My Poop Is Too Big to Come Out and Hurts – What Should I Do?

When a large, hard mass of stool gets stuck so badly in your colon or rectum that you can’t push it out it is termed as Fecal Impaction.

Without treatment, fecal impaction can cause severe damage. Therefore, people experiencing any of the symptoms should visit their doctor as soon as possible.

Hard poop happens because your colon absorbs too much water from your stool. Most people experience hard poop from time to time.

For some, though, it’s a long-lasting problem.

The most common treatment for fecal impaction is an enema, which is a special fluid that your doctor inserts into your rectum to soften your stool.

In this article, we look at possible causes of large and hard stools that are difficult to pass. We also discuss digestive health tips, the treatment options and explain when to see a doctor.

What Makes Hard-To-Pass Poop? 

Hard stools may be attributable to lifestyle factors, such as a person’s diet or activity levels or the medications they take.

Here are some factors that can lead to hard-to-pass poop:

1. Constipation – Most of the time, constipation makes it hard to poop. When you don’t visit your toilet for more than 3 three days, your poop starts to accumulate in the colon. As it accumulates, it grows bigger in size making it hard to exit.
2. Laxatives – Overuse of laxatives may cause you to become dependent on them for a bowel movement. If this happens, you won’t get that natural urge to poop. When you don’t poop, the stool will build up in your colon making it bigger in size and harder to poop.
3. Medicines – Some opioid drugs that treat pain can slow down your digestion, making the stool more likely to build up in your colon.
4. Activity Level – Lack of physical activity, especially exercise, is one of the main factors that lead to hard, dry, and big stool.
5. Bathroom Habits – The habit of controlling your poop is another factor that makes it hard to pass poop.
6. Bowel Obstruction – If you have experienced chronic constipation or have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, you’re likely to have a hard time passing poop.
7. Hypothyroidism – Hypothyroidism, or too little thyroid hormone in the body, can cause the body’s processes to slow down. This may cause symptoms such as constipation, and bloating.
8. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – If you have irritable bowel syndrome, you might have uncomfortable or painful abdominal symptoms. Constipation, diarrhea, gas, and bloating are common IBS symptoms.
9. Pregnancy – The likelihood of constipation resulting in fecal impaction during pregnancy is rare but still possible. Most patients who experience such an event have a predisposing condition, such as a neurologic injury.

What To Do if Your Poop Is Too Big To Come Out & It Hurts

Pain with pooping or bowel movements can injure our pelvic floors and cause us unbearable pain.

Here’s what you should do if your poop is too big to come out:

• The first thing to do if you don’t come out is to check if it’s constipation or fecal impaction. If you get a persistent urge to poop and persistent abdominal pain, it’s a fecal impaction and you need to see a doctor.

• Try squat pooping. When you poop in a squat position the colon (a tube-like organ connected to the small intestine at one end and the anus at the other) is straightened and your anus muscles are relaxed while making the stool pass easily.

• Don’t force the hard poop out by straining, instead try to relax your sphincters and pelvic muscles. Conscious relaxing and deep breathing can help you avoid painful experiences.

• If the poop doesn’t come out, even after trying the relax and breathing method, use your lubricated gloved fingers. Stay relaxed and keep breathing slowly but deeply. Slowly insert your index finger into your anorectal canal and feel the hard poop. Try to assess its size, and how hard it is. Use a spooning motion by flexing your finger inside your rectum to help it break down and to push out of your poop. If it’s too hard to be broken down by your finger, call for medical help.

• Try the mineral oil enema to soften the hard poop. All you have to do is lie down on your left side with your knees bent and insert the enema applicator tip into your rectum and squeeze the bottle to empty all the contents. Whenever you feel the urge to poop, try using your finger to remove the poop. If the mineral oil enema fails to bring the hard poop out, get help from a medical professional.

How To Reduce the Size of Your Poops?

A normal stool size is at least a couple of inches in length, and ideally between four and eight inches. A poop size larger than 8 inches is harder to pass.

Here’s how to reduce the size of your poops:

1. Increase Your Fiber Intake – Fiber absorbs water and helps to soften the stools. Beans, broccoli, berries, avocados, whole grains, apples, and dried fruits all have high-quality fiber in them.
2. Exercise – Physical activities such as jogging, swimming, or weight lifting helps lower the time it takes for food to move through the large intestine. This limits the amount of water your body absorbs from the stool. Hard, dry stools are harder to pass.
3. Opt for Several Small Meals – Try eating several small meals throughout the day instead of very large meals in one sitting. This can reduce the volume of food that your intestines process at a time.
4. Drink Enough Water – Increasing water content inside the gut can help soften stools and stimulate bowel movements. Drinking a mixture of lemon juice and water may help relieve constipation in some people.
5. Consistent Bathroom Time – Schedule your toilet time to morning and evening. This will help create a natural pooping cycle for you. But, don’t hold your poop. The moment you feel the urge go to the toilet and let it out. Holding in stool can increase the incidence of constipation.
6. Use Laxative Only When Recommended – Laxatives can work like magic, but you shouldn’t use it without consulting a doctor.
7. Use Stool Softener – Stool softeners do not directly stimulate bowel movement, but they are used to prevent straining in the toilet, which is why they are highly recommended when the poop is too big to come out.
8. Try an Enema or Suppository – You can use a warm mineral oil enema to soften and lubricate the stool. However, enemas alone are not enough to remove a large, hardened impaction in most cases. The mass may have to be broken up by hand.

FAQs About Constipation

When the Passing Gets Tough, Be Gentle on Yourself

People with fecal impaction should not try to remove the mass by themselves or wait for it to go away on its own. Instead, they must make an appointment with a doctor, who will advise them on the best medical treatment to cure the issue.

Hard poop can be a symptom of lifestyle factors, medications taken, or an underlying medical condition.

There are several different approaches to treatment that can make stool easier to pass.

A person can adapt their food choices to help keep their bowel movements regular and avoid fecal impaction.

A diet high in fiber can aid regular bowel movements, and natural laxatives such as tea, coffee, and prune juice may be beneficial if a person’s poop is too big and hard to come out.