Bowel Movement after Eating

Bowel movement after eating does not really mean it has something to do with the food you just ate. It means there is something wrong with your digestive path or your digestion and this must be investigated further with your doctor.

Understanding Digestion

Digestion is the breakdown of food. The first step of which is chewing the food in your mouth into smaller pieces. The food then enters your stomach via the esophagus where it is then metabolized and the nutrients, proteins and carbohydrates are then distributed throughout your body. Those which are not absorbed are called wastes; these are passed on to the small intestines, then to the large intestines and out your rectum. It usually takes hours after you eat before waste is eliminated. Bowel movement immediately after you eat would mean that the food was not properly digested and so it is right to consult your doctor to find out what is causing it.

Causes of Bowel Movement after Eating

• It might be something you ate that contains toxins which damage the linings of your small intestines. This may result to non absorption of the nutrients.

• Bowel movement after eating might also be induced by the drugs or medications that you are taking. Some drugs could cause this such as laxatives, antacids and antibiotics. When you cease taking these medications, bowel movement after eating will eventually resolve. But if not, consult your doctor.

• It might also be because of malabsorption of carbohydrates or intolerance of some nutrients that cause bowel movement after eating. This poses a great risk to your health as frequent bowel movement after eating may be a symptom of a much more serious disease.

If this has been going on too long, and you’re sure that all you ate is clean and that you are not taking medications that induced the condition, you must see your doctor right away.

What to do in order to correct bowel movement after eating?

• If you feel that it was something you ate, a stool examination should be done. But of course, you have to consult your doctor about this before you proceed. Your stool will then be evaluated by a pathologist and proper medications will be prescribed to you by the doctor. The best way to treat this is to drink lots of water in order to flush out the toxins invading your stomach and digestive system.

• If the cause of the bowel movement after eating is due to the medications you are taking, discuss this with your doctor so he or she can prescribe another medication that will prevent this from happening again. But if you can put up with it, drink ion replacements like ORS or oral rehydration salts to replace the unabsorbed nutrients. Don’t worry because after taking the medicines that induced the bowel movements, premature movements will eventually cease.

• If this has been going on for too long and that other symptoms such as abdominal cramps and vomiting are also present, the doctor will conduct a series of diagnostic procedures to determine the underlying cause such that appropriate treatment can be done.

Always seek medical advice if you’re not sure about what to do with frequent bowel movement after eating. The doctors are the best professionals who can handle these kinds of problem. But doing your part is also essential. Stay healthy and eat right.