Busting 6 Myths About Constipation