Q. I have had difficulty with extremely bulky bowel movements my entire life. It is terribly embarrassing to have to use a toilet away from home for fear of plugging it up. Fiber supplements, fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, prunes and stool softeners don’t help. I would love suggestions that might work.
A. One low-cost, low-risk option might be to try sugarless gum containing xylitol. This natural compound is not absorbed from the digestive tract so it attracts water and makes the stool softer and hopefully less bulky. If your kidneys are healthy, a magnesium supplement (200 to 400 mg) may also be helpful.
If these tactics are unsuccessful, you might try MiraLax for a few days. This pulls fluid into the large bowel and makes the stool less firm.
You are not the only person to experience such embarrassment. Here are a number of stories from visitors to this website:
“I have struggled with this same problem off and on for a long time. I recently discovered a major reason for it. I never had significant problems until I became lactose intolerant. And it’s not only products with milk/lactose that will cause it. I’ve noticed that after developing bulky bowel movements my digestive system is much more sensitive to food in general. In addition, I’ve found that gluten products will aggravate it even more. This observation isn’t just from me personally but something I’ve discovered is common with many of my friends.
“My biggest suggestion would be to try for a few weeks completely eliminating dairy and gluten products, while upping the amount of water you drink every day. When I adhere to this diet, I have nearly NO problems.” Rose
“My grandson has this same problem despite lots of fiber and fruit. I followed advice given by a physician that due to our water’s high level of calcium, he was probably low in magnesium. Being that it’s a vital mineral, it made sense to try a supplement. Works like a charm!” Jack
“I have had this problem for several years. I’m a slim woman. Mine are not hard and dry…just very large and unwieldy. I do not hold anything in, I eat lots of fruits and vegetables and very little meat, I drink water, but not gallons of it, and still have the di’stink’tion of knowing I can plug up any toilet anywhere at anytime.
“The only med I take regularly is an allergy pill like Claritin D. I have learned to flush at exactly the right movement moment so that it will be whisked away. Usually it works.” Deb
“When my son was small, his bms were as big around as a can of vegetables, no exaggeration! We had to keep a special trash can by the toilet to store a paint stir stick to break up the mass so it would flush. His Dad would make comments about the toilet clogs and it embarrassed our son. After all, he couldn’t help the size of his bm!” Kelly
If you would like to learn more about our favorite constipation remedies, we suggest The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remeides. You will learn about a variety of approches from blackstrap molasses and flaxseed oil to special fiber solutions plus honey and vinegar. And in Recipes and Remedies from The People’s Pharmacy you find find recipes for “Power Pudding” and dynamite “Pumpkin Bran Muffins.”
Share your own stories below in the comment section. What has worked for you?
