Why Won’T My Diarrhea Go Away?

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Diarrhea, a liquid bowel movement, can be caused by various factors such as muscle damage, nerve damage, and underlying medical conditions. Muscle damage can make it difficult to hold in stool, while nerve damage can cause fecal incontinence. Other causes include constipation, diarrhea, and hemorrhoids.

Watery diarrhea, which results from liquid stools, can be caused by infections or medical conditions like celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some cases are self-limiting or can be self-limiting. Paradoxical diarrhea occurs when a hard stool gets stuck in the colon, causing watery stool to leak around the impaction. Chronic diarrhea, which lasts for four weeks or longer, can be caused by diet, medications, and diseases.

Diarrhea can also be caused by bacterial infections, viruses, food intolerance, or food allergies. Loose stools, also known as incomplete evacuation, are a hallmark of IBS and can be caused by chronic constipation, pelvic pain, anxiety, food allergies, medication, or long-term conditions like IBS. Loose stools are unusually watery bowel movements and may include gastrointestinal infections, ulcerative colitis, and thyroid problems. Consult a doctor about any concerns and seek medical advice if needed.

Useful Articles on the Topic
ArticleDescriptionSite
Watery diarrhea: Causes and how to stop itThe aetiology of watery diarrhoea is diverse, encompassing viral infections and the ingestion of specific foodstuffs. A variety of home remedies and medications can be employed to treat the condition.www.medicalnewstoday.com
Chronic Diarrhea: What It Is, Causes & Treatment OptionsChronic diarrhea is defined as persistent diarrhea that persists for a minimum of four weeks. The etiology of chronic diarrhea is multifactorial, with dietary habits, pharmacological interventions, and underlying medical conditions representing potential etiological factors.my.clevelandclinic.org

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What to do when diarrhea is stuck?

Laxatives: You can drink a polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution or use an over-the counter (OTC) laxative to cleanse your colon. Surgery: If you have severe fecal impaction, your healthcare provider will perform surgery, especially to target symptoms of bleeding due to a tear in your bowel (bowel perforation).

What is fecal impaction?. Fecal impaction is the result of severe constipation, when you’re unable to regularly pass poop (stool or feces) and it backs up inside your large intestine (colon). Fecal impaction can also be defined by your inability to sense and respond to the presence of stool in your rectum.

Who does fecal impaction affect?. Fecal impaction occurs in all age groups but is most common in:

  • The elderly.
  • Children.
  • People who have mobility issues.
  • People with neuropsychiatric disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

How long is too long for diarrhea?

The duration of diarrhea symptoms can provide a clue to the underlying cause. Acute diarrhea lasts from 2 days to 2 weeks. Persistent diarrhea lasts 2 to 4 weeks. Acute and persistent diarrhea are typically caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection of some sort.

Is it OK to hold in diarrhea?
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Is it OK to hold in diarrhea?

Holding in your poop can lead to various health issues, including constipation, anal fissures, gastrointestinal perforation, colon cancer, fecal impaction, distention, and appendicitis. The puborectalis muscle, located between the anal canal and the rectum, pushes the poop away from the rectum and sends it back into the colon. This process absorbs water from the stool, drying it out and making it harder to pass.

Regular holding in bowel movements can cause serious medical problems such as hemorrhoids and fissures, gastrointestinal perforation, colon cancer, fecal impaction, distention, and appendicitis. Hemorrhoids and fissures are painful tears in the anal canal, while hemorrhoids are swollen veins that can develop inside or outside the anus and rectum. Gastrointestinal perforation can cause a perforation, which can be life-threatening if bacteria from the poop enter the stomach.

Fecal impaction can occur when stools become stuck in the rectum, requiring medical intervention. Distention can result from overstretching of the rectum, leading to fecal incontinence. Appendicitis is also associated with holding in poop.

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal distress experienced by around 4 million people. It’s important to remember that not everyone has the same bowel schedule and body type, and some people may pass stool multiple times a day or only once every other day. Constipation is defined as having bowel movements fewer than once every three days, and other signs include:

  1. Inability to pass stool easily
  2. Inability to hold in bowel movements
  3. Inability to maintain proper bowel movements4

How do you make diarrhea not come out?

Treatment for diarrhea depends on the cause. Options that may help stop it faster include over-the-counter (OTC) medications, eating soluble fiber, and drinking plenty of fluids.

Most diarrhea episodes are short-term or acute and resolve after a few days. However, some people develop chronic diarrhea, which persists for weeks or longer.

This article outlines the typical duration of diarrhea, provides tips on how to get fast relief, and offers advice on when to see a doctor.

Below are several methods that adults can use to alleviate diarrhea quickly.

Why do I have diarrhea that's hard to push out?
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Why do I have diarrhea that’s hard to push out?

