Stool can become impacted, or stuck, in your colon, blocking waste from leaving the body. This often causes pain and bloating. Treatment can include laxatives or procedures to remove the stool. When ...

Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS, FACG, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and member of the Digestive Health Associates of Texas Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Long-term constipation can lead ...

Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical writer in South Florida. She worked as a communications professional for health nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of ...

The term fecal impaction refers to a collection of hardened stools in the colon or rectum. This obstruction can make it difficult for a person to pass stools and may cause symptoms such as abdominal ...

Paradoxical diarrhea happens when loose, watery stool finds a way around hardened, impacted stool in your colon and leaks from your anus. Also called overflow diarrhea, it’s often a symptom of a type ...

Disimpaction provides rapid relief from severe constipation by removing trapped stool in the rectum. The most common method involves manually breaking up and removing stool with a gloved finger. After ...