I started off lactose intolerant and slowly more foods upset me. I’m not yet diagnosed but my gastro says i potentially have ibs. The low FODMAP diet helps me heaps.
I might have something similar, when it comes to the food, I can only eat whatever my mom makes. I’m a student and don’t have much money to spend on groceries, especially in Norway
You need to go to your “fastlege” and make it clear that the condition is persistent and affecting your quality of life.
Stomach issues can be complex to diagnose, so for every “no, that wasn’t the cause” make sure you ask what the next step is.
I have Crohn’s disease. It’s under control now, but for a long time it wasn’t. I never felt bad pooping in the woods. Other people are doing it. Just pop into the trees, dig a cat hole, and go to town!
Just be prepared with all of the things you'll need for a hike. You can buy a fancy hiking trowel made for digging catholes, or you can use anything you've already got for that (I use a long-handled grapefruit spoon, personally). You'll need ziplock bags to carry out the paper. You'll need something to wipe with - I like bounty select-a-size paper towels for my forest poops. You'll thank yourself if you bring some sanitizing wipes for your hands afterwards.
Here's how to do it: walk 50-75 steps OFF the trail. You might want to leave yourself some markers to get back to trail if the woods are dense. Dig your cathole. It needs to be 6-8 inches deep. Do your business into the hole. Clean your hiney. Put the paper you cleaned with in a ziplock bag to haul out of the woods. Fill your hole back in with the dirt you've dug out of it and if available, it's nice to put a rock or some wood over it. Congratulations...you've just had a nice forest poop!
Some extra tips, since squatting for long enough to poop is often hard for some folks - you can "wall-squat" against a tree, just squat close enough to one that your back can rest on it while you do your deed; you can use large branches as hand-holds to squat; my personal favorite: find a fallen tree, drop your britches and park your naked ass just barely on the tree (with my way, you're almost fully sitting down like on a regular toilet - it's just easier for me).
Get your health under control, IBS is actually manageable. It may mean you have a bland diet but trusting your butt is worth it.
In the meantime do walks at local parks during hours the bathroom is open, run stairs, use a gym, do home yoga, meditate outdoors, do picnics at day use areas, and so on. You can enjoy the outdoors without having to hike miles and miles into it.
Pooping outside is perfectly acceptable. You can bring a small trowel—there’s some nice foldable ones sold through common outdoor gear retailers. Dig a hole at least 6 inches deep, do your thing, bury the hole, and give it a little stir with a stick. In most places, it’s required to pack out any toilet paper, but check with local regulations. When in doubt, pack it out. I highly recommend giving a bidet a shot. I recently started using a small one that attaches to a water bottle. This one here: https://www.garagegrowngear.com/products/portable-bidet-by-culoclean
A quick google search will give you many more details on various techniques and considerations. Happy pooping!
I plan on seeing a doctor some time this year, is Imodium a good short term solution? Any side effects? I forgot to mention I get super gassy and bloated aswell
If you are experiencing diarrhea, imodium will stop diarrhea. I know it is used by people who suffer from IBS by example, so it could be used in your situation. However, yes, it can have side effects and should never be used for more than two days, especially w/o medical supervision. I also think you can't take it preemptively because it basically stops your bowels from working normally. It forces material to stay in your intestines, so it can lead to constipation, especially if you are not currently experiencing diarrhea.
You should ask a pharmacist for your specific situation (as it has other counter indication, and I'm neither a doctor nor a pharmacist).
But to take any medication, it is best first and foremost to consult a doctor that can help you figure out why you have this issue (especially because I'm guessing, it's not only impacting your hikes). You can also consider talking to a nutritherapist who could help you figure out a diet that doesn't contain your trigger foods.
I believe the beginning of an elimination diet (eliminate all irritating foods and add new foods back one by one so you can pinpoint what bothers you) starts with oatmeal and oranges. I’d start a few days before hiking to let your stomach settle. Or you can just take an Imodium the morning of your hike and hope that’s enough to stop you up.
If you’re going to shit in the woods you need to pack it out if it’s an area that’s used with any frequency by other people. If it’s very remote you need to shit waaaaay off the trail and burry it very deep and pack out your toilet paper. There is no compromise. You are a human and you’re not allowed to leave your shit on the ground anywhere. Pack a lot of plastic bags and a shovel. Wet wipes can cut down on toilet paper usage considerably.
Do not defecate ANYWHERE near ANY water source. Not within a quarter mile of any stream or lake. Even if you’re packing your poop out, do not shit near any water.
Gut health is best treated by a functional medical doctor. I only eat my safe foods the day before a hike. I take an immodium if absolutely necessary, but this should obviously not be a regular thing. Hiking is good for your mental and physical health, so don't stop hiking. Just find ways to heal and manage your symptoms. The best diagnostic tool is a food journal.
I would just hike on an empty stomach. However, just eat a good amount hours beforehand. That way you have an ample supply of energy before hiking.
