Constipation

Are you constipated? The first step is to decide whether you really are constipated. Constipation is difficult to define, and what one person regards as constipation, another person may regard as normal. Some people think they are constipated if they do not pass faeces every day, but this is not necessarily the case. We tend to think one stool a day is healthy, but this is because of the way we have trained ourselves. Actually, our bodies are designed to pass faeces more often. Primates such as chimps and monkeys pass soft stools several times a day.

So try the following questions:

Do you have to strain to pass faeces?
Are your faeces lumpy or hard at least one time in four?
Do you feel that you haven’t emptied your bowel completely, at least one time in four?
Do you pass faeces only once or twice a week?

If you answered ‘yes’ to two or more of these questions, and you have had the problem for more than 3 months, then you do have constipation.

Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated: Tuesday, April 5th 2011

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Comments on this article

Posted by Ray on 17/01/2012 at 08:26

I have had a lot of colonoscopies and had no problems after each exam.After I had my colon exam this month(Jan 2012),my bowel movements were runny(not watery).Before the colonoscopy,I had normal bm's every day.sometime I don't have the urge to go and sometimes I have to take a laxative to go and I strain which makes my rectal spasms worse(Levator Spasms).I have taken a lot of colon preps and I have not had any problems until now.The colon prep I took this time was trilytely.I think this prep is similar to what I took in 2006(golytely)Would these bowel problems be caused by the Anesthesia (Propofol)? I have also heard about other people having constipation problems and loose bowels after a colon exam,but had normal bowel movements before the exam.What could be causing these problems?

Posted by Optional on 12/01/2012 at 05:26

I had a terrible night last night with fecal impaction (I think) where the stool was so hard and so large it would not budge and I spent the whole night awake in discomfort and pain, trying to "help" it out! I eventually got it out in the early hours of the morning with a lot of hard pushing, but now I feel terrible and am very tender. I think my body actually went into shock. Is there any damage that can be caused by pushing this hard? Should I see my Dr? Thanks for any advice?

Posted by Optional on 06/09/2011 at 03:15

I hardly ever go once a week if lucky often bleed something called fybogel in high fibre is great can get it off doctor or just buy it from shop. once you have been twice a day works great, it is a drink orange or lemon

Posted by symcurl on 21/07/2011 at 07:11

I always have constipation it takes me a couple of weeks before im on the toilet letting it out i do have bowl pain with it and its when i eat and drink products with sugar dairy and fibre

Posted by lucky on 23/06/2011 at 09:24

i have a problem its like little boils around my anus which itches alot especially when i go to bed at night

Posted by cathy on 21/03/2011 at 09:53

i have constipation and it has led to piles for four weeks now. my doctor has prescribed pilex and bisacodyl.am wainting for prognosis as i also take fluids and fibre.

Posted by Optional on 25/02/2011 at 06:29

Recently I have been feeling really sharp pains in my abdomen/stomach area. They don't last for very long, but are excruciatingly painful and I loose my breath and can't walk without pain. I'm 14. Could this be constipation related?

Posted by jane on 06/02/2011 at 10:09

constipation flares up if i eat bread or anything containing a lot of sugar. I have suffered this since I was a child and find putting hot water on my back passage eases pain and helps get some of the waste out. This is second nature to me but I feel it is quite unnatural. When I go on holiday I swell up about 3 dress sizes and have to eat very little to try and feel normal again.

Posted by betty on 01/02/2011 at 05:53

i dont stool regularly.usually every 2-3 days.what can i do? please help.

Posted by Joyce m on 28/01/2011 at 06:55

Very informative. Pleasantly surprised.

Posted by ElizabethJ360 on 10/01/2011 at 04:24

I started a new birth control in November. I noticed constipation after a few weeks of taking the pill. Since this point my anal region has felt irritated, and somewhat swollen, almost as if there is something in there, but also, my vaginal region towards my anus seems dry and somewhat irritated. I have upped my water intake and the constipation has gotten better over the last few days, but how long will the irritation take to get rid of?

Posted by Optional on 25/10/2010 at 01:23

after struggling to pass stool i put the shower hose up to flush it out i now find i need to do it more and more otherwise im in pain until i paass the stool afterwards i feel the need to go again its constant all day

Posted by Sarah on 29/09/2010 at 08:55

For about 4 years I had problems with hard stools and bowel movements. I felt really bloated and uncomfy, plus I got haemorrhoids. Luckily my mum found solution for my problem. There are several things you can do to prevent constipation but the one I used was a diet supplement that improve bowel movements and contains natural bacterial, intestinal flora (2 billions of Acidophilus bacteria) - http://gohealthy.eu/5/521,constipation.html. It fights against micro organism leaving in your intestines and causing constipation. Now I feel relieved :)

Posted by Kathleen on 18/08/2010 at 01:39

I have a rectocele and I was looking for more information about the condition and how to manage it, but have not found any so far. If I get constipated it creates a problem.

Posted by Optional on 10/06/2010 at 10:28

i have constant constipation even my bum whole is too small to pass anything through , and wheni do the poo is very small like rabiit drooping but so much strain just to get it out

Posted by Optional on 01/05/2010 at 06:10

not moving bowels for weeks but having wet sticky poo coming out without him feeling it and he says sometimes he holds his stools in

Posted by Anonymous on 03/02/2010 at 09:57

just took my son 2 doctor complanin of tummy pain and feeling sick he said it was constipation but my son was not complanin of havin problim goin 2 toilet worried if this is realy the problim

Posted by chrissy on 18/11/2009 at 01:44

does constipation cause body odor , recently in class . people been saying it smells like fart. and i found out its me .I haven't physically farted but my body smells like i did. But for the rest of the day. I take showers , every morning but by third period i start to smell like fart. Before this happen , i get lower abdominal pains. And sometimes feel like vomiting.

Posted by Anonymous on 17/11/2009 at 11:17

Can I suggest that you guys have a look at a websited called www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/ It has been the anwser for many people with bowl problems, along with a host of other complaints. Basically it supports a low chemical diet where all artificial additives and some natural chemicals are omitted from the diet. It makes very interesting reading in the least. Good luck!

Posted by HS on 29/09/2009 at 11:22

For constipation try taking "AGIOLAX" made from natural ingredients and no sideffects. Take a tbsp full with enough water everyday and it should regulate. i am taking this since 1year now and trust me its worth with no side effects being herbal!

Posted by Health Press team on 16/09/2009 at 02:31

Dr Margaret reads the comments and addresses the most common or pressing questions when she updates the sections

Posted by Cheryl on 14/09/2009 at 07:16

Does anyone on here ever answer anyone elses questions? That is all I see here is one question after another, so need reason to post question I suppose since no way to get an answer.