Summary. Paradoxical diarrhea is caused by fecal impaction when a hard stool gets “stuck” in the colon, causing watery stool to leak around the impaction. Long-term laxative use can contribute to this. There are also forms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that involve diarrhea with constipation.

A fecal impaction can be removed manually or with an enema. Rarely, surgery is used. You can prevent paradoxical diarrhea by eating plenty of fiber, drinking enough water, and exercising.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Why is my diarrhea not clearing up?
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Why is my diarrhea not clearing up?

  • Short-term (acute). Diarrhea that lasts 1 or 2 days and goes away. This may be caused by having food or water that was made unsafe by a bacterial infection. Or it may happen if you get sick from a virus.
  • Long-term (chronic). Diarrhea that lasts several weeks. This may be caused by another health problem such as irritable bowel syndrome. It can also be caused by an intestinal disease such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease. Some infections such as parasites can cause chronic diarrhea.

What causes diarrhea?. Diarrhea may be caused by many things, including:

  • A bacterial infection
  • A virus
  • Trouble digesting certain things (food intolerance)
  • Food allergy (such as celiac disease, gluten allergy)
  • Parasites that enter the body through food or water
  • A reaction to medicines
  • An intestinal disease, such as inflammatory bowel disease
  • A problem with how your stomach and bowels work (functional bowel disorder), such as irritable bowel syndrome
  • A result of surgery on the stomach or gall bladder
  • Recent antibiotic use
  • Metabolic conditions such as thyroid problems
  • Other less common reasons such as damage from radiation treatments or tumors that make too many hormones
What helps diarrhea come out?
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What helps diarrhea come out?

Modifying your diet to eat plain, bland food; drinking water and other clear liquids; and taking anti-diarrheal medications may help you get rid of diarrhea quicker if your case is mild. And if your child has a severe case of diarrhea, your doctor might prescribe racecadotril, which is shown to ease the symptoms of diarrhea and shorten its duration by a day.

There is no one best medication, as what helps one person might not help you. The most common over-the-counter medications include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate) to treat the symptoms of diarrhea.

Mild cases of diarrhea typically last a few days in adults, but it can last 5-14 days in infants.

Should I force hard stool out?
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Should I force hard stool out?

People with poop stuck halfway out may feel tempted to strain to push the feces out. However, straining can damage the veins in the rectum and cause or worsen hemorrhoids.

People who experience difficulty passing a bowel movement should also avoid trying to remove feces with their fingers. Inserting a digit into the anus can cause tears and may lead to infection.

Most people can treat constipation with home remedies and lifestyle changes, but if a person is frequently experiencing poop getting stuck halfway out, they may need medical advice.

The NIDDK recommends that anyone with constipation, including infants and children, seek medical attention if they experience:

Why do I have diarrhea but it won't come out?
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Why do I have diarrhea but it won’t come out?

Paradoxical diarrhea is when you’re constipated and have diarrhea at the same time. It’s often a result of IBS-M or a trigger like a bacterial infection or stress.

Paradoxical diarrhea that lasts for a few days isn’t a cause for concern, but it’s best to seek medical help if it lasts for a week or more.

Is it OK not to poop after diarrhea?
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Is it OK not to poop after diarrhea?

While experiencing constipation after diarrhea is uncommon, it is not usually a cause for concern. Often, a person has a stomach bug or has eaten something their body has trouble digesting.

However, it is important to pay attention to any other symptoms that may develop. Anyone who experiences severe symptoms or symptoms that last for several days should see a doctor.

A person should also see a doctor if they experience certain symptoms, including continuous pain, bloody stools, and regular fatigue.

Lengthy bouts of constipation may lead to impacted stools that are extremely hard to pass. This may lead to complications, such as hemorrhoids or tears in the anus skin from too much strain. In some cases, the stool may become too difficult to pass at all.

Why is my poop not coming out completely?
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Why is my poop not coming out completely?

Summary. Incomplete evacuation, the sensation that a bowel movement is not complete, is common in people with chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea, particularly those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In people with constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C), treatment options include a high-fiber diet, bowel retraining, gut-directed psychotherapy, and pharmaceutical drugs like Trulance and Linzess.

In people with diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D), options include bowel retraining, gut-directed psychotherapy, and the antibiotic Xifaxan.


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Why Won'T My Diarrhea Go Away?
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Elle Pierson

Hi, I’m Elle Pierson, RN, MBA—a passionate Healthcare Consultant dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve better health outcomes. As a TEDx Speaker, Author, and Mentor, I bring my expertise in medicine and healthcare management to help others navigate complex systems with confidence. My mission is to inspire change and create meaningful solutions in the world of healthcare. Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Executive MBA from Texas Woman’s University.
Email: [email protected]

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