I have thought about this and I had to chuckle. It might not be just those of us who are sooooo fortunate to have IBD, but I find that it definitely goes from one extreme to the other, and you either have a rush of needing several times a day, or it could take a week or so, and then, with much effort, you end up in the position where you have engulfed the bowl with so much that beating it down with a stick still just won’t do it justice!
An example of which is obviously the fact that build up needs to at some point, make its exit, and with one ‘fowl’ swoop and a small splash, something the size of a babies arm is there, looking either like a log for the fire or a submarine which has just surfaced from the depths below.
Now in normal circumstances I don’t think that we would pay much attention, but of course, those of us with IBD have to have a look because one, the curiosity, and two, knowing your gastro will be asking you questions about it.
So, on the Bristol ‘stool scale’ you stop and stare, size, shape, consistency, mucus, and blood etc.
Don’t get me wrong, of course if it’s okay it’s normally a ‘one flusher’ and it’s gone, but there have been times that due to the very basic non fibre diet, that you could use it as cement because it is that hard you don’t think it’s ever going to break, and then of course this goes beyond the ‘two flush’ stage.
The two flush can be quite a difficult manoeuvre, depending on where you are, public or private, and whether you can come back later, or have to stay ‘engaged’ for some time.
Often at home, the poor family has to endure the forgetfulness of the second flush and go in after you to find what can only be described as ‘foul’ for them to discover. Not good, and embarrassing.
If you go beyond the third flush and really can’t beat it down with anything, and here, I don’t suggest the toilet brush as it appears that this hedgehog type brush just decides to adhere itself to the said ‘log’ and then you are stuck with two offending articles, then I would suggest two measures, depending on just how brave you are.
For the brave I would suggest the glove and the break it up method, or two, the bucket method and pour a substancial amount down to see if it will force it around the U bend and down the other side.
Of course this applies to all and the method can be used for those without IBD, however, I would suggest that this is more likely to happen to us than we would care to admit.
I would be interested to see how many people are chuckling to themselves thinking ‘yep, that’s happened to me’ , and I do hope that you realise that you are not alone.
The log isn’t just a fantasy, it’s a reality so just deal with it how you see fit and if the first method doesnt work, try again, but just don’t leave it for the family, cleaner, or whoever to have to beat it down with a stick themselves. Be polite and flush flush flush.
Hilarious! And so true!