A Cup of Coffee – Is Your Stool Talking To You?

Welcome back! Last week, we talked about Pornography and the negative effects it can have on your brain. If you would like to catch up on that blog, click HERE.

This week, we are going to look at and discuss, pictures of stool, fecal matter, feces, or, my favorite, poop. I know, gross, right? But many of us walk around continuously dehydrated and don’t even know it. We understand that if our urine is dark, then we need to hydrate, but how many also know that our stool can give us clues to our health as well?

Warning: drawings (not real pictures) of poop ahead!

First, let’s look at what a “normal” bowel movement should look like, shall we? There are two kinds of stool that doctors will say pass the sniff test. Pun intended. Doctors use what’s called the Bristol stool chart, and it gives you an idea of how long a stool spent in your bowel before heading out.

The following information and pictures are a helpful visual of what to look for in your stools.

Awww, the snake. This is the ideal stool to have. The envy of your friends, if you will. You can feel free to brag on this one. You should pass one of these every one to three days.

The snake with cracks. This one is in the realm of normal, but nothing to brag on. You can see the beginnings of dehydration in this splendid specimen. Drink some more water and you should be seeing a snake tomorrow.

Also known as “rabbit pellets“, these are no good. Hard stop. If this goes on for too long, you should call your doctor and get an appointment to be seen. These pellets have spent too long in your body and if you have this situation going on for more than two weeks, it’s a problem. Constipation is considered one of the “four fatals“. It can get serious enough that you can actually die from it, so it’s nothing to ignore. Straining is hard on your body and should be avoided.

The lumpy dumpy. This stool also stayed a little too long at the fair. Try drinking more water and getting some more fiber into your body before you graduate to pellets. This is your warning poo.

These cookie dough softies may give you the proverbial trots. Bordering on diarrhea, these cookie dough drops can give you a sense of urgency. Thankfully these usually pass in a couple of days and then you head back towards your snake.

If you have the fluffies more than three times a day, congratulations, you have full-blown diarrhea. I’m so sorry. It’s a drag. Oddly enough, the cure is drinking plenty of fluids. Water, fruit juices and soup are WebMD’s recommendations. You can lose electrolytes during this time frame, so if you feel weak or dizzy, try drinking something that replaces those minerals you are losing. Many sports drinks will do the trick.

The runs. This stool moved through your bowels very quickly. Like, too quickly. See your doctor if you have more than three of these a day for longer than 2 days. You should check with your doctor if you also have other signs of dehydration (dry mouth, sleepiness, headache, or dizziness), severe pain in your tummy or rear end, or a fever of 102 degrees or higher.

To relieve mild constipation, the following is recommended by Katy Kunst:

  • Drinking prune or apple juice can soften stool and help it move through the body.
  • Feces may be able to move more easily through the body when a person squats. If the person is safely able to do so, consider helping them squat over the toilet on a footstool. You can purchase stools designed specifically for this purpose.
  • A gentle abdominal massage following the shape of the colon may help to move feces through the body.
  • Over-the-counter laxatives or suppositories may trigger a bowel movement. Note that in many service settings, you will require a doctor’s order to use even an over-the-counter treatment.

So there you have it. Everything you never wanted to know about your stool. I hope you have had enough information for one blog, but just in case you are a glutton for punishment, here’s your video. Enjoy.

If you found this blog to be informative or just a relaxing way to waste time, please do me a favor and share it on your Facebook page? To share, just click on the Facebook icon located right below this paragraph. Much appreciated!

4 Comments


  1. Reagan Bristol, Oh dear! Well, we will forever remember you as being associated with the Bristol Motor Speedway! Thanks for your comment and thank you for reading us!

  2. Unfortunately, my last name is Bristol. So I am the “butt” of jokes. Very informative blog. Thanks.

  3. Reposted with permission from Canby Now:
    Shalagh Knight Oh my goodness, what a way to wake up! I love this though. Take it from a girl who ended up in the hospital once for constipation, and once because of a fart, you need to keep an eye on your dootie. Now that I care give, I watch their poo like a hawk. I’m a daily drinker of chia seeds, nature’s miracle if your poo is also your nemesis. Now Canby knows more about me then they ever wanted to know. Gee, why won’t anyone date me?!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *