Impaction of the bowels

Common symptoms include:

• Abdominal cramping and bloating
• Leakage of liquid or sudden episodes of watery diarrhea in someone who has chronic constipation
• Rectal bleeding
• Small, semi-formed stools
• Straining when trying to pass stools

Other possible symptoms include:

• Bladder pressure or loss of bladder control
• Lower back pain
• Rapid heartbeat or light-headedness from straining to pass stool

The health care provider will examine your stomach area and rectum. The rectal exam will reveal a hard mass of stool in the rectum.

If there has been a recent change in your bowel habits, your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy to evaluate for colon or rectal cancer.

Images

Digestive system organs

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Fecal impaction Overview

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Fecal impaction Treatment

Review Date: 01/31/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)