Why Is My Poop So Big It Clogs the Toilet?
The question why is my poop so big it clogs the toilet?
might sound strange but its actually quite simple. When a person defecates, large amounts of stool are released into the toilet bowl which causes the toilet to overflow with feces. If you have ever had a bowel movement while sitting down, then you will understand what I mean.
If you have ever experienced diarrhea, then you will know what I mean when someone says “poop” means blood. That’s right, your body releases waste products from the intestines into the toilet bowl causing it to overflow with bloody liquid. You may not think much about this since most of us don’t experience these types of things every day, however if you do encounter them regularly or even occasionally then they become a problem.
When you have a bowel movement, the amount of blood in the toilet bowl is usually enough to cause it to overflow. However, if you have been experiencing frequent bowel movements due to constipation then this problem becomes worse. If you are suffering from hemorrhoids (a painful condition where the skin folds over itself), then your bowels may leak blood during these times resulting in an overflowing toilet.
What Causes Poop Too Big To Come Out?
The most common cause of poop that clogs the toilet is simply due to the size of the stool. Not all stools are created equal and while some are soft, thin, and small enough to fit through the opening of the toilet bowl, others are large, thick, and simply too big to come out. While this problem could be due to diet and eating habits, there are several other causes which need to be addressed.
1) Pregnancy
When a woman is pregnant, her body goes through several changes. These changes can cause strange food aversions and cravings, weight gain or loss, and an increase in bodily secretions. While the changes brought on by pregnancy are usually well-known and planned for, some women don’t realize that constipation is a common side effect of being pregnant.
During the second trimester of pregnancy, your body releases a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This is also known as the pregnancy hormone and will cause your bowel movements to become less frequent. Many women don’t realize this is occurring and continue to have their normal bowel movements, causing larger stools to remain in the intestines until they are pushed out.
2) Medications
There are several different types of medications which may cause poop too big to come out. These drugs work by targeting specific bodily functions in order to treat other conditions such as heart disease, seizures, Parkinson’s, high blood pressure, and others. While these drugs do provide relief for many people, they can also lead to constipation and large stools.
Medications which may cause this side effect include:
-Anticholinergics (such as Robinul)
-Antidepressants (such as Desipramine and Amitriptyline)
-Antiparkinsons (such as Benzhexol and Trihexyphenidyl)
-Beta blockers (such as Lopressor and Metaprolol)
-Calcium Channel Blockers (such as Procardia and Nifedipine)
-Mood Stabilizers (such as Lithium and Depakote)
-Phenothiazines (such as Compazine and Thorazine)
If you are taking any of these medications or any other medications, be sure to let your doctor know about the problem so that you can discuss alternate treatments which do not cause constipation. However, if you are already taking medication and your bowel movements are still large, this is probably not the cause of your problem.
3) Hormones
The hormones which cause pregnancy are not the only hormones which can cause poop too big to come out. Several other hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone can also affect bowel movements.
If you are going through menopause and suffering from hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms brought on by a shortage of estrogen, then your bowel movements could be larger than normal.
If you are a male wrestler who is using steroids or other hormones illicitly, then you may find that your bowel movements are also larger than normal. While this may seem to be a benefit at first since you will “go” more often, the downside is that the larger stools will be harder to pass.
4) Other diseases
There are several other medical conditions which can cause your stools to become large and hard to pass. One of the most common is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This group of diseases includes Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
Both of these conditions cause the intestines to become inflamed and have a difficult time absorbing water from the stools. As a result, stool that comes out will be hard and dry. If this happens, you may feel the need to strain more or even use lubricant in order to pass them.
5) Not Enough Fiber
Fiber is an important part of a healthy diet since it helps to keep the digestive system running smoothly. Without enough fiber, your stools can become larger than normal.
Ideally, men should consume at least 38 grams of fiber per day while women should consume at least 25 grams per day. However, the average American only consumes between 15 and 18 grams of fiber each day.
If you think you are not getting enough fiber in your diet, there are plenty of ways to increase your intake. Try adding more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains into your meals. You can also try taking a fiber supplement such as Benefiber or Metamucil to increase your intake.
6) Not Enough Water
It is important that your digestive system has enough water in order to work properly. Without enough water, the muscles that line the intestines will not be able to move food through the digestive tract as they should. As a result, stool may become harder and larger than normal.
The average American does not consume enough water. The recommendations are that men should drink 3 liters of water per day and women should drink 2.2 liters of water each day. However, the average person only consumes about 1.9 liters for men and 1.5 liters for women.
