{"id":39543,"date":"2010-11-14T02:17:36","date_gmt":"2010-11-14T07:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/horizonsmagazine.com\/blog\/?p=39543"},"modified":"2016-05-27T01:58:40","modified_gmt":"2016-05-27T06:58:40","slug":"a-bowel-movement-should-not-take-45-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/horizonsmagazine.com\/blog\/a-bowel-movement-should-not-take-45-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"A bowel movement should not take 45 minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

I wrote on Facebook that a friend mentioned in casual conversation that she spends 45 minutes each morning in the bathroom to eliminate. She said she thought that was the normal time for a bowel movement.\u00a0I thought a quick 1-2 minutes was normal. Get in quick, get out quick, no one gets hurt.\u00a0She\u2019s a savvy, health conscious person and fairly healthy. I was surprised her thinking that was normal.\u00a0 I asked on Facebook, \u201cwhat do you think normal is?\u201d\u00a0 The general consensus of the comments below is between 2-5 minutes, and that the solution is to drink a lot more water, exercise and add fiber to the diet. \u00a0The comments are below, but first:
\nBEST LAXATIVE<\/strong>: Mix 2 oz of milk of magnesia into 4 ounces of warmed prune juice. Nurses call this “a black and white.” Follow with 8 oz warm water (essential to success). Expect a bowel movement within 30 minutes to 6 hours. Milk of Magnesia is a saline laxative which means it acts by drawing water into the intestine to help gently pass the bowel movement.<\/p>\n

Here are the Facebook comments about “what do you think normal is:”<\/p>\n

DWH: I\u2019m with you, Andrea. In and out as quickly as possible!<\/p>\n

BJL: Amazingly whatever anyone thinks is normal is normal. (Not Of Reality, Mentally A Limit)<\/p>\n

SBE: I\u2019m with you, Andrea\u2026 there is nothing I want to do for that long on the toilet… ever.\u00a0 LOL\u00a0 My son once took a lap tray and all his legos with him to do his business\u2026 he was in there an hour \u201cconstructing\u201d<\/p>\n

MM: Dr. Oz talks about it, so why can\u2019t we. Sounds like she should talk to her dr about it. (Fiber may be needed.)<\/p>\n

DP: some people like to get sh## done, and some like to relax and let it happen\u2026 My grandfather could be in there for hours\u2026 I need 5 minutes.<\/p>\n

SH: depends on if I have had my coffee of the day yet\u2026 then it flies out<\/p>\n

BE: Maybe it\u2019s her only alone time or she likes to read LOL!\u00a0 Too much info!<\/p>\n

Andrea: No, I asked and she told me it takes 45 minutes for her body to complete the act. And it\u2019s not too much info. If you don\u2019t know what\u2019s normal and healthy, you don\u2019t look into what\u2019s happening with your body. She\u2019s the one who told me I needed iron and she was right. She asked me if the iron constipated me as it does many people. I said no. Hence the topic ensued.<\/p>\n

ML: I think you are right Andrea, though it is quite personal info, it\u2019s VITAL that one is aware of what \u2018the norm\u2019 is generally\u2026 It\u2019s also so important to have psyllium if it is indicated (as it is in your friend\u2019s case) \u2014 this \u2018function\u2019 has such far-reaching effects if it is not as it could be\u2026 THANKS for posting. So many have no one to even discuss it with. Brave, Courageous, and helpful of you to post it. !!! ???<\/p>\n

SP: Don\u2019t her feet go to sleep?\u00a0 She must have a good book.\u00a0 Needs to drink much more water.\u00a0 Dave Brubeck had a tune out years ago called Take Five.\u00a0 Sound advice.\u00a0 She should see a Doctor.<\/p>\n

Andrea: Ah, drinking lots of water = my saving grace<\/p>\n

DC: maybe add some good enzymes\u2026 more fruit\/veggies\/raw\u2026<\/p>\n

RK: whole grain cereal for a bed-night snack [I like Kashi GoLean Crunch!]<\/p>\n

RK:\u00a0 We check our car\u2019s gas mileage, oil & water levels as an indication of how efficiently it\u2019s working \u2013 but we overlook the same simple daily clues about our body\u2019s efficient function. This is an artificial social construct we should get over \u2013 at least in appropriate settings [not such good cocktail party conversation].<\/p>\n

Andrea: RK, I completely agree. I pay attention to what goes in and out of my body<\/p>\n

DD: the older one gets, the more \u2018normal\u2019 such topics become. I\u2019m glad she shared it with you.<\/p>\n

SS: depends on how good of a book you have with you<\/p>\n

CU: Tell your friend if she ate more fiber and drank more water she could shorten that time up. It seems like a terrible waste of time to me. HA.<\/p>\n

LH: That is way to long to have a BM. It never should take that long. Even for a man.<\/p>\n

VT: ?1-2 minutes tops would be a healthy time. She probably needs to drink more water and put more fiber in her diet. Exercize would help too.<\/p>\n

BC:\u00a0 ?90 Secs. MAX<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0 How long from the time you eat food until you excrete it? <\/a>
\nA bowel movement should not take 45 minutes<\/a>
\nA Healthy, Hydrated System Does Not Get Constipated<\/a>
\nHealthy Poop color chart<\/a><\/p>\n

Consider donating $1.00 if I’ve ever helped you or made you smile<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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