What should I do if I can't poop?

Difficulty passing stool may result from non-disease factors such as improper diet, or from medical conditions such as constipation, intestinal obstruction, and diabetes. If difficulty passing stool is caused by poor diet or constipation, increasing water intake can help promote bowel movements. However, if it is due to conditions like intestinal obstruction or diabetes, drinking water is not recommended, as it may worsen symptoms. Depending on the underlying cause, treatment options may include general management, medication, or surgical intervention to improve symptoms.

1. Non-Disease Factors

This may be caused by habitual dietary mistakes, such as consuming excessive amounts of hard-to-digest or greasy foods like fried chicken or cake, leading to difficulty passing stool. It is recommended to eat light meals recently, drink more water, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, and increase intake of high-fiber foods such as sweet potatoes, corn, brown rice, and oats. Avoid irritants such as chili peppers. These measures can effectively improve symptoms.

2. Disease Factors

1) Constipation
Conditions such as anal fissures, perianal abscesses, proctitis, and hemorrhoids may cause anal sphincter spasm, painful defecation, or impaired rectal emptying, resulting in constipation. For mild cases, increasing fluid intake, exercising regularly, and eating more fresh vegetables and fruits can enhance intestinal motility and facilitate bowel movements. For more severe symptoms, medications that regulate intestinal flora combined with stool softeners—such as Bifidobacterium and lactulose—may be recommended.

2) Intestinal Obstruction
This condition involves impaired passage of intestinal contents due to various causes. Patients must fast (no food or water) and undergo gastrointestinal decompression. Before blood test results are available, balanced salt solutions should be administered to replace lost fluids. In late-stage simple intestinal obstruction or in cases of strangulated obstruction, large amounts of plasma and blood may leak into the intestinal lumen or abdominal cavity, necessitating plasma and whole blood transfusions. If obstruction is due to tumors, inflammatory strictures, or if a segment of bowel has become necrotic, surgical resection with anastomosis may be required.

3) Diabetes
Diabetes can lead to relaxed intestinal muscles and weak defecation, causing difficulty passing stool. Diabetes education is a crucial foundational management strategy. Every patient and their family should receive comprehensive diabetes education to fully understand the disease and master self-management skills. Based on blood glucose levels, oral hypoglycemic agents such as metformin or glibenclamide may be prescribed. If medication proves ineffective, insulin therapy may be recommended. For patients who fail to achieve adequate weight reduction and glycemic control despite lifestyle modifications and drug therapy, metabolic surgery may be considered.

In addition, conditions such as intestinal polyps, colon cancer, and rectal cancer can also cause difficulty passing stool. If symptoms recur, further evaluation at a hospital is advised, with treatment following medical guidance. In daily life, eat more high-fiber foods such as vegetables and legumes—including enoki mushrooms, winter melon, and peas—to promote intestinal motility, and develop healthy bowel habits.