My Poop Is Too Big To Come Out And Hurts: Why Is It So?

My poop is too big to come out and hurts, which means your stool hard or extremely large poops may be the outcome of eating a very large meal or the result of chronic constipation that alters your bowel habits. Hard stools are a symptom often associated with decreased frequency of defecation (constipation). Their evacuation is difficult or incomplete and involves other disorders, such as a feeling of heaviness and abdominal swelling.

In most cases, hard stools are caused by an inadequate diet, in particular by low consumption of fiber, by the habit of drinking little, and by being in a hurry at the table. This manifestation can also represent a consequence of a sedentary lifestyle, stress, or the tendency to postpone the urge to go to the bathroom.

Hard stools can also be related to certain medications and diseases, such as diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or diverticulosis.

If the problem recurs frequently or does not resolve itself within a few days, it can signal the presence of more severe disorders of the gastrointestinal system, which must be investigated with a careful medical evaluation.

Hard Stool

Stools are hard when they are dry and with a consistency that makes it difficult to expel them.

In general, hard stools occur in people suffering from constipation (or constipation ), as the persistence of fecal material in the intestine puts the latter at risk of dehydration.

Hard stools can also form as a result of the occasional evacuation, but can also represent an indication of pathological conditions, affecting the gastrointestinal system, such as irritable bowel syndrome or colitis, or other systems of the body.

When hard stools occur sporadically and resolve themselves in a few days, they should not be a cause for concern and, often, it is not necessary to resort to special care: better eating habits are usually enough to solve the problem.

In some cases, however, hard stools can become a recurring condition and, if associated with other pathologies, require targeted treatments for their solution.

Causes and Risk Factors

Feces are waste products of the body that, after accumulating in the intestine, are excreted rectally. Their consistency basically depends on the dietary habits and functionality of the subject’s gastrointestinal system.

Hard stools are difficult to pass, often get stuck in the intestinal tract, and can lead to constipation. This symptom is mostly attributable to a lack of fluid in the enteric canal or decreased bowel movements. The factors that can contribute to this problem can, however, be many and of various kinds.

My Poop Is Too Big To Come Out And Hurts: Causes

In most cases, hard stools are a short-lived problem related to constipation secondary to a series of unregulated eating habits.

Hard stools can be caused, in particular, by:

• Change in diet (for example, for a trip);
• Low consumption of fiber;
• A habit of drinking little;
• Hurry to the table;
• Meals at different times;
• Diet rich in animal fats and sugars.

Even a lack of physical activity can lead, in the long run, to the appearance of hard stools: if the muscles of the intestine lose tone and relax excessively, it can be difficult to expel the mass of fecal material.

The following can also contribute to the onset of this problem:

• Irregular sleep-wake rhythms
• Tendency to postpone the urge to evacuate or repress it when it occurs (over time, this incorrect habit can lead to a slowdown in intestinal transit);
• The habit of staying in the bathroom for a short time.

Other times, hard stools are not a transitory phenomenon, that is, they do not regress within a few days; in these cases, their manifestation may signal the presence of more severe disorders that should be ascertained or excluded from a clinical point of view.

There are various organic causes, such as a narrowing of the intestinal lumen of the inflammatory origin or, more rarely, a tumor that can make the material of this consistency difficult to evacuate. In these situations, it is advisable to undergo a thorough visit to the gastroenterologist and perform a colonoscopy.

If no organic problem is found during the diagnostic process, it is possible that the condition is associated with impaired intestinal transit or difficulty in rectal expulsion.

What diseases can be associated with hard stools?

As anticipated, hard stools are associated, in most cases, with constipation (constipation).

This symptom can be caused by:

• Dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles ;
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy, before the menstrual cycle, and in menopause;
• Structural alterations of the intestine such as, for example, occurs in the case of post-inflammatory stenosis in Crohn’s disease or post-operative scarring;
• Reduced motility of the colon.
• Pathologies that can be associated with the problem include:
• Irritable bowel syndrome;
• Tumors of the colon or other abdominal organs
• Intestinal polyps ;
• Diverticulosis;
• Diabetes;
• Hypothyroidism ;
• Systemic lupus erythematosus ;
• Multiple sclerosis ;
• Hemorrhoids ;
• Stroke ;
• Parkinson’s disease ;
• Trauma or tumors of the spine.

Treatment and Remedies

The treatment of hard stools varies according to the underlying disease.

In many cases, these are absolutely temporary disorders, destined to resolve themselves without the need to resort to specific therapies. Other times, hard stools may require targeted treatments for their solution.

If constipation (constipation) or poor bowel activity is the cause at the origin of hard stools, it is necessary to intervene on lifestyle and eating habits, drinking more liquids and taking more fiber in the form of fruit, vegetables. and whole grains.

Fibers are useful as they make the stool softer and more voluminous, promote the urge to defecate, and accelerate intestinal motility.

To counteract the problem of hard stools, it is also useful to move as much as possible: sometimes, it is sufficient to practice light but constant physical activity to help the intestine to work more regularly.

Only in the most stubborn cases of hard stools, the doctor may decide to prescribe laxatives or prokinetic drugs to stimulate or speed up the evacuation. These products should be taken only after careful evaluation, since, if there is a mechanical obstruction (secondary, for example, to chronic inflammation of the diverticula, tumor, etc.), they could cause intestinal obstruction with very serious consequences.

In some cases, especially in those suffering from chronic constipation, the following may be indicated:

• Glycerin-based suppositories;
• Bulk-forming laxatives, based on fibers such as psyllium and methylcellulose, which work by making the stool softer and thus facilitating evacuation;
• Osmotic laxatives ( saline and otherwise), such as preparations based on polyethylene glycol, which acts by increasing the volume of feces;
• Senna-based stimulating laxatives that work by increasing intestinal motility;
• Medicines such as linaclotide and prucalopride;
• Re-education of the pelvic floor muscles.

If the hard stools depend on other diseases, it is necessary, in the first place, to intervene in these causes with targeted treatments.

WHAT TO DO

Increase the consumption of high-fiber foods such as:

• Bran and derivatives;
• Fresh raw fruit with peel and seeds;
• Verdure crude;
• Fruit juices;
• Dates, apricots, plums, and plum jam.
• Eat small quantities of everything, including fats such as olive oil, yogurt, and dairy products in general so as to keep the intestinal flora in balance, promote its efficiency, and, consequently, correct evacuation;
• Increase water intake throughout the day to prevent dehydration and stimulate bowel motility, soften stool and facilitate its expulsion. In case of hard stools, fruit juices and the morning intake of hot or lukewarm drinks are particularly recommended;
• Chew food calmly and for a long time in order to promote the production of saliva, which helps the breakdown of food and, therefore, the formation of feces;
• Take laxatives only according to medical prescription;
• Exercise because it helps the intestine to work more regularly.

WHAT NOT TO DO

• Do not strain excessively when defecating;
• Do not take foods with astringent action, such as lemon, tea, cocoa, blackberries, blueberries, prickly pears, and black currants;

• Do not over-consume foods that promote constipation such as potatoes, rice, bananas, and carrots ;
• Do not use laxatives without a doctor’s prescription: these products must always be taken under medical supervision and for short periods.

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