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I Have The Feeling Of Discomfort That There Is Stool
Question: I have the feeling of discomfort that there is stool in my stomach but when I go to the toilet only a small amount comes out. I was constipated for a few days and took magnesium citrate which helped but I still have the “stuck” feeling. Is that stool related or maybe a hemorrhoid?
Brief Answer:
seems like impacted motion...please see the detailed answer below...
Detailed Answer:
Hello there,
Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service...
I've gone through your query in details...
I can understand your concerns...
Well, as per your description, this seems more likely to be due to impacted fecal matters inside the gut (the large gut and rectum mainly)...No, if you don't have any preexisting hemorrhoid related issue, then it's unlikely to be due to any hemorrhoid...
Instead of magnesium citrate, I'd suggest you take polyethylene glycol (eg. MiraLax, available over the counter) or syrup Lactulose (15ml starting dose at bedtime, can be titrated thereafter based on the response, may require a prescription from your local physician)...
Along with it, most importantly, please don't strain while passing motion...
-Drink plenty of water(at least 10-12cups per day), have cooked vegetables, for the time being, simple homemade foods, oats, muesli, high fiber diet, avoid any form of spicy food...avoid foods which are prone to induce gas (eg. cabbage, cauliflower, beans, and legumes etc)...
-Avoid smoking/alcohol strictly, if at all do, as they can further worsen this scenario...
-Eat in small but frequent portion, that way even if you eat too fast, it won't cause too many concerns.
-Avoid fast/processed foods, avoid refined sugar/sugary products.
-Yogurt acts as beneficial probiotics, you may have yogurt daily with the meal...
However, if there are any other symptoms like abdominal pain or cramping, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, foul-smelling stool, mucus or undigested food in feces, greenish loose motion-- it'll be better to get a stool routine analysis and culture sensitivity, liver function test, serum amylase, and lipase done as this may also indicate an ongoing infection (could be due to protozoal/bacterial). Based on the findings, the necessary antibiotic/antiprotozoal therapy should be initiated.
Let me know if I can assist you further...
Take Care
Kind Regards
seems like impacted motion...please see the detailed answer below...
Detailed Answer:
Hello there,
Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service...
I've gone through your query in details...
I can understand your concerns...
Well, as per your description, this seems more likely to be due to impacted fecal matters inside the gut (the large gut and rectum mainly)...No, if you don't have any preexisting hemorrhoid related issue, then it's unlikely to be due to any hemorrhoid...
Instead of magnesium citrate, I'd suggest you take polyethylene glycol (eg. MiraLax, available over the counter) or syrup Lactulose (15ml starting dose at bedtime, can be titrated thereafter based on the response, may require a prescription from your local physician)...
Along with it, most importantly, please don't strain while passing motion...
-Drink plenty of water(at least 10-12cups per day), have cooked vegetables, for the time being, simple homemade foods, oats, muesli, high fiber diet, avoid any form of spicy food...avoid foods which are prone to induce gas (eg. cabbage, cauliflower, beans, and legumes etc)...
-Avoid smoking/alcohol strictly, if at all do, as they can further worsen this scenario...
-Eat in small but frequent portion, that way even if you eat too fast, it won't cause too many concerns.
-Avoid fast/processed foods, avoid refined sugar/sugary products.
-Yogurt acts as beneficial probiotics, you may have yogurt daily with the meal...
However, if there are any other symptoms like abdominal pain or cramping, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting, foul-smelling stool, mucus or undigested food in feces, greenish loose motion-- it'll be better to get a stool routine analysis and culture sensitivity, liver function test, serum amylase, and lipase done as this may also indicate an ongoing infection (could be due to protozoal/bacterial). Based on the findings, the necessary antibiotic/antiprotozoal therapy should be initiated.
Let me know if I can assist you further...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you for your response. I currently don’t have the stuck feeling anymore. The magnesium citrate seemed to have cleared me out pretty well and today I’ve had two small bowel movements. Could it still be that there is impacted bowel?
Brief Answer:
follow-up consultation...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Good to know that the bowel movements cleared...
Well, if there's no more stuck feeling, no abdominal heaviness/discomfort, no excessive burping/gas then you can wait for the time being...
Meanwhile, do follow all the dietary modifications strictly as explained in the previous discussion...
Take Care
Kind Regards
follow-up consultation...
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back,
Good to know that the bowel movements cleared...
Well, if there's no more stuck feeling, no abdominal heaviness/discomfort, no excessive burping/gas then you can wait for the time being...
Meanwhile, do follow all the dietary modifications strictly as explained in the previous discussion...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you!! I just fear that it’ll come back and that it’s not fully clear in there. I don’t have the stuck feeling at the moment but fear that since I haven’t had a good bowel movement today that it’ll come back. But I am focusing on drinking more water and eating smaller portions at specific times of the day. Is there a recommended amount of fiber?
Brief Answer:
dietary modifications are most important for future well being...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
You can simply wait and watch for the day while following all the dietary modifications...meanwhile, keep the medications arranged as explained earlier...if at all observe any discomfort thereafter, simply take it at bedtime with plenty of water...
Nothing to worry...
As for the fiber, it's always recommended to have them in natural form (i.e. from dietary source), so there's no hard and fast rule for that apart from having during each main meal and daily... However, if taking as a form of a fiber supplement (eg. Psyllium husk, Metamucil, Benefiber, etc.) it's better to limit their intake up to 25gm daily...
Hope this answers your queries...
Take Care
Kind Regards
dietary modifications are most important for future well being...
Detailed Answer:
Hi back,
You can simply wait and watch for the day while following all the dietary modifications...meanwhile, keep the medications arranged as explained earlier...if at all observe any discomfort thereafter, simply take it at bedtime with plenty of water...
Nothing to worry...
As for the fiber, it's always recommended to have them in natural form (i.e. from dietary source), so there's no hard and fast rule for that apart from having during each main meal and daily... However, if taking as a form of a fiber supplement (eg. Psyllium husk, Metamucil, Benefiber, etc.) it's better to limit their intake up to 25gm daily...
Hope this answers your queries...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Yes, follow all the advice, if still discomfort happens X-ray/ can be done
Detailed Answer:
Not to worry at all...
Just follow all the advice, keep the medications arranged at home beforehand, drink plenty of water frequently...
If at all, discomfort returns, X-ray/Ultrasound abdomen can be done at the ER/urgent care to look into it further (however, there's no immediate requirement of it at present)...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Yes, follow all the advice, if still discomfort happens X-ray/ can be done
Detailed Answer:
Not to worry at all...
Just follow all the advice, keep the medications arranged at home beforehand, drink plenty of water frequently...
If at all, discomfort returns, X-ray/Ultrasound abdomen can be done at the ER/urgent care to look into it further (however, there's no immediate requirement of it at present)...
Take Care
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Again, I want to thank you so much for your quick answers. I have been nervous today. I will see how it goes until Friday morning and if I feel uncomfortable I will go see if at urgent care they can do an X Ray or some test to see if there is impacted stool.
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