... This is making me want to stare at my own poop - I'm impressed that anything could give me a desire to do THAT! :lol:

Very informative and helpful Susan; thanks for posting.

Susan I think you are full of it....

Originally Posted by :
It seems like the word "diarrhea" is often overused for any soft stool.

I know! I wish we used that chart. I work as a nurse aid and I'd rather write LG-6/7 so that the nurses could see what TYPE of bowel movement it was. We have no room to write diarrhea or what not. I guess for my place of work, all that matters is that they had a bowel movement. :(

SUSAN...Not sure if we are being tested on the subject matter but FYI I got a #4 this evening.

Did you know - If your stool floats it means you are not getting enough fiber in your diet - so if your stool sinks right to the bottom, you are getting the right amount of fiber!

Sorry Jenny but I wasn't entirely comfortable with your statement. Not that it was wrong ... just not comprehensive enough to suit a persnickity old nurse. In my experience some folks who up their fiber and fluid intake have fluffy stools that do float.

I found this ....
Stools that float are generally associated with some degree of malabsorption of foods or excessive flatus/gas. Floating stool is seen is a variety of different situations, the
majority being diet-related or in association with episodes of diarrhea caused by an acute gastrointestinal infection. A change in dietary habits can lead to an increase in the amount of gas produced by bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Similarly, acute gastrointestinal infections can result in increased air/gas content from rapid movement of food through the GI tract. One misconception is that floating stools are caused by an increase in the fat content of the stool. In fact, increased air/gas levels in the stool make it less dense and allow it to float. Another cause of floating stools is malabsorption. More than two weeks of diarrhea with floating stools is often seen in people suffering from malabsorption, a dysfunction in the GI tract that affects the body's ability to digest and absorb fat and other food. Increased levels of nutrients in the stool (those not absorbed by the GI tract) are supplied to the normal bacteria that live in the gut, which in turn produce more gas. This results in more air/gas- rich stool that floats. Dietary changes, diarrhea, and malabsorption can cause floating stools. Most causes are benign and will resolve when the infection ends or the bacteria in the GI tract become accustomed to the changes in your diet.

I'm not sure whether to thank you for putting those images in my head, because now, in the morning, I am actually looking at (briefly) & classifying my poop.

Thank goodness I'm not one inclined to spreadsheets & such. (Not even with my weight.) That would take me to a whole new level of obsessive narcissistic fascination with my body & health.

Possible TMI: I have really upped my fiber (at least 30 grams a day) the past week, and mine float. Lots of yams, whole grains, popcorn... Luckily I am not gas-propelled as a side effect :lol: