Difference in your regular pattern could be a warning sign
When it comes to bowel habits, some people regularly go once a day, others three times a day and others once every four days! All are considered normal.
However, if that routine alters either towards diarrhoea or constipation and remains so for several days, it could be a sign that something serious is causing that change in your bowel habit.
Diarrhoea due to an infection will usually settle within a few days, and constipation is usually self-treated by the patient with laxatives to get the bowel back to its normal routine.
If the problem continues after 10 days, then a doctor must be consulted. Changes in bowel habits like these can be a sign of cancer of the colon (bowel). If there is also blood in the stools and weight loss, then do not delay in seeing your doctor.