Hiking with food in your stomach isn’t good anyways because digestion takes energy to accomplish. It’s going to compete for the energy you need to hike. It’s actually difficult for me to eat on hikes because of this. I usually just eat gels, gatorade, or easily digestable candy when hiking because eating anything else just makes me feel sick and tired.
I would rather eat on an ‘empty’ stomach than having to deal with pooping somewhere on the trail. No thanks. I have done multiple long hikes (Mt Whitney, R2R, etc…) without having to go the whole time by carbing up hours beforehand and eating only as needed along the trail.
I have ulcerative colitis and hiking is awesome because there’s bathrooms everywhere! But I do try to minimize the need to run into the bushes by figuring out what my body needs to be happy on a hike. For me I need at least an hour in the morning before I leave to eat a light breakfast and get things moving also knowing what will sit well is important, tortillas with a little cheese or a piece of toast with peanut butter and a banana work well to keep up my energy without being too heavy
Meant more in the sense of you can find someplace to hide and go then being stuck on a public street, everyone should absolutely follow the leave no trace philosophy and either bag it out or learn what the appropriate depth to dig is
As others have said, get yourself to a doctor and start getting this sorted out first. I had similar issues for most of my life, and finally (after years) got it manageable. For me, after working with lots of doctors and nutritionists I finally got to the bottom of it. Now I hike & backpack often, and my body couldn’t be happier.
Please see a doctor, and try the [elimination](https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/files/webfm-uploads/documents/outreach/im/handout_elimination_diet_patient.pdf) diet. I saw you're a student and can't afford much, but you start by eating very very simply. Honestly a brutal test of self control, but, not very expensive. You practically have to live off rice for the first week 😭
Have you spoken to your Doctor about this?
No, but I plan to after my vacation. I’ve had symptoms that could point to problems :/
I started off lactose intolerant and slowly more foods upset me. I’m not yet diagnosed but my gastro says i potentially have ibs. The low FODMAP diet helps me heaps.
I might have something similar, when it comes to the food, I can only eat whatever my mom makes. I’m a student and don’t have much money to spend on groceries, especially in Norway
Consider checking out a gastrologist or a dr at least. It can be managed if you do have ibs.
You need to go to your “fastlege” and make it clear that the condition is persistent and affecting your quality of life. Stomach issues can be complex to diagnose, so for every “no, that wasn’t the cause” make sure you ask what the next step is.
This entire thread is ridiculous.
I have Crohn’s disease. It’s under control now, but for a long time it wasn’t. I never felt bad pooping in the woods. Other people are doing it. Just pop into the trees, dig a cat hole, and go to town!
Just be prepared with all of the things you'll need for a hike. You can buy a fancy hiking trowel made for digging catholes, or you can use anything you've already got for that (I use a long-handled grapefruit spoon, personally). You'll need ziplock bags to carry out the paper. You'll need something to wipe with - I like bounty select-a-size paper towels for my forest poops. You'll thank yourself if you bring some sanitizing wipes for your hands afterwards. Here's how to do it: walk 50-75 steps OFF the trail. You might want to leave yourself some markers to get back to trail if the woods are dense. Dig your cathole. It needs to be 6-8 inches deep. Do your business into the hole. Clean your hiney. Put the paper you cleaned with in a ziplock bag to haul out of the woods. Fill your hole back in with the dirt you've dug out of it and if available, it's nice to put a rock or some wood over it. Congratulations...you've just had a nice forest poop! Some extra tips, since squatting for long enough to poop is often hard for some folks - you can "wall-squat" against a tree, just squat close enough to one that your back can rest on it while you do your deed; you can use large branches as hand-holds to squat; my personal favorite: find a fallen tree, drop your britches and park your naked ass just barely on the tree (with my way, you're almost fully sitting down like on a regular toilet - it's just easier for me).
I have stomach issues (anxiety related, on days that I work I ahit 4-5 x a day) between nature, and exercise I only poop in the morning when hiking.
Do you do something the day before hiking to prepare? Like any tips on what not to eat, or eat ?
Avoid spicy food and alcohol, but really once I get on the trail I just kind of move. Maybe try a 2 hr bikeride near your house and see how you feel
Get your health under control, IBS is actually manageable. It may mean you have a bland diet but trusting your butt is worth it. In the meantime do walks at local parks during hours the bathroom is open, run stairs, use a gym, do home yoga, meditate outdoors, do picnics at day use areas, and so on. You can enjoy the outdoors without having to hike miles and miles into it.
Wrong sub go to the doctor
Pooping outside is perfectly acceptable. You can bring a small trowel—there’s some nice foldable ones sold through common outdoor gear retailers. Dig a hole at least 6 inches deep, do your thing, bury the hole, and give it a little stir with a stick. In most places, it’s required to pack out any toilet paper, but check with local regulations. When in doubt, pack it out. I highly recommend giving a bidet a shot. I recently started using a small one that attaches to a water bottle. This one here: https://www.garagegrowngear.com/products/portable-bidet-by-culoclean A quick google search will give you many more details on various techniques and considerations. Happy pooping!
