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15 Year Old with Embarrassing Bowel Movements

Dear Dr. Joshua,

My fifteen year old son went to bed yet another night embarrassed due to an extremely large bowel movement which - I know it sounds funny- clogged the toilet. This happens frequently and has been happening since he was around seven years old or so. He says he does not have hard or dry stools, does not feel constipated, and the stool is not difficult to pass. He has a bowel movement about every two days. So, I ruled out encopresis. He is healthy, not overweight. Should I take him to a doctor? Is there anything I can do to relieve him of his symptoms? They embarass him and frustrate his stepfather, as we've had to call a plumber frequently. I, of course, am just concerned whether there is a serious health problem such as a motility problem or intestinal obstruction??

Sincerely,

MND

Answers:


I've read that intestinal obstructions usally cause thin ribbon like stools, no stools at all or loose stools. Hope you get answers soon.I can understand why he is embarrassed. I'm not a Dr. but if he had a bowel obstruction he wouldn't be able to pass fecal matter or at best very small amounts and would have more symptoms such as stomach pain etc. This condition is very serious. I doubt he has this and maybe he may try to drink more fluids, eat more natural fiber whole grains and veggies. I hope he is telling you the truth regarding no pain passing such a large BM. I hope hes not suffering and embarrassed to say anything about it.
I think the best bet would be to encourage him to drink, eat fruits and veggies, and relax. Maybe with just minor eating habit changes and fluids his movements wont be so hard and big. You may try keeping a plunger in the bathroom he can use post a movement, this way the whole house doesn't have to know. Worth a try and good luck. Of course you can always speak with his Dr.

Purple98LadyThe way you describe your son sounds almost exactly like me. Hopefully you are still reading this thread. I can assure you that this problem is not unheard of. I also have unusually large bowel movements and probably always have. I say probably because I didn't pay much attention to it until I was about 13. At that time the problem got bad enough that my father actually replaced the toilet in the kids bathroom with a better one. Years before that my mom had talk to our doctor about it. I remember talking to him but I never got the idea there was anything unusual about it. For me it seemed that a clogged toilet every couple of months was just routine. The years from about age 13 to 18 with rapid growth spurts and huge appetites were the worst for this problem and I did get embarrassed by it. I didn't really show it but for some reason I found it very embarrassing when dad had to replace our toilet. My mom would often tell me to go to the bathroom even when I didn't have to so I wouldn't have such a large BM later on. This was very embarrassing to me on a few occasions when one of my friends was around. When I had a very large BM it was often in the middle of the night. Sometimes my mom would come tapping at the bathroom door and tell me not to flush it - she would take care of it in the morning. This also embarrassed me a little.

You should talk to a doctor about it but, if there is not problem, try to ignore it as much as possible. It is embarrassing for a 15 year old to cause any sort of problem. If he plugs the toilet let him unplug it without you even mentioning it. Keep the tools in the bathroom. Part of the embarrassment (at least for me) I think, is the worry that somehow you are not completely normal. You sort-of know you're OK but you don't want anyone to find out about your problem. People making a fuss over it was most of the embarrassment for me. Do let him know that other people have this problem and it is not abnormal. Maybe letting him read this post would be a good way.More people than ever have this problem now, and the main reason is our unhealthy American lifestyle/diet, with processed foods and a lack of fruits, vegetables and fiber. A bowel movement once every two days is not normal. I know because my younger brother used to have this problem and he had a bowel movement once every 3 or 4 days. You should be going at least once a day. I think a significant change in diet and fitness will help to resolve this problem. If not, consult a physician or a natural health practitioner.