It can be pretty, um, crappy dealing with bowel issues.<\/p>\n
Figuring out what\u2019s normal and what isn\u2019t can be a challenge if you don\u2019t know what to look for. Stools come in all shapes and sizes and can shift forms depending on what you\u2019re eating or what is going on in your life at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cBowel movements change from person to person depending on his or her diet, physical activity, how much water they consume and what medications they take,\u201d said M. Nuri Kalkay<\/a>, a retired gastroenterologist and health blogger.<\/p>\n Everyone has their own barometer of how often their body is used to going and what a typical stool looks like for them. But what if things change and you see something beyond the norm in the toilet? We chatted with some experts to determine what bowel habits are aren\u2019t so ordinary and might require a trip to the doctor.<\/p>\n Black and\/or tarry stools<\/p>\n Jeffery M. Nelson<\/a>, surgical director at the Center for Inflammatory Bowel and Colorectal Diseases at Baltimore\u2019s Mercy Medical Center, said if your poop is black, \u201cnot just dark brown,\u201d you should be concerned. <\/p>\n \u201cThis means bleeding is happening from an upper GI source like the esophagus, stomach or small bowel,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n There are some exceptions to this: If you\u2019re taking iron supplements, for example, your stools may appear dark green<\/a> to the point where they almost look black. If you\u2019ve taken bismuth medication like Pepto Bismol, that can also make your stools look almost black<\/a>. It\u2019s always best to check with a doctor if you\u2019re unsure.<\/p>\n Bright red blood in your stools<\/p>\n If you find blood in your stool either by itself on the toilet paper, in the water or streaked in the stools, this can indicate a bleeding source from the anal canal or a low rectal source. <\/p>\n \u201cThings like internal hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal polyps or rectal cancers can all do this,\u201d said Nelson. All of these are reasons to see a doctor.<\/p>\n Maroon-colored stools<\/p>\n If your stools are this color, then they\u2019re likely also more liquid in consistency and paired with an unpleasant, distinct odor. According to Nelson, this can indicate bleeding from the very end of the small bowel or the colon. <\/p>\n \u201cDiverticulosis and arteriovenous malformations are the classic causes of this presentation,\u201d and a reason to go to the emergency room, he said.<\/p>\n Pale, oily and especially foul-smelling stools<\/p>\n \u201cThis finding is called steatorrhea and is due to excess fat in the stool,\u201d explained Chris Carrubba, an internal medicine doctor in Jacksonville, Florida. <\/p>\n Carrubba said steatorrhea is often seen with malabsorption syndromes, pancreatic insufficiency and biliary disease. \u201cThe presence of steatorrhea indicates difficulty absorbing fat and these patients are at risk of developing deficiencies in fat soluble vitamins,\u201d like vitamins A, D, E and K, he said.<\/p>\n Stools that are different than your typical bowel movements<\/p>\n Your body is a creature of habit in a lot of ways. For example, if you consistently have smooth, long sausage-like stools and suddenly they change to a completely different size, you should speak to your doctor. <\/p>\n \u201cPencil thin versus log-like routinely could mean that an inflammatory condition may be present such as Crohn\u2019s or infection,\u201d said Karen Soika, a general surgeon in Greenwich, Connecticut. <\/p>\n If the consistency of your stools has changed to watery or diarrhea, this could signify irritable bowel syndrome, an infectious cause or an inflammatory bowel disease such as Ulcerative colitis. <\/p>\n IBS or infections can also increase constipation. <\/p>\n Watery diarrhea after a camping trip<\/p>\n This can be due to giardia, \u201ca protozoal organism that is found in freshwater and the reason that you should always boil and sanitize water from mountain streams or lakes,\u201d Carrubba said. <\/p>\n Ingestion of this organism can result in giardiasis, which leads to abdominal pain and persistent, watery diarrhea. The issue can be treated with antimicrobials. In addition to drinking contaminated water, you can also be exposed to giardia<\/a> by eating uncooked vegetables or fruits that were rinsed in contaminated water and by improperly washing hands after coming into contact with feces or an infected human or animal.<\/p>\n Mucus in the stool<\/p>\n