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Passage Of Gas, Mucus In Stool. Had Upset Stomach, Constipation. Taken Imodium. Should I Be Worried?
Question: Hi, 2 weeks ago I had an upset stomach which was bad at night but fine during the day and I was going to toilet about 2-3 times a night. On the 19th April, I took 2 imodium tablets and another one the next day and it seemed to clear up.
At the start of last week, I was constipated and it felt like my anus was very tight and at times a bit sore an itchy but this went away in a few days. When I did go to toilet, my stools were a lot more firmer and not as watery. I started drinking more water and including more fibre in my diet which helped. However, during this week, I haven't been eating as much fibre as I was the week before. When I went to toilet yesterday, I was passing gas and I noticed this yellow/light browncoloured mucus in the toilet and I only produced a small stool which had some white mucus around it (I had a bit of a stomach ache after but it went away within the hour). When I went to toilet today, all I did was pass gas and there was yellow/light brown mucus in the toilet again; I produced no stool but I didn't have a stomach ache after.
I am not sure how long I have been producing mucus when I go to toilet because I have always produced a stool so I have never looked. Sometimes when I do go to the toilet, it feels like my bowels aren't completely empty but this feeling passes when I get off the toilet. I have been going to toilet everyday or every other day which was the normal amount of times I was going before I had the upset stomach 2 weeks ago. I am also producing more gas throughout the day but it seems I only produce mucus when I pass gas if I am sitting on the toilet.
Apart from the things listed above, I feel fine otherwise and it isn't affecting my life so far. I don't smoke or drink and I am not on any medication. I was tempted to eat a lot of fibre tomorrow and drink half a glass of prune juice to clear my system but I am worried this might do more harm then
good. Does this seem to be something serious?
Thank you.
At the start of last week, I was constipated and it felt like my anus was very tight and at times a bit sore an itchy but this went away in a few days. When I did go to toilet, my stools were a lot more firmer and not as watery. I started drinking more water and including more fibre in my diet which helped. However, during this week, I haven't been eating as much fibre as I was the week before. When I went to toilet yesterday, I was passing gas and I noticed this yellow/light browncoloured mucus in the toilet and I only produced a small stool which had some white mucus around it (I had a bit of a stomach ache after but it went away within the hour). When I went to toilet today, all I did was pass gas and there was yellow/light brown mucus in the toilet again; I produced no stool but I didn't have a stomach ache after.
I am not sure how long I have been producing mucus when I go to toilet because I have always produced a stool so I have never looked. Sometimes when I do go to the toilet, it feels like my bowels aren't completely empty but this feeling passes when I get off the toilet. I have been going to toilet everyday or every other day which was the normal amount of times I was going before I had the upset stomach 2 weeks ago. I am also producing more gas throughout the day but it seems I only produce mucus when I pass gas if I am sitting on the toilet.
Apart from the things listed above, I feel fine otherwise and it isn't affecting my life so far. I don't smoke or drink and I am not on any medication. I was tempted to eat a lot of fibre tomorrow and drink half a glass of prune juice to clear my system but I am worried this might do more harm then
good. Does this seem to be something serious?
Thank you.
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Stool normally contains a small amount of mucus. Lots of gas and indigestion is commonly associated with passage of some amount of mucus in the stools. But passing stools with visible amounts of mucus could be from one of several different diseases or conditions.
Mucus in the stool is a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and ulcerative colitis, and is seen to a lesser degree in Crohn's disease. Bacterial infection, anal fissure, or a bowel obstruction may also cause the passage of mucus along with stool.
Physical examination, stool analysis and sometimes colonoscopy are entailed here. These basic test are necessary to diagnose the condition and for appropriate treatment.
I encourage you to consult your primary physician and get the relevant investigations done.
Continue taking a fiber XXXXXXX diet to avoid constipation and take a light easy to digest food to avoid gas and indigestion.
Hope this answers your query. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
Thanks for posting your query.
Stool normally contains a small amount of mucus. Lots of gas and indigestion is commonly associated with passage of some amount of mucus in the stools. But passing stools with visible amounts of mucus could be from one of several different diseases or conditions.
Mucus in the stool is a common symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and ulcerative colitis, and is seen to a lesser degree in Crohn's disease. Bacterial infection, anal fissure, or a bowel obstruction may also cause the passage of mucus along with stool.
Physical examination, stool analysis and sometimes colonoscopy are entailed here. These basic test are necessary to diagnose the condition and for appropriate treatment.
I encourage you to consult your primary physician and get the relevant investigations done.
Continue taking a fiber XXXXXXX diet to avoid constipation and take a light easy to digest food to avoid gas and indigestion.
Hope this answers your query. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Please accept my answer in case you do not have further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
From your symptoms the possibility of irritable bowel syndrome is important to be ruled out. It is characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, gasiness and alteration of bowel habits like alternate constipation and loose stools.
For ruling out the possibility of irritable bowel syndrome, you have to consult a gastroenterologist as it can be a very difficult diagnosis to make. IBS is called a diagnosis of exclusion, which means that your doctor has to rule out other possibilities first.
Till that time, make some lifestyle changes. Alterations in diet, like gradual addition of more fibre in your diet like whole grain breads, XXXXXXX leafy vegetables & fruits can ease your symptoms. Avoid taking cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beans and lentils, caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee) aerated drinks, fried and spicy foods.
Also drink plenty of fluids and water and try to stop smoking or alcohol if there is history of intake of any such substance. Also start doing daily exercises, brisk walks, XXXXXXX breathing exercises which help in preventing constipation.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Thanks for posting your query.
From your symptoms the possibility of irritable bowel syndrome is important to be ruled out. It is characterized by mild to severe abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, gasiness and alteration of bowel habits like alternate constipation and loose stools.
For ruling out the possibility of irritable bowel syndrome, you have to consult a gastroenterologist as it can be a very difficult diagnosis to make. IBS is called a diagnosis of exclusion, which means that your doctor has to rule out other possibilities first.
Till that time, make some lifestyle changes. Alterations in diet, like gradual addition of more fibre in your diet like whole grain breads, XXXXXXX leafy vegetables & fruits can ease your symptoms. Avoid taking cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, beans and lentils, caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee) aerated drinks, fried and spicy foods.
Also drink plenty of fluids and water and try to stop smoking or alcohol if there is history of intake of any such substance. Also start doing daily exercises, brisk walks, XXXXXXX breathing exercises which help in preventing constipation.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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