Stool in pieces, bowel movements incomplete

Posted , 8 users are following.

I've had this problem for years now and nothing I've tried to treat it has really made much of an impact. My stools are always broken into many small pieces, and the pieces appear flat. They also look rough, rather than smooth. They basically lack the form of a normal stool. I've found that some foods speed up my bowels, and some constipate me, but either way I still don't feel empty after a bowel movement. A few little pieces get stuck in my rectal area, and I have to strain everytime in an attempt to push them out otherwise I experience a lot of discomfort. Rarely do I get it all out, but at least if I get can just 1 more piece out I feel a bit more comfortable. I know straining isn't good, so I try to reach a point where I feel I did the best I could, and finish...but it sure is hard not to want to strain. The feeling of being incomplete isn't just a sensation either, there really is stool still sitting inside. Often I need to go to the toilet multiple times to get more out. Quite frustrating! I also experience more discomfort after a meal as though the stool already sitting in my bowel has now been pushed closer to my rectal area where I seem to experience the most discomfort. Mornings are particularly bad, especially if I don't manage to have a bowel movement right away.

Does anyone else experience this or have a solution? Thanks.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    It could be that you need more fibre in your diet to bulk the stool up. Also do you think you could have haemmaroids? As these can make you feel like there's stool there

  • Posted

    Hey, I too experience the discomfort of being incomplete and yes it's not just a sensation There is actual poop there!! Im sorry I have no answers as I too am trying to find out why this is!! but I wanted to let you know I suffer the same with that part of your problems! X

  • Posted

    I read frim your previous posts that you have IBS. Have you tried a stool softener? If a particular food speeds up your bowel too much, reduce your intake of that food or avoid it. Stick to soluable fibres.  Some people with IBS find insoluable fibres cause diarrhoea or loose, urgent stools.  You could also try Imodium, bananas or rice if our stools are too urgent or loose. When constipated, eat more fruit.  But once again, if a certain food bungs you up, avoid it or take less of it.

    Look at the Low Fodmap diet.

  • Posted

    A friend of mine suffered like you for a long time and has now been diagnosed as having thyroid problems.

    I know we are all different and what suits one is alien to others.  I was advised by the gastroenterologist to eat no more than three pieces of fruit per day.  The high content of fruit on my diet caused fructose malabsorption.  I had founf the more fruit and fibre I ate the worse I was.  I really don't know what the answer is as you eat all the 'right' things and drink lots of water and still suffer.

  • Posted

    Yes, I suffer from similar symptoms, but I am continually woken by rectal pain during the night and have to try to empty the rectum to relieve myself, but ths is not always possible and after much straiining, which I know is bad for diverticular disease and glaucoma, I am only able to pass a tiny fragment of a stool.  I go back to bed, fall asleep and am then woken again, and the whole senario is repeated.  I have an extremely healthy diet, with plenty of fibre, which passes through my digestive system and then gets stuck in the rectum.   I dread going to bed as I know that my sleep is going to be interrupted.  (Reluctantly, I continually have to resort to Lactulose, but this brings other problems)
  • Posted

    You are not alone.  You described my symptoms perfectly -- the exact same.  Sorry no solution yet -- looking for one same as you.  Question:  When you feel that all is cleared out, do you then get a bowel movement odor?  I do not have bm odor until I get it all out.  Sigh.
  • Posted

    I never feel that my rectum is completely empty.  I experience intense rectal pain, even when I pass a thin worm-like stool, or tiny fragments, and  I am exhausted through lack of sleep.
  • Posted

    Hi:  Have you considered adding at washlet toilet seat to your toilet.  I did and am now able to wash out with a stream of warm water what pieces remain in my rectum.  The clean water not only helps to wash out small pieces of fecal matter but also eliminated the acid burning paid I feel.  Just a thot.  I love mind and it has improved my life and sleep.  Do not have to get up during the night anymore.

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