It’s not really a brand new day if the same bowel issues plague you every time you get out of bed. It’s strange, right? You’re eating fine, you don’t have a stomach bug, you’re not a ball of stress…but you do have diarrhea. Every morning (or pretty much on the regular).

If only you were regular. Then you wouldn’t be having this smelly-ass problem. 

Since nobody wants to be greeted by a watery stool every morning, you gotta figure out what’s going on down there. We may not be able to cure your poop problems, but we can help you stay fresh and clean on your journey to wellness. And maybe let you know if it’s time to seriously seek help.

Let’s talk about bowel movements—extra loose ones, specifically!

8 Common Causes of Morning Diarrhea

Before we get into all the medical stuff and stress you out, there are a bunch of lifestyle reasons why you might have loose stools every morning. The good news about these is they’re easy to change. By the way, the most hilarious reason for chronic morning diarrhea is running too much. 

1. Coffee

Coffee (and caffeine in general) is notorious for revving up your gastrointestinal tract, sometimes prematurely. This can lead to loose, runny post-coffee poop.

You might want to swap that venti for a kiddie size if your gut is sensitive to caffeine. Give it a try, at least, and see if your morning diarrhea doesn’t give it a rest.

2.  Alcohol

Did you pound a few too many drinks last night? Are you drinking regularly in excess? Unfortunately, booze can do a number on your digestive tract. Hence explosive hangover poops.

By the way, cigarettes can do the same. If you’re a social smoker who tends to only have a drag in the evenings, followed by a loose morning stool…well, probably time to kick the habit entirely.

3. Dehydration

Interestingly, an electrolyte imbalance can cause either constipation or diarrhea. Make sure you’re drinking eight glasses of water a day, sip some Gatorade, and see if the problem doesn’t sort itself out. 

4. Emotional Stress

Hate your boss? Landlord just doubled your rent? Both of these jerks could be causing your morning diarrhea. After relaxing overnight, upon waking, your bowels are being thrown into overdrive thanks to stress, triggering diarrhea. 

5.  Food Allergies

If your intestinal issues include cramping, bloating, and gas, you might be dealing with an allergy. Try an elimination diet where you cut out potential triggers like dairy products, wheat, and soy. Lactose intolerance is a common culprit. If dietary changes actually solve your health problems, your days of morning diarrhea should be over.

6. Antibiotics

Medication is not a lifestyle choice per se, but if you’re currently taking antibiotics, one of the common side effects is loose stool. The problem should sort itself out once the antibiotics run their course.

7. Food Poisoning

Okay, this is not a lifestyle choice either, but if you have watery stools every time you hit your favorite all-you-can-eat-buffet, stop going there. E. coli, for example, will cause diarrhea all day long, but it tends to be worse in the morning.

8. Pregnancy 

This might not apply to the bulk of our readers, but we know the ladies have their fair share of poop problems too. Don’t worry—DUDE Wipes are for women too. 

Causes of Morning Diarrhea That Warrant Medical Advice

There’s the pain of occasional morning diarrhea accompanying a brutal hangover, and then there are digestive conditions—totally different ballpark. We hope you’re not dealing with any of the below conditions, but let’s quickly go over them so you can see if any of their main identifiers apply to you. 

Irritable bowel Syndrome 

You’ve probably heard about IBS but never given it much thought. It’s a pretty common affliction and a total pain, literally. In addition to loose morning stools, you might be feeling cramps or pain after eating, which should get better after you go number two. It’s thus unfortunate that both constipation and diarrhea can be symptoms of IBS along with bloating, farting, low energy, nausea, and some light incontinence. Good times. 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD could be one of two conditions. The first, ulcerative colitis, entails inflammation and ulcers on the lining of your colon and rectum. The other one, Crohn’s disease, involves an inflamed gastrointestinal tract. Unfortunately, these are both bad, and can only be diagnosed by a doctor. If, in addition to chronic loose stools, you’re experiencing abdominal pain, extreme tiredness, unintended weight loss, and bleeding (from your butt), it’s time to seek help. 

Celiac Disease

Typically accompanied by horrendous abdominal cramps, celiac disease means you’re horribly allergic to wheat gluten. Not trendily intolerant, but like, should never have a sprinkling of flour ever again. As these things go, the symptoms aren’t all that different from IBD, so you’ll have to chat with a gastroenterologist to sort out what’s going on. 

When Else to See a Doctor

Obviously, if you think either IBS or IBD applies to you, you need to seek out real, in-person healthcare. But even if you don’t, there are a few other markers that mean it’s time to see a professional. For example, if you have a fever, your diarrhea is black or bloody, or you’re experiencing severe pain (abdominal and/or in your butt). 

In general, if you’ve got chronic diarrhea rather than an occasional loose stool, it’s a good idea to find out why. Also, watch out for dehydration that you can’t just fix by upping your intake of fluids. If your diarrhea becomes a daily thing, it’s not normal. 

How to Survive Your Hershey Squirts

If you’re dealing with chronic diarrhea: don’t over-wipe with toilet paper, lest you become plagued with polished anus syndrome. Go for flushable wipes instead. They’re more efficient, more sanitary, and easier on your bum. Got hemorrhoids or a severely chapped rear? Try wiping with witch hazel for extra relief.

A loose morning stool is an awful way to greet the day. But with a little investigative attention to your health, you’ll be able to firm up your stool in no time.