Public Information Broadcast
A friend has just mentioned how often he poops. Several other people chimed in to talk about their own habits. I was taken aback by what people were taking for granted.
I do not mean to be alarmist, but one of the things that so delayed my own diagnosis of celiac was not knowing what was normal. Surely everyone went to the loo about half an hour after breakfast and stayed there awhile? Surely everyone felt bloated and uncomfortable after lunch? Surely everyone had a bowel movement four or five times a day? Surely everyone "had to run"? There are more serious conditions than celiac which cause bowel problems but what they all have in common is that the symptoms are too embarrassing to talk about.
1. Normal bowel movements are in the range of 3 times a day to 3 times a week. It varies but that's sort of ok.
2. It shouldn't hurt.
3. It shouldn't be catching you unawares.
4. You shouldn't feel bloated after eating and have regular constipation/the runs (I can't spell the correct word, sorry).
If you have issues with any of the above, see the doctor. If the doctor tells you that you have irritable bowel syndrome without running any tests explain very, very patiently, that this is a description and not a diagnosis.
Of the possible causes, celiac is now considered so common that if you have any of the symptoms (easy enough to look up) I recommend that you have the blood tests. If you are an Ashkenazi Jew, Italian, Irish or Scandinavian in origin, I raise the recommendation. Also if anyone in the family has aspergers or autism as there seems to be a link but it's not understood what it is or if it really exists.
I do not mean to be alarmist, but one of the things that so delayed my own diagnosis of celiac was not knowing what was normal. Surely everyone went to the loo about half an hour after breakfast and stayed there awhile? Surely everyone felt bloated and uncomfortable after lunch? Surely everyone had a bowel movement four or five times a day? Surely everyone "had to run"? There are more serious conditions than celiac which cause bowel problems but what they all have in common is that the symptoms are too embarrassing to talk about.
1. Normal bowel movements are in the range of 3 times a day to 3 times a week. It varies but that's sort of ok.
2. It shouldn't hurt.
3. It shouldn't be catching you unawares.
4. You shouldn't feel bloated after eating and have regular constipation/the runs (I can't spell the correct word, sorry).
If you have issues with any of the above, see the doctor. If the doctor tells you that you have irritable bowel syndrome without running any tests explain very, very patiently, that this is a description and not a diagnosis.
Of the possible causes, celiac is now considered so common that if you have any of the symptoms (easy enough to look up) I recommend that you have the blood tests. If you are an Ashkenazi Jew, Italian, Irish or Scandinavian in origin, I raise the recommendation. Also if anyone in the family has aspergers or autism as there seems to be a link but it's not understood what it is or if it really exists.