Question 1

my niece had abd x-ray that showed moderate stool in her colon...not near her rectum. eats green veggies and fiber foods. rarely moves bowels, only pellets. tried otc fiber powders. is on lactulose and powder lax for 3 wks ....not working. need help!

Accepted Answer

Stool retention: This is a common problem that is often mishandled by parents &amp; many docs. As soon as a kid realizes they can hold their stools they may choose to after a painful one. The cycle repeats until the colon balloons &amp; emptying becomes inefficient. These kids often require work with a developmental pediatrician or pedi GI along with Miralax or lactulose for a year or more to rehab the bowel.

Question 2

my stool was coming out long, flat & ribbon-like. but now it's coming out in much smaller flat pieces. like shards. i also go about 3-5 times a day.

Accepted Answer

I would: increase  fiber and fluids for hydration of stool and if the change in stool persists see a GI doc to look at colon

Question 3

i recently started using turmeric powder to make tea then i realize my stool was really dark almost black and then the next day a part of the same stool was dark and the other part brown. what could have caused this?

Accepted Answer

Not Turmeric: Turmeric has anti inflammatory and Anticancer properties. Take 1 tsf daily you can add to vegetable or cooked food. The color of stool you described is not because of Turmeric.

Question 4

hi i have recently had constipation and decided to take max strength ex lax. the next day i had bad cramps. now i see black on stool and black dots?

Accepted Answer

Black stool: Peptobismol,if you took it, can cause black stool. Otherwise bleeding from the upper gi tract(stomach,duodenum) is a cause of black stool. Your physician can quickly test a stool sample obtained from a rectal exam and determine whether the stool contains blood. I wouldn't recommend taking harsh laxatives in any event.

Question 5

2yrs ago gi  probs began scopes& scans&blood, badgbladder&ibs-remove gb. 2yrs later still hve ruq tenderness and flat stool-hard to go, every day?

Accepted Answer

Functional?: It may be that this is all a component of the irritable bowel, which is a functional disorder, or some other in identified functional disorder. Could be a chronic  infection known as small bowel bacterial overgrowth. Return to your GI doc and ask if testing and/or treatment for this is appropriate. Hope this helps!

Question 6

after eating 14 oz rib eye i was constipated the next day; pellets. second day had flat-ish stools. then i increased fiber intake and had round-ish and oval stool that are smooth / no issue coming out. is it an issue stool is not an exact circle?

Accepted Answer

: It is fine, stool can come in all shapes and sizes. But what this does point out is that you regularly need to eat enough fiber to not become constipated. Steak can be very consitpating especially if not eaten with sufficient fluid intake, vegetables, fruit and other fiber foods. Apples and popcorn are very good fiber and can help with and prevent constipation.

Question 7

55 urgent bowl movement blood in stool and flank pain all day. no other symptoms but had bout of constipation last week that i solved with ex lax?

Accepted Answer

Blood in stool = ER: Without a compelling and known diagnosis, with constipation and blood in your stool you need urgent and depending on the circumstances even emergent evaluation.

Question 8

severe constipation ,no bm over 3 weeks only very tiny yellow stool, went to er, had x ray, partial blockage, fleet s/s enema given no result,md ordered colyte  prep no stool came back only yellow liquid,md said take lax a day till bm,not working?

Accepted Answer

: You need to go back to the hospital.
You have severe fecal impaction, manual extraction did not work, it may need to be disimpacted endoscopically by a GI specialist.

Question 9

are flat stools normal?

Accepted Answer

Multiple causes: How long did you have flat stools?
Any other symptoms?
Irritable bowel syndrome can cause flat stools for a long time.

Question 10

can impacted feces cause flat stools?

Accepted Answer

Flat stools: Although it is possible that flat stools could be caused by impacted feces, it could also be caused by a polyp or tumor in the colon. Anytime somebody has a change in their bowel habits like this, it needs to be evaluated. You should see a Gastroenterologist immediately. Do not delay. Good luck.

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Doctor answers about:

Flat stool with lax a day powder

A member asked:

My niece had abd x-ray that showed moderate stool in her colon...not near her rectum. eats green veggies and fiber foods. rarely moves bowels, only pellets. tried otc fiber powders. is on lactulose and powder lax for 3 wks ....not working. need help!

A member asked:

My stool was coming out long, flat & ribbon-like. but now it's coming out in much smaller flat pieces. like shards. i also go about 3-5 times a day.

A member asked:

I recently started using turmeric powder to make tea then i realize my stool was really dark almost black and then the next day a part of the same stool was dark and the other part brown. what could have caused this?

A member asked:

Hi i have recently had constipation and decided to take max strength ex lax. the next day i had bad cramps. now i see black on stool and black dots?

A member asked:

2yrs ago gi probs began scopes& scans&blood, badgbladder&ibs-remove gb. 2yrs later still hve ruq tenderness and flat stool-hard to go, every day?

A member asked:

After eating 14 oz rib eye i was constipated the next day; pellets. second day had flat-ish stools. then i increased fiber intake and had round-ish and oval stool that are smooth / no issue coming out. is it an issue stool is not an exact circle?

A member asked:

55 urgent bowl movement blood in stool and flank pain all day. no other symptoms but had bout of constipation last week that i solved with ex lax?

A member asked:

Severe constipation ,no bm over 3 weeks only very tiny yellow stool, went to er, had x ray, partial blockage, fleet s/s enema given no result,md ordered colyte prep no stool came back only yellow liquid,md said take lax a day till bm,not working?

A member asked:

Are flat stools normal?

A member asked:

Can impacted feces cause flat stools?

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