Difficulties in passing stools

I sometimes find it hard to pass stools and had heard of a squatty potty ( not a great name as not a potty but a step really) but never been tempted to go expense of getting one to try and didn’t really want one hanging around in bathroom. However yesterday I was given an almost brand new one, and what a difference it can make! Looked up studies and seeing how much science behind backs this up ( sorry about the wording :- ) I’m now wondering why I ( and my hubby who does suffer quite badly with constipation) have never had a step like this suggested by a GP or consultant! So much better to try this before taking any meds surely. Checked via a search and see a post from two years ago recommending one so thought I’d post today as seen a few posts in recent months on difficulties passing stools. I generally don’t have difficulties but tend to alter between both now and again.

[bobbyrita]

i use one and i think it helps a little.

bobby

[Two_point]

I am not going to lie but when I am having difficulty I either bring my knees up to my chest whilst on the loo or rest a foot on the bath to help with the angle.

Have you tried probiotics? They help me with my stools

[Hidden in reply to Two_point]

Yes thanks.

[Iesgobdafydd]

I use an upturned basin to rest my feet on, and I think it's helpful at times. "Gut: the inside story" by Giulia Enders, a doctor, explains that the posture of sitting on a toilet introduces a kink into the passage the stools have to pass through to get out, so if the stuff is stiff then we're making life harder than necessary for ourselves through this posture. The natural position to defecate in is squatting, as in the old style of French toilets, but just raising our feet is enough to get rid of the kink.

[Hidden in reply to Iesgobdafydd]

Yes this is what the stool does, raise the feet. Upturned basin is a good idea.

[Hidden]

Hello

Have you tried rocking back and forth when you are on the toilet

Might sound silly but I got so constipated a month ago a nurse had to come and give me an enema she then told me to rock back and forth on the toilet and it worked

Since then if I feel I am constipated I do it and t seems to work , even though at the moment I don't need to as I have gone the other way , sometimes you just can't win !

Take Care x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Glad that helps you, thanks for sharing that. I generally don’t have difficulties as I did say in my post, just occasionally and like you can go the other way occasionally.

Take care too x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Would have never thought of doing that had the nurse not told me to so even though it may not be for you as it does not happen often some others that do suffer with Constipation it could be worth a go x

[Krn210]

I too have one and think it helps