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What Causes Mushy Stool?

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Posted on Tue, 9 Aug 2016
Question: When I go number 2 the stool is very soft but I don't have diarhea. It is as if the stool does not stay in my body long enough to harden. Thus making it difficult to wipe clean in only a couple of wipes. This is causing irritation to the skin around my anus causing some sign of blood in the swipes. I have no pain at all. I am very healthy overall. I had this condition a year or so ago and it went away after a few weeks. My doctor at the time didn't think much of it since my labs were all okay. What can I do to create a more hard stool when I go number 2?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
avoid stimulating food, use food that firm stool, medications

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Persistently soft stool would be problematic

You can try: (1) avoiding foods that irritate or stimulate the bowel. These foods tend to cause the food to move through the bowel too easily

Eg caffeine, chilli, stone fruits( peaches, nectarine, plum, apricot etc)

(2) use foods that help to firm up the stool and are thought to cause less frequent bowel movements such as banana, white rice, white pasta, marshmellow, smooth peanut butter, potato, cheese, yogurt, pumkin, tapioca, pretzels

(3)if necessary, if there is no improvement with the above, consider occasional use of medication that slow down the movement of stool through the bowel eg imodium, lomotil

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (9 minutes later)
Thank you Dr. for your response.
Update of information for you. I have a banana daily for the past ten years. I rarely eat stone fruit. I do have a navel orange with the banana when in season. I eat a salad nightly which has pears, tomatoes, snap peas along with the mixed iceberg lettuce. Shall I take one imodium tablet daily until the condition subsides?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
can try this to see if it helps

Detailed Answer:
HI

yes, you can try the imodium for to see if this helps.

Also consider , if you are not currently using, flushable wipes instead of toilet paper to reduce damage to the anal region.
Dab if possible instead of wiping

Please feel free to ask anything else
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (4 minutes later)
Thank you. I will try both suggestions.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
ok

Detailed Answer:
No problem

if any other issues, can let me know
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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What Causes Mushy Stool?

Brief Answer: avoid stimulating food, use food that firm stool, medications Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Persistently soft stool would be problematic You can try: (1) avoiding foods that irritate or stimulate the bowel. These foods tend to cause the food to move through the bowel too easily Eg caffeine, chilli, stone fruits( peaches, nectarine, plum, apricot etc) (2) use foods that help to firm up the stool and are thought to cause less frequent bowel movements such as banana, white rice, white pasta, marshmellow, smooth peanut butter, potato, cheese, yogurt, pumkin, tapioca, pretzels (3)if necessary, if there is no improvement with the above, consider occasional use of medication that slow down the movement of stool through the bowel eg imodium, lomotil I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions