13 Signs Poop Is Stuck in Your Colon

Fecal impaction occurs when a large mass of hard, dry stool gets stuck in the colon or rectum and cannot pass naturally through a bowel movement (also known as pooping). If you have a fecal impaction, it’s common to experience symptoms like abdominal pain and bloating, difficulty urinating and passing stool, and nausea or vomiting. 

People often develop fecal impaction as a complication of chronic constipation. However, dietary changes, lack of physical activity, certain pain medications, and underlying health conditions that affect your mobility or nervous system can also contribute symptom development. 

Untreated fecal impaction can lead to serious complications, including bowel perforation (a hole in the wall of the intestines). This is why it’s crucial to seek medical attention if you suspect you have fecal impaction. Treatment typically involves medicines that soften the stool and promote bowel movements. In more severe cases, manual or surgical removal of the impaction may be necessary. 

Fecal impaction causes symptoms that initially resemble signs of constipation. With a fecal impaction, you may experience the following symptoms: 

Abdominal pain
Cramping or bloating
Small, semi-formed stools
Fecal incontinence (leaky poop)
Watery diarrhea 
Straining or difficulty when pooping
Nausea and vomiting

As more time passes without a bowel movement, symptoms may intensify, or you may develop additional symptoms, such as: 

Fecal impaction occurs when stool becomes hard and dry and gets stuck in the colon or rectum. When stool remains in the colon for too long, the colon absorbs too much water from the stool, and the stool becomes hardened, making it difficult for poop to leave the body through regular bowel movements.

Several factors can contribute to constipation and eventually cause fecal impaction, including: 

Not eating enough high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
Eating a high-fat diet
Not drinking enough water
Lack of physical activity or exercise
Changes in daily routine, such as traveling 

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase your likelihood of experiencing fecal impaction. These include: 

Age: Fecal impaction is most common in older adults, partly because aging slows digestion and weakens abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. 
Neurological or nervous system disorders: Conditions that affect or damage the nerves that control the intestinal muscles, such as dementia, spinal cord injuries, or Parkinson’s disease, can increase your risk of fecal impaction. 
Certain medications: Medicines that affect the nerves and muscles in the digestive tract and slow the movement of stool through the intestines, including opioids (pain medications), antidepressants, antacids, chemotherapy drugs, and diuretics (water pills) may play a role in the development of fecal impaction. 

If you’re having difficulty passing a bowel movement or are experiencing other symptoms of fecal impaction, it’s important to see your healthcare provider sooner rather than later to prevent the risk of complications. At your appointment, your provider will ask about your medical history, symptoms, medications, and lifestyle and dietary habits. They will perform a physical exam to check for visible symptoms, such as abdominal pain or bloating.

After the physical exam, your provider may perform a digital rectal exam. You’ll lie on your side on an examination table or lean over the table while your healthcare provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel for a hardened mass of stool. 

Your healthcare provider may also order additional diagnostic tests to confirm the diagnosis and visualize the location and size of the fecal impaction. These may include:

Abdominal X-ray: Takes pictures of the structures and organs in the abdomen to detect impacted stool in the colon
Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan: Creates detailed images of the abdomen to identify the location and severity of the impaction and rule out other abdominal concerns

The goal of treating fecal impaction is to remove the hardened stool and restore normal bowel function to help with symptom relief. Treatment options vary depending on the location and severity of the impaction but may include medications, removal, and bowel retraining.

Medications 

Medications can help soften hardened stool, making impacted stool easier to pass for mild to moderate cases of fecal impactions. Your healthcare provider may prescribe: 

Laxatives: Help stimulate the bowel to promote bowel movements. Your healthcare provider may prescribe oral laxatives (taken by mouth) or suppositories (placed into the rectum), such as MiraLax (polyethylene glycol) or Citroma (magnesium citrate).
Enemas: Involves introducing a liquid solution containing ingredients that help soften or loosen hard poop into the rectum. Abdominal massage following an enema can sometimes help move the bowels and promote bowel movements to help pooping become easier.

Manual Removal

A manual (digital) removal procedure involves manually removing stool stuck in the colon or rectum. This procedure involves a healthcare provider inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to break up impacted stool into smaller pieces and remove them. 

While effective, manual removal can be uncomfortable, so healthcare providers sometimes take small steps to avoid injuring the rectum. In between attempts, they may insert a suppository to help soften and clear the stool. 

Endoscopic or Surgical Removal 

Endoscopic or surgical removal of impacted stool may be necessary when fecal impaction is higher up in the colon and is unreachable manually. Your provider may also recommend surgery if other treatments like laxatives, enemas, and manual removal are unsuccessful. Your surgical options may include:

Endoscopic disimpaction: Endoscopy involves inserting a flexible tube with a camera (endoscope) into the rectum to visualize the inside of the colon and use specialized tools to break up and remove the impacted stool.
Surgical disimpaction: Surgery is a more invasive treatment that healthcare providers recommend when other treatments are ineffective or when you have symptoms of complications, such as intestinal perforation (a hole in the intestinal wall). To remove the fecal impaction, your surgeon will make an incision (cut) in your abdomen to access and remove impacted stool from the colon.

Bowel Retraining 

Many people who experience fecal impaction will require bowel retraining—a therapeutic program that helps establish regular and effective bowel movements.

The retraining process typically involves creating a structured schedule for bowel movements and using specific techniques to encourage consistent and healthy bowel function. The goal is to retrain the body’s natural rhythm and improve overall digestive health. 

Bowel retraining techniques include the following:

Set a regular time each day for bowel movements, ideally after a meal when the digestive system is most active
Spend time in a relaxed environment on the toilet, which allows sufficient time for bowel movements
Increase dietary fiber and fluid intake to promote the support of softer, more easily passable stools
Incorporate exercise into your daily routine to enhance bowel health and promote bowel movements
Massage your abdomen to help stimulate regular bowel movements

Lifestyle and dietary changes that support regular bowel movements can help lower the risk of constipation and fecal impaction. Incorporating these habits into your daily routine may help prevent fecal impaction: 

Eat a high-fiber diet: Consuming a diet high in fiber from fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains can help add bulk to your stool and produce softer poops that are easier to pass 
Stay hydrated: Drinking at least eight glasses of water daily helps to keep stools soft and promotes regular bowel movements
Get regular physical activity: Exercising helps support digestive health and stimulates healthy bowel movements
Establish a routine: Setting a regular time each day for bowel movements and listening to your body when the urge to poop comes on can help prevent constipation

Untreated fecal impaction can lead to serious complications, including:

Bowel perforation: A buildup of pressure from impacted stool can cause a tear in the intestinal wall, allowing the contents of the intestines to leak into the abdominal cavity
Peritonitis: Inflammation of the abdominal lining that can occur when the intestinal contents leak into the abdomen after a bowel perforation
Bowel ulceration: Pressure in the intestines from impacted stool can irritate and damage the lining of the colon or rectum, leading to ulcers and open sores
Infection: Prolonged impaction can cause urinary tract infections
Sepsis: A life-threatening infection that can spread throughout the body, potentially leading to organ failure

Fecal impaction occurs when stool hardens and gets stuck in the colon or rectum, preventing regular bowel movements. Symptoms of this condition include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty passing stool.

If you’re experiencing symptoms, seeing a provider can help you get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Your provider may use methods such as medications and surgery to help treat symptoms.

If left untreated, fecal impaction can lead to complications such as bowel perforation, infections, or ulcers. However, eating a high-fiber diet, staying hydrated, and regular physical activity can help prevent constipation and fecal impaction and support your overall digestive health.