Pooing and bowel function on long trips.

[redefined_cycles]

I would echo the above to a point... but if you are having to go past the 3L mark I would definitely stop there. Also have you thought that you might bw taking mwds or anything else that is doing the opposite of the fibre etc you are taking in... cocodamol/tramadol/opiates etc etc.

Defintely start with making sure you are hydrated well though (without going to the extremes of 4.5L as this is just a recipe for heart failure/pulmonary or peripheral Oedema waiting to happen) and you could also google something called squatty potty for home. When we squat it aligns the angle of the poop coming out and makes it easier etc.

Not a sub standard expert as such. Just saying. Another thing you could do is download something called the bristol stool chart and keep a diary daily... this will be easier trying to explain it all to your doctor. Theres a possibility he/she will be referring you to a poop specialist!!

Bottom line though. Stay positive and think of it as '1st world problems'... Hope you get your sub standard sorted (sorry, couldn't help it buddy )... but seriously: H2O

[Oli.vert]

Also, not a poop expert here, but I'm fairly sure that 3L (some say 2L but info is easy to find) is a recommended intake of water for normal daily use of the adult human body. That's before you start exercising riding a bike and sweating heaps, and on a not particularly hot day. As I say, I dont think 4.5L is a dangerous daily amount for a healthy adult, but if your concerned enough about any health issue to be asking a bunch of folk on the internet then you probably ought to be asking a doctor.

[Alpinum]

As I say, I dont think 4.5L is a dangerous daily amount for a healthy adult,

+1
Absolutely not. Old people...
Like, well, grannies and such...
Anyway, they seem to get told to drink more to help pooing (I know this from the doctors).

2 - 3 L a day is what I see as a minimum per day, without exercise.

Having (had, much better now) some very bad and seemingly random headache, I run... well ran a diary which would help find patterns in when it would occur. I couln'd find any pattern and tried to believe that I don't have headache. It helped...

So one of the best things I can think of, is running a diary and trying out different diets. See how you respond. Everyone's different, we must find such things out for ourselves.

What ever path you take, I hope you success.

[BigdummySteve]

Bottom line though.

[RIP]

Other views to add to the mix:

'Official NHS and UK Govt advice' : 1.2L per day.

'Hydration For Health' (sponsored by Danone, makers of bottled waters such as Badoit, Evian, Volvic etc; draw your own conclusions) : 1.5-2L per day.

Millions of years of evolution have developed a highly sophisticated water-regulation system that, as NHS info says, demands 'drink when thirsty, stop drinking when not thirsty'. Several studies show that it's a myth that you're 'already dehydrated by the time you're thirsty' - for a normal body if you are dehydrated you will have previously ignored a sensation of thirst. I'll drink to that. And thank my hypothalamus.

NHS again : main causes of constipation : lack of fibre (fruit, veg etc), lack of exercise, stress, medication side-effects.

This is not Professional Advice... (well the NHS bits actually are )

[redefined_cycles]

Other views to add to the mix:

'Official NHS and UK Govt advice' : 1.2L per day.

'Hydration For Health' (sponsored by Danone makers of bottled waters such as Badoit, Evian, Volvic etc; draw your own conclusions) : 1.5-2L per day.

Millions of years of evolution have developed a highly sophisticated water-regulation system that, as NHS info says, demand 'drink when thirsty, stop drinking when not thirsty'. I'll drink to that. And thank my hypothalamus.

NHS again : main causes of constipation : lack of fibre (fruit, veg etc), lack of exercise, stress, medication side-effects.

This is not Professional Advice... (well the NHS bits actually are )

Here, here.... Pour us a drink will ya

[RIP]

In a normally-functioning body, the hypothalamus, kidneys, pituitary gland and their friends kick in the thirst sensation before blood becomes too 'concentrated'. So as RC says above, feel a bit thirsty? Jump off your bike and nip into the pub over the way for a quick half...

(oh and beer has electrolytes as well as hydration so that's a double benefit for those of us not averse to the occasional tipple)

[redefined_cycles]

But also... Dont forget that alcoholic beverages are also a diuretic. Similar to coffee but alot more potent. Thats why once you start peeing after your pissed (is that an appropriate expression ) it just doesnt stop. Which would quickly lead to dehydration and the loss of certain electrolytes in the blood after peeing too much.

After that its a catch 22 (is that the expression ) situation

One thing to also add regards one of the posts well above is about elderly people being advised to drink 5 or 6 litres (apologies if I misunderstood). If there is doctors advising this then, in my opinion, they are extremely subStandard as one is generally advised to give fluids to the (extreme) elderly with caution. Too much would lead to heart failure in the wrong folk...

Obviously once you bring extreme sports into the equations then some goalposts change. I imagine if we did have an extremely elderly lady or gent doing rides of over 5 hours at a time, they would probably know their body well enough to have figured it many moons ago...



Shafiq

[Oli.vert]

I would add that any advice from NHS.net will be aimed at your average couch-dweller and salad-dodger rather than the well oiled machine beings that we (ahem) clearly are.
1.5L for a fit individual contemplating the sorts of rides that are spoken of here is an insanely low amount.

So - how to tell if you're dehydrated?

How yellow is your pee? If it's anything more than just a bit yellow, then you're probably dehydrated.
Dark yellow? Drink some water you crazy (yellow) diamond.
If you start drinking a glass of water and can finish it in one go, then you are definitely dehydrated.
If you only feel you want a few sips from a glass of water, then you are hydrated enough.

It's not rocket surgery.

[BreninBeener]

Thanks for your help everyone.

I am generally ok with my stools as i can eat my really high bran pprridge and plenty of veg as part of my normal diet.

I think the slightly bent forward position of riding plus getting a little dehydrated causes the start of a problem.

My concerns are mostly for a multiday ride/race (italy divide) where i wont be able to eat my normal diet and will be spending a much greater proportion of my day riding.

Generally i dont drink water, i tend towards tea and a couple of coffees. Im aware caffeine is a diuretic, so my 10x cups of tea and 2 coffes probably arent doing any favours. I will resolve this and keep a diary. Im hoping that it helps.

regards

Ian

[Cheddar Man]

Are you sitting correctly?

Have a look at this...... http://www.evidentlycochrane.net/feet-up-constipation/

[Oli.vert]

My concerns are mostly for a multiday ride/race (italy divide)....

There ought to be plenty of red wine available, dont worry.

......Generally i dont drink water.....

There ought to be plenty of red wine available, don't worry.

But seriously.... (and sorry for over-egging the pudding here, but it's a serious thing)......

If you're looking at multi day events and you know you don't drink water, then you know the source of what has clearly now become a problem.
Without any doubt you need to relearn your drinking habits or you may cause yourself bigger problems down the line, think of kidney damage and/or heart strain as being on the list. Serious repetitive exercise without drinking water is only for mad-dogs and Englishmen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMlyT_Sb7sg

[BreninBeener]

oops sorry. i meant in a normal working or social day i drink just lots of tea.

If im riding, i drink water during the ride and maybe a little after.

Ian

[Oli.vert]

[Lazarus]

How yellow is your pee? If it's anything more than just a bit yellow, then you're probably dehydrated.
Dark yellow? Drink some water you crazy (yellow) diamond.

THIS
If it stings when you wee sort that out immediately , by consuming a large amount of water - 500ml + minimum]as the next one is going to sting as well and you are going to get a headache!
If you dont hydrate at this point