Stool is too large and hard to pass.. Have not gone in almost 5 days.

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[background info] - (can skip to problem if you like)

Hi, I'm 15 yrs/o and have been constantly constipated since I was (maybe 10/11 yrs/o). I have up to 2 BMs per week. It took me until this year to finally realize I need to eat healthier, however I realized this a tad too late and now it's like no matter what I do I can't get normal BMs again and it does get me really down. I've only gone to the doc twice and that was back when I was 12ish. I find it EXTREMELY difficult to tell my mom, (emphasis on EXTREMELY). My mom has seriously no patience and is usually busy and forgets about things i tell her and I'd much rather avoid telling her about the constipation(also very embarrassing). I'm super reluctant to ask for help until it gets really bad. Which is, very bad and I'm super aware of it. This is really stressing me out.

Extra info: I don't hold in my poop anymore (I did when i was younger due to extreme anxiety with using public/school bathrooms and sometimes even at home) but now I can't help but 'hold it in' as i get barely any urge to go(hence i can only go up to 2 times a week). I typically get the urge twice or less per week where I'd have a bowel movement. I also always have to strain whiile going (maybe not with almost liquidy stools) it's not full on straining but im definately pushing a fair bit to get it out.

[actual problem]

Stool is wayyy too large to pass (i managed to squeeze a small bit out, however i didn't strain too much because im terrified of anal prolapse). I feel very backed up. Wondering if there's anything i can do now? What would a doctor say/give me?? And about my problem with not getting an urge- will they want me to get a colonoscopy??(do not want under any circumstances)

Was also wondering if the stool will still be hard to pass and if I'll still have to strain if i use an enema?( not that i even have one sad( ). How do enemas feel? Please describe in detail?

Sorry for all the questions and messy explanation, this is just stressing me out and idk i get real emotional and depressed due to it. Regardless, thank you for reading and i hope i can get some help!

2 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

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  • Posted

    I am sorry that you are having this problem. I have found that taking a capful of Metamucil with 1 cup of water every evening has helped me . It has no taste and it keeps your stool from getting too hard to pass. Try to drink water as much as you can during the day. Add more fresh fruits and veggies to your diet. Try to stay away from processed foods they aren't healthy and can constipated people. Try to eat an apple everyday and a glass of 100% apple juice everyday. Drinking a cup of coffee 1st thing in the am can also help ! Try to eat fruit instead of junk food for snacks during the day. Try these few things and please let me know if it helps you. Good luck..

  • Posted

    Enemas will soften up poop making it easy to go potty
  • Posted

    The stool will be broken up by an SSE (soap suds enema), the type using an enema bag, and you won't strain to go.

    Here's what I do and it's never, ever has failed me! It's  extremely effective without being especially uncomfortable, my adaptation from personal experience of old-fashioned standard nursing practice:

    Use water a little above body temperature and add soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s) at the rate of about  a teaspoon per quart.  After filling, open the clamp to let the air out since taking that in causes cramps.

    Hang the bag about 2 or 3 feet above the “insertion point”, lie on your side or back (stomach down puts too much pressure on the gut, unless in a waterbed), preferably with the knees bent as much as possible, or kneeling with your breast on the bed or floor or whatever your knees are on.

    Then lubricate the last few inches of the nozzle (I use body butter, but any lubricant would be fine).  Then I insert it just a tiny way, since I found that fully inserting it straight off can clog it, hold the hose in place at this point so the nozzle doesn’t just  slide out once the flow begins, I release the clamp and, as soon as I feel the flow, then I gradually insert the nozzle the rest of the way, 3 or 4 inches, and then the hose usually doesn’t need holding any longer.

    I take at least a quarter of the bag, but most times I succeed in taking more.  If I have great urgency before much goes in, then I just squeeze my buttocks, much as one does when, say, at a meeting or something where it’s necessary to wait to go, and when the urge passes, then take some more; I may repeat this if needed to get enough fluid up me.  After that, I’ll hold it until there’s an urgent need to go, squeeze to get the urge to go away, and try repeat that a couple or three times since I’ve found that the longer I hold the enema, the more thorough the result.  At some point I decide it’s simply time to go, but do that at a moment that there’s no terrible urgency, or something undesirable may happen.  And, just in case, I take a towel with me between my legs, although that’s never been a serious issue.

    For a really stubborn case, say when I haven’t gone for nearly a week, then I repeat the above with the bag a foot or so higher which makes the water go all the way to the top of the large intestine, and gets out everything, and I mean everything.  When I do this, I find I can take more but not hold it as long and, also, may have to go to the toilet a second time a few minutes later.

  • Posted

    This is incredibly dangerous. You need to see a doctor immediately to avoid permanent damage to your gut and your health! I know you are embarrassed but it is not worth it to ruin your future health over embarrassment, especially at such a young age
  • Posted

    I'm sorry to hear that your mother is not supporting you the way a Mom should.

    Have you tried proping your legs up while attempting the bowel movement.

    Amazon (and probably others) sell Squatty Potty. If you can convince your mother to purchase this for you ($30), perhaps it will help in frequent and complete bowel movement with minimal pressure.

  • Posted

    I’m dealing with this too and need an answer ASAP.   I haven’t pooped in a couple days and I tried yesterday and it’s too hard and it hurts 
    • Posted

      Same situation, please let me know if u find any remedies or helpful solutionz
    • Posted

      I am in the same situation, although I do take a tablet called Dulcolax,It starts by softening your stools,to the point where you can then hopefully pass your stools with no pain. You start by taking 1 per day, but if you, yourself think that 1 tablet is not enough, then you can start to take 2 per day. I have never, ever felt the need to take ANYmore, in fact I don't think that it is recommended to take anymore at all.

      I hope that I have explained this correctly and it is easy to understand, also good luck and I really hope that this method helps to sort you out

  • Posted

    My daughter had this problem for years. Use Miralax, you’ll have to figure out how much does and doesn’t work for you. Don’t eat apples or bananas instead eat, pears, peaches (can be the canned type)prunes, peas, and apricots. MIRALAX definitely  works the best.
  • Posted

    I am literally on the toilet trying to poop. I didn't know bananas would stop me up. This is horrible. I cannot imagine being 15 and going thru this. I'm so sorry. Try to find a motherly figure to help you. I'm sure your fine now, but for future events. I feel bad for you. I signed up just to talk to you. You poor thing. Your mother should not make you feel bad.

    • Posted

      4 enemas later....OMG I feel horrible. My butt hurts so much and it feels like the grand canyon. Like things are just going to be coming right out ready or not. I hope I'm done. 😢😢😢

    • Posted

      did you use mineral oil enemas ??those type are best for softening up hard compacted poop ,it makes them as s oft as marshmellows,my mom had to give me mineral oil enemas from age 13 to 21 when i had chronic mega colon
    • Posted

      I'm really upset to hear you felt horrible!

      But, did enemas at least fix your problem?

  • Posted

    I totally understand how you feel 

    Ever since I started taking psi pills for 2 bad hips my bowls have never recovered ! I think the OxyContin damaged the nerves that aids motility !!

    Anyway the only way I can go daily and not be in pain with Ibs-c is taking a natural laxative and taking calm magnesium ... 

    I suggest you try the magnesium it really gets things moving naturally !!!

    It desovles in hot water and just drink it down , it tells you to take it bowl tolerance. 

    You will def go !!

    Best of luck 

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