Should bowel movements be something that is discussed amongst friends at coffee break? Maybe not the color and consistency but do you guys think this should be normal every day discussion? Did you go this morning? How many times? Or how about when you are hanging out with a friend and the urgency hits. Do you say, Oh I gotta poop and run out of the room? I started doing that because there was no other way around the subject.
You just can’t up and run out without the person you were chatting with wondering what the heck just happened. You got some explaining to do when you return. True friendship bonds were made and I didn’t even know it was happening at the time.
A friend of mine whom I used to work with and eat lunch with every day (who has similar gastric problems) text me this week to see if my stomach was any better since we have not been in each other’s company. His thinking was that we were causing each other gastric distress. I was able to happily inform him that he is not the root of my poop problem. As I had to pull over on the side of the road just yesterday for an emergency stop. It is a warming thought knowing that even though we are not in each other’s presence we are still on the same poop page.
Friends who poop together, stay together
They say we all have a poop friend whether you realize it or not. You have the one person you are comfortable discussing your bowels with. Here is a funny article talking about poop friends – I didn’t make it up. https://www.mamamia.com.au/poop-friend/. I have a handful of poop friends and I hadn’t thought that they carry a special title, but I guess they do. And it didn’t cross my mind that I have so many of these so called poop friends. But, it seems if you have spent any amount of time with me you have witnessed me running out of a room. And there is no denying where anyone would be heading in such an unannounced hurry.
US writer and podcast host Tracy Clayton tweeted the question, asking people to confirm that everyone has a poop friend. Clayton’s tweet received hundreds of replies, including people who tagged their poop friend, others who claimed to have ‘poop clans’ and even one truly beautiful poop friend proposal. Maybe it is a bigger deal than I had thought.
Its a personal thing
Bowel movements are such a personal thing to so many people. We have been having bowel movements since we were born. For some reason the idea of taking a shit is still considered something to be shameful just because it’s a little yucky and maybe stinky. Maybe you’re one of those people thinking, well, why don’t you just wait to poop until you get home?
To that I respond with another question: Why should I have to? Anyone who’s had to suddenly empty their bowels knows that there is an inexplicable sense of urgency that comes with it, and your one and only instinct is usually to just find a bathroom. Hopefully one that is stocked with toilet paper but sometimes you don’t even have time for that check.
Send an update
I’m not saying you have to go out and regularly update everyone you know about your bowel movements. But really, you shouldn’t be embarrassed about the act. You don’t get embarrassed for putting your garbage out on the curb every week, so why get embarrassed about pooping. Find yourself some poop friends and laugh about it. You can read my first blog and laugh along with me. http://gutfeelings.blog/hello-world-of-ibs-diagnosis-diarrhea-genetics-play-a-part/. You can message me and we can be poop friends.
Do you have a poop friend?
Are you embarrassed about bowel movements?
Want to talk about it?
