"Iwould generally recommend trying to limit bowel movements to 10-15 minutes at most to reduce the risk of hemorrhoids,” Schwarzbaum said. “I also counsel them to avoid scrolling on phones or reading for prolonged periods on the toilet. If you need a break from the rest of the world, sit on top of the toilet seat.”
Do people really sit on the toilet for that long–and not only to perform bowel movements but read and scroll on their phones?
Don’t think I’ve ever sat on a toilet longer than the shortest interval necessary to take care of business and be gone–usually 3-5 minutes max? Why on earth would I want to?
I used to work at a place where our company computers were monitored and we were not allowed to have cellphones out at our desks, so everyone took more frequent and longer “bathroom breaks” in order to check personal email/texts/etc.
I’m more interested in how you “limit bowel movements” to X time. I’m also an under 3 min bro under most circumstances. But there are definitely times when it takes longer (e.g. food poisoning, constipation for some reason). Those things are rare (for me) fortunately, but when they happen, it’s not like I’m in control of what’s going on. I’m in no position to “limit” anything. It’s entirely up to my bowels.
Not at all trying to be smart, but in cases where it’s clearly not happening right away, is there any reason to not just abort the current mission and wait until it’s clearly time?
I think what she’s referring to in this case is limiting your leisurely reading/scrolling atop the toilet seat time (which is what I’ve just learned is a thing), not the desperately trying to move a bowel but am unable to time, which our friend Coaster is apparently dealing with.
So ummm, valid question but you’re thinking on the wrong end of the spectrum. Sometimes things are moving, violently and painfully, for two hours. Crohn’s disease is so much more than just a “bathroom” disease, but I won’t shy away from the fact that it certainly invloves plenty of unpleasant bathroom visits on both the constipated and very much not constipated ends of the spectrum.
ETA: also, in the cases you mention they are often accompanied by literal debilitating pain, and then at a moments notice everything starts moving. So its best to just stay put at those times.
This is apparently a thing, and I’ve heard it before. Something to do with the way toilets position your body and the business end of it that can lead to issues.
So what’s the theory behind the longer BM/hemorrhoid thing? Like if I’m ever sitting on the toilet for that long, which is rare, it’s because I’m waiting for something to percolate and hopefully come out. Does that foster hemorrhoids somehow?
In hindsight it seems like there was a big war between my parents over whether to be helicopter or free range, and/or they changed their minds several times
Like there were summers where I’d just be in the woods all day every day with the other kids until the streetlights came on, and there were years where I couldn’t do anything without an adult present
Here’s the article I got the quote from, which has some insight into your question:
“One common cause is due to sitting on the toilet for a prolonged time. This is because when one’s bottom is in the space of the toilet seat, the blood will pool in the lowest point and cause increased pressure in the blood vessels in the anus, leading to hemorrhoids.”
It would have the same effect as sitting on a chair. Which according to the expert in the article, isn’t the same thing as sitting on a frame with a cut-out circle so your buttocks hang down more than they would on a flat surface.
“One common cause is due to sitting on the toilet for a prolonged time. This is because when one’s bottom is in the space of the toilet seat, the blood will pool in the lowest point and cause increased pressure in the blood vessels in the anus, leading to hemorrhoids.”
***I think the source of confusion here is that she wrote “sit on top of the seat” but actually means “sit on top of the closed lid.”
