Dr. Ajeet Kumar
Medical Gastroenterology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Recently I started to notice some yellow mucus in my stool. My stool comes out like a big piece, and some come out held together with the mucus. The rest is soft and contains no mucus. Is this concerning at all? Do I need to investigate further? I drink about three liters of water daily, eat healthy foods, and exercise. The hard stool breaks up as it exits and has been there for some time. But I noticed the mucus three times now. I have a bowel movement every morning.
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
It is not uncommon to have a certain degree of change in stool consistency daily. It depends upon the diet you take. More vegetables and fruits make the stools softer; on the contrary, a high intake of meat and less fiber would make stools quantity small and hard. The stools you are passing are called paste-like or formed stools, and it is the normal form of stools.
The mucus is also, to some extent, normal. It is secreted throughout the human large intestine, and it is again not uncommon to have mucus in stools.
Since you do not have other symptoms such as increased frequency of stools, loose to watery stools, blood in stools, or pain anywhere, this mucus does not signify anything serious. This would probably settle in a couple of days. Your weight seems to be very high, although with this stools form there is nothing associated, it would pose some other risks for your health such as cardiac issues, cholesterol issues, fatty liver, and lung issues.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
As for my weight, I am now down to 108 kg, but I forgot to update it. It is still a lot but a work in progress. I have a cheat meal once a week. And the past times when I ate a large meal, I had this uncomfortable feeling on my lower right side that seemed to be more annoying (not painful ); when I lay on that side or when taking a very deep breath, I could feel it more. My wife thinks it was a pulled muscle from the weight lifting. Could this sensation that I got to be related to the mucus? It was there only the last two times I ate a large meal, and I did not feel anything the rest of the time. Also could be unrelated, but this uncomfortable feeling improved after passing gas.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
This sensation seems to be due to gas or bloating, which is common after large meals. When the weight increases, work intensity slows and produces more gas. The feeling of bloating increases after large carbohydrates-rich meals. I suggest you kindly avoid it. I also suggest you keep reducing weight; that would be the most beneficial thing for you regarding your gut-related issues and overall health.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
My bowel movement is still the same every day, it starts off hard and breaks apart as it comes out and has visible mucus, it is not much mucus but you can see some white streaks here and there. This is every day for over a month now. The hard stool has been there for at least three to four months. I drink tons of water, walk every day, and lift weights. I eat a lot of veggies and salads and protein and I cannot see any change. It is not painful, there are no cramps are blood. Do I need to pursue this? Or am I worried about nothing? I need to know what to do as my anxiety is not helping me at all.
Hello,
I welcome you again to icliniq.com.
Well given your age, I do not think there is anything serious in the bowel, especially when you do not have any other symptoms, and just mucus in your stools.
Mucus in stools is a very non-specific symptom, and we physicians always inquire about associated symptoms which give us an idea about the underlying problem. Since you do not have any other symptoms besides mucus, no immediate diagnosis can be ascertained. Mucus is normally secreted into the large bowel and it helps in the easy passage of stools. I think the mucus which you have been observing is normal amount of daily secretion in the stools and not abnormal levels of mucus.
Secondly, the stool forms which you mentioned, are again normal. However considering the level of anxiety and concern, a sigmoidoscopy can be performed, to see inside the large bowel up to the sigmoid colon. The sigmoidoscopy is an endoscopy that is performed while passing a scope through the anus in the rectum and sigmoid colon. ulcer, worms, fissures, and hemorrhoids are the things that can be seen on sigmoidoscopy and later be treated if seem a cause of your mucus production in the colon. For a sigmoidoscopy, you have to get a physical checkup with a gastroenterologist. He or she may explain in more detail about the procedure to you.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
From what I understand, everything is normal, well just so I can understand better, why is my stool hard with mucus every day? Should I just let this go since there are no other symptoms? I do not want to do a procedure cause of anxiety, if you believe I should let this go then I will.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Well, you can wait, since there is no urgency. Sigmoidoscopy sometime helps in telling some related diagnoses as I said earlier. Sigmoidoscopy will not solve the problem per se, but if anything is found, can easily manage then and there. Having mucus as I said is not a disease in itself, and some have this excessive mucus at times in life. because of some low-grade infections, or anxiety, or side effects of certain drugs. I suggest you get a sigmoidoscopy on a nonurgent basis, meaning, in the coming month or so. Your stool forms are otherwise normal, I suggest you see a Bristol stool chart online and tell me which form of stools you have. This will be more helpful in telling whether you have stools of constipation, or normal consistency since there is not much difference between them. Secondly, I should focus on the straining, because straining is an abnormal finding and must be investigated.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
On the bristle stool chart is type 2, sometimes type 3, or something in between? As for the straining well, there is some extent of straining it is not over-the-top straining but since the stool is hard as it comes out I must squeeze a little to let it pass through, I would not say it is too much straining, but there is a little straining involved, my stool is usually in the morning after coffee.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
It is the normal form of stool that you have, plus some straining is usual and often required to pass stools. I think you should not be getting worried more about it since there is nothing serious. You can take a course of tablet Rifaximin 200 mg thrice daily for one week, this will help resolve any infection present and would probably resolve the mucus component of your problem as well.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Alright, I will do that, also I had a second bowel movement today and it was mucus-free, good color, and smooth and soft. I will take the antibiotic just in case, as long as it is not serious I can manage.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
You are welcome.
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Medical Gastroenterology
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