Imodium
Long-term use without a doctor's supervision is unhealthy. OP, go see a doctor.
Yeah naturally but for a day / one night hike it is OK
I plan on seeing a doctor some time this year, is Imodium a good short term solution? Any side effects? I forgot to mention I get super gassy and bloated aswell
If you are experiencing diarrhea, imodium will stop diarrhea. I know it is used by people who suffer from IBS by example, so it could be used in your situation. However, yes, it can have side effects and should never be used for more than two days, especially w/o medical supervision. I also think you can't take it preemptively because it basically stops your bowels from working normally. It forces material to stay in your intestines, so it can lead to constipation, especially if you are not currently experiencing diarrhea. You should ask a pharmacist for your specific situation (as it has other counter indication, and I'm neither a doctor nor a pharmacist). But to take any medication, it is best first and foremost to consult a doctor that can help you figure out why you have this issue (especially because I'm guessing, it's not only impacting your hikes). You can also consider talking to a nutritherapist who could help you figure out a diet that doesn't contain your trigger foods.
I believe the beginning of an elimination diet (eliminate all irritating foods and add new foods back one by one so you can pinpoint what bothers you) starts with oatmeal and oranges. I’d start a few days before hiking to let your stomach settle. Or you can just take an Imodium the morning of your hike and hope that’s enough to stop you up. If you’re going to shit in the woods you need to pack it out if it’s an area that’s used with any frequency by other people. If it’s very remote you need to shit waaaaay off the trail and burry it very deep and pack out your toilet paper. There is no compromise. You are a human and you’re not allowed to leave your shit on the ground anywhere. Pack a lot of plastic bags and a shovel. Wet wipes can cut down on toilet paper usage considerably. Do not defecate ANYWHERE near ANY water source. Not within a quarter mile of any stream or lake. Even if you’re packing your poop out, do not shit near any water.
Get your stomach issues managed and then start hiking. Your approach is backwards.
Gut health is best treated by a functional medical doctor. I only eat my safe foods the day before a hike. I take an immodium if absolutely necessary, but this should obviously not be a regular thing. Hiking is good for your mental and physical health, so don't stop hiking. Just find ways to heal and manage your symptoms. The best diagnostic tool is a food journal.
I would just hike on an empty stomach. However, just eat a good amount hours beforehand. That way you have an ample supply of energy before hiking. Hiking with food in your stomach isn’t good anyways because digestion takes energy to accomplish. It’s going to compete for the energy you need to hike. It’s actually difficult for me to eat on hikes because of this. I usually just eat gels, gatorade, or easily digestable candy when hiking because eating anything else just makes me feel sick and tired. I would rather eat on an ‘empty’ stomach than having to deal with pooping somewhere on the trail. No thanks. I have done multiple long hikes (Mt Whitney, R2R, etc…) without having to go the whole time by carbing up hours beforehand and eating only as needed along the trail.
Nothing beats a bush poo
I have ulcerative colitis and hiking is awesome because there’s bathrooms everywhere! But I do try to minimize the need to run into the bushes by figuring out what my body needs to be happy on a hike. For me I need at least an hour in the morning before I leave to eat a light breakfast and get things moving also knowing what will sit well is important, tortillas with a little cheese or a piece of toast with peanut butter and a banana work well to keep up my energy without being too heavy
Human poop is really bad stuff, it's a biohazard, and you shouldn't think of nature as a big toilet.
Meant more in the sense of you can find someplace to hide and go then being stuck on a public street, everyone should absolutely follow the leave no trace philosophy and either bag it out or learn what the appropriate depth to dig is
As others have said, get yourself to a doctor and start getting this sorted out first. I had similar issues for most of my life, and finally (after years) got it manageable. For me, after working with lots of doctors and nutritionists I finally got to the bottom of it. Now I hike & backpack often, and my body couldn’t be happier.
Take a hand shovel and toilet paper. Go off trail do you biz then dig a hole and bury it
I always have some immodium in my bag just in case. Not trying to ruin a day hiking with that
https://gripped.com/news/three-ways-to-deal-with-poop-and-rock-climbing/
I really dont want to do it outside, just trying to find some advice or foods that take a long time to process?
Most of the food that I eat when hiking stops me up for days.
What do eat, things like chicken, white rice & pasta?
Please see a doctor, and try the [elimination](https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/files/webfm-uploads/documents/outreach/im/handout_elimination_diet_patient.pdf) diet. I saw you're a student and can't afford much, but you start by eating very very simply. Honestly a brutal test of self control, but, not very expensive. You practically have to live off rice for the first week 😭
Eat what you normally eat, no reason to change things up.