a doctor's advice.

Question 9

i have a jpouch (internal pouch made out of the intestines and colon removed). i have difficult fully emptying, when my stools are formed, its ok when the stools are loose. the pouch have been checked and there is no issues with it?

Accepted Answer

: Your surgeon or gastroenterologist can counsel you on dietary measures to either firm up or loosen your stools. They can also refer you to support groups who provide useful tips for paitients with j pouch issues.

Question 10

my teen cousin (18) after eating blueberries a day ago noticed black specks in his stool. today, he saw more black specks appearing even though he ate 0 blueberries. we feel it is just his colon emptying the skins. is this correct? is this a concern?

Accepted Answer

: Not a concern. It takes 3-4 days for ingested material to pass completely out of the stool and debris from a single feed may be spread out over several days.

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Doctor answers about:

Does your colon completely empty

A member asked:

How do i know if my colon is completely empty?

A member asked:

How much does an empty colon weight?

A member asked:

How long does it take to empty the colon ?

A member asked:

I have to clean out my bowel. how will i know when my colon is completely empty?

A member asked:

At what point do i need to worry about colon cancer? i've had pencil thin stool for a week now and can't completely empty my bowels.

A member asked:

I drank the gatorade & miralx cleanse (64oz) because i was extremely constipated.i don't think my colon is empty. should my bowels be normal?

A member asked:

What can i do for slow colon emptying. also my food digestion is very slow. severe constipation because of it. i do not have a bm for 5-7 days.

A member asked:

What happens if you swallow popcorn kernels while your colon is empty? what if you don't eat for another 48 hours after swallowing popcorn kernels?

A member asked:

I have a jpouch (internal pouch made out of the intestines and colon removed). i have difficult fully emptying, when my stools are formed, its ok when the stools are loose. the pouch have been checked and there is no issues with it?

A member asked:

My teen cousin (18) after eating blueberries a day ago noticed black specks in his stool. today, he saw more black specks appearing even though he ate 0 blueberries. we feel it is just his colon emptying the skins. is this correct? is this a concern?

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