Try to drink more water each day and see if it helps make your bowel movements smaller and easier to pass.
7) Certain Drugs
There are some medicines which can cause your stools to become larger than normal. This includes painkillers such as Vicodin and Percocet. These drugs put a strain on the liver since they are broken down by the body’s chief toxin cleaning organ.
Other drugs which can cause this problem include antidepressants, antibiotics, and antacids. If you are taking any of these medications and notice a change in your bowel movements, consult with your doctor about potential side effects.
8) Constipation
This is a more general term for when you have difficulty passing stools. There are two types of constipation: acute and chronic.
Acute constipation is when you have difficulty passing stools only a few times each month. This can be caused by not drinking enough water, taking certain drugs, or if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Chronic constipation is when you have difficulty passing stools at least once a week. You can have this problem for many reasons such as not consuming enough fiber in your diet, eating too little food, dehydration, and hormonal problems.
9) Hormonal Problems
There are several hormones that can affect the way your body absorbs water and therefore how your stool moves through your intestines.
Traditionally, progesterone has a relaxing effect on muscle tissue, including the muscles in the wall of the intestines. If there is an excess of progesterone, the walls of the intestines are more relaxed than they should be and this can cause stools to move through too slowly.
On the other hand, if there is not enough progesterone, the walls of the intestines are too tense and this can cause stools to move through too quickly. This can also lead to a decreased appetite and sluggishness.
Estrogen is another hormone that can affect stool movement. An excess of estrogen can cause the walls of the intestines to be too relaxed and therefore slow down movement. A lack of estrogen can cause the walls to be too tense and move stools through too quickly.
Low thyroid hormone can also affect stool movement. This is because the thyroid gland helps regulate the body’s energy and metabolism. If there is not enough thyroid hormone, stools may move through the intestines too slowly. This can cause severe constipation.
10) Pregnancy
This is a very common cause of constipation. This is because a woman’s hormones are all out of whack during this period and often cause the digestive tract to slow down.
A woman should always try to stay as healthy as possible during her pregnancy. That means eating a well-balanced diet and drinking plenty of water (at least 8 glasses per day). There are certain supplements that can help with constipation. These include foods with high fiber content such as whole grains, bananas, prunes, and carrots.
There are also many over-the-counter drugs that can help. Some of these are specifically for relieving constipation while others are laxatives designed to cause your stools to become softer and easier to pass. Be sure to consult with your doctor before taking any drugs since some may not be safe for you or your baby during this time.
11) Lack of Exercise
This is a common cause of constipation in adults, but also children and the elderly. Not getting enough exercise causes the intestines to absorb too much water from the stool making it harder and more difficult to pass.
This is often seen in people that lead a sedentary lifestyle such as office workers that don’t get much exercise during the day. Elderly people are also prone to this problem. They often don’t consume enough fiber in their diet and also tend to be less active as a whole.
12) Lack of Fiber in the Diet
This is another common cause of constipation. Just like exercise, consuming enough fiber is essential to keeping your digestive tract functioning regularly.
Most people only get between 10-15 grams of fiber per day. The American Dietetic Association recommends 21 grams per day for women and 30 grams per day for men.
If you find that you aren’t going regularly, you should try to gradually increase your fiber intake. Start by adding more high-fiber foods to your diet such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. You can also take a fiber supplement if you aren’t seeing an improvement after a week of increasing your fiber intake.
13) Ignoring the urge to go
Many people have a habit of waiting until they absolutely have to go before they allow themselves to visit the bathroom. This can lead to problems with constipation and even autointoxication (internal poisoning).
14) Ignoring Other Symptoms
Many people disregard certain symptoms of their body such as fatigue, brain-fog, and difficulty thinking due to constipation. Constipation affects more than just your digestive tract. It can often cause your whole body to feel run down and sluggish. Ignoring these other symptoms, and not treating your constipation early on can lead to further health problems down the road.
15) Ignoring the problem entirely
The most common cause of all is simply ignoring the problem. Many people believe that they are prone to constipation and just accept it. It doesn’t really hurt anything and prevents them from having to deal with any of the other steps to getting rid of it.
Unfortunately this can lead to much larger problems such as hemorrhoids, fissures, or even cancer. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away. It will only get worse over time and cause even more painful and difficult to treat issues. Be sure to take care of yourself and don’t ignore the signs your body is giving you. Be a responsible adult and take care of your body.
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