Mixed consistency stool
Posted , 20 users are following.
Hello everyone!
I have suffered from ibs-c since I was very young but after changing my diet (increasing fiber, minimizing dairy, drinking more water) I started passing stool regularly with normal consistency.
However, since a few months ago, whenever I pass stool, the beginning is always small hard pebbles but is then followed by normal soft stool.
I dont have any other symptoms and can usually pass stool daily.
Does anyone know what such stool with mixed consistency is called? Should I be worried or is it likely just IBS?
Thank you in advance!
0 likes, 23 replies
sam18386 sa50481
Posted
Hi sa, hmm i would check this out. Maybe it is a concern maybe not? Let us know how you get on!
sa50481 sam18386
Posted
I will bring it up once I have my doctor's appointment but it does seem to be ibs.
pippa58442 sa50481
Posted
Your are describing normal IBS symptoms. Some people experience two different coloured stools or two different consistencies of stool at the same time with their IBS. Your own definition of this symptom describes what you are experiencing perfectly. Remember, everyone experiences and categorizes their IBS differently and IBS can change over time. No one person is the same with their IBS. I would not worry at all about your symptoms because worry makes IBS far worse. Try to stay as calm as possible because being relaxed will help to control your IBS.
sa50481 pippa58442
Posted
Thanks so much for the reassurance! Whenever reading about it, IBS-mixed seems to always only mention having constipation for some days followed by days of diarrhea, not having it both in one stool. But it does seem like ibs! Much less worried now:)
pippa58442 sa50481
Posted
IBS mixed is slightly different but what you are experiencing is also bowel habit change which is a key factor in IBS. Glad to be of help.
LCat pippa58442
Posted
Hi Pippa,
Ive seen you in forums before. you seem to have sooo much knowledge about IBS. Therefore I would like to ask you this :
I've had for many years 'only' functional dyspepsia (which is similar to IBS but higher up in your stomach and small intestines) ....this has been extremely painful and bad enough. But since one year, I seem to have, in addition, IBS as well ... all the horrible bloating pain, flatulence and burping.
And to make it even more nasty ... I now also have IBS mixed = constipation and diarrhea .
Before I had only constipation ...as I can eat close to nothing and its tough to try to keep my weight. I have to 'force the food down'.
As the bloating was so painful for my stomach I cut out most fiber ... then the pain calmed a bit down .... but then the horror of constipation started....
Do you think that constipation and diarrhea is mainly is caused by the foods we eat/dont eat etc... or do you think it would happen anyhow ....because of IBS ??
Also, do you know what NOT to do when one is temporarily constipated. I was for several days ... then got really worried .... desperately trying to decide whether and/or which laxatives to take or not to take. I then decided against laxatives and ate a pear instead ..... and then got diarrhea .
I normally can only drink milk or eat yoghurt. Fruit usually causes problems for me (even though I love fruit). vegetables especially green ones cause lots of bloating pain.
Any ideas ??
Troldepus71 sa50481
Posted
I totally agree with Pippa!
I experience the same as you from time to time - for me it is just part of my IBS.
I have periods with soft, normal stools, periods with loose stools, periods with harder stools and periods with mixed consistence.
Try not to worry!
sa50481 Troldepus71
Posted
Thank you so much for the reassurance too!
leeniepie sa50481
Posted
This is very common with ibs-c. The hard first bits are like that because they have been sitting around for longer so have become drier. The softer part is stool that have moved a long more normally. Nothing to worry about.
sa50481 leeniepie
Posted
Oh that makes a lot of sense! Thanks so much!
fiona66001 sa50481
Posted
can i jump in and ask if anyone suffers floating stools too with this ?
sa50481 fiona66001
Posted
For me, some of the pebble part of the stool floats sometimes. Maybe start a new topic to get more opinions on this specifically?
sammy49456 sa50481
Posted
Hey, I have the same problem. Anyone figured what it's about?
Tidgypud sa50481
Posted
I know it's been a while, but did you get any answer as to what caused it?
For a month or so now my bm's start just like yours, like pebbles.... Then 2 seconds later its soft and smells faintly acidic....
I'm really worried as I suffer with anal fissures and I'm hoping the two aren't linked
Any info would be great as Dr's are less than unhelpful at the moment unfortunately....
alex05074 Tidgypud
Posted
I am also having similar issues. I have been dealing with fissures as well. My stool starts out very firm and turns pushy. Immediately following a bowel movement I experience some discomfort in my abdomen. I fully believe that stress/worrying about it aggravates it. Doctor prescribed a Diltiazem lidocaine cream to apply.
achu54529 alex05074
Posted
I am also facing this issue since last two years and I have no idea how to deal with this. Its traumatic.
tina85432 Tidgypud
Posted
i have this issue as well!! i have internally hemorrhoids that bleed so the first hard/pebbles are so frustrating. i am now trying miralax for relief. any improvement for you?
LCat tina85432
Posted
did Miralax help ?? I bought it but didnt dare to try it yet as I'm too scared to try it .... trying not to get terrible bloating pain ...