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Is Bowel Movement After Every Meal A Cause For Concern?

Posted on Fri, 5 Feb 2016

Question: Is it normal to have bowel movements right after you eat your meal or snacks? Recently i have been facing this problem as whenever I am taking my meal or snacks, shortly in next 20-30 mns itself i feel very bloated and gassy and feel the need to poop. This has been happening almost everyday in last couple of weeks and has got me scared to eat anything. I thought it could be due to lactose intolerance but i feel it is mostly with anything I am eating. Earlier I used to go for bowel movement once in morning every day and sometimes two. Nowadays it has become 3 times everyday and sometimes 4.

Please advise on this rapid bowel movement trouble.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow the suggestions below..

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking on HCM!
I read carefully all your concerns and I can say as follows:
1. You are reporting to have bowel movement right after meal. These symptoms may be related with:
- IBS (irritable bowel symptoms)
- thyroid issues like hyperthyroidism or Armor Thyroid side effects
- malabsorption
2. If I were your treating doctor I would suggest to do further exams to better evaluate the cause of your issues like :
- TSH, T3,T4
- abdominal ultrasound
- fecal exams for food malabsorption
3.Meantime I suggest to :
- avoid fatty and sugar foods
- use lactose and gluten free diet
- avoid spicy foods
- avoid alcohol and coffee.
Hope it was helpful to you
Dr.klerida

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (2 days later)

Thanks for your detailed response. Yes I had done my TSH test on Nov 24 last year and it came out to 5.94. I had been skipping thyroid medication that time that might have elevated the number. Since then I have been taking medication almost daily.
I believe it would be a good idea to get the test done again now along with other tests you suggested right? Also is it required to have colonoscopy done for diagnosis?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Klerida Shehu (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please follow...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back

Thank you for giving more of your medical data.
Yes at your situation I strongly suggest to repeat thyroid hormones tests.

With regards to colonoscopy regarding your history and your age it is not the firts test that I would suggest.
Otherwise it is the best test to evaluate large bowel.
So after you have finished the exams I suggested above you can do colonoscopy.
Hope it was helpful to you.
Dr. Klerida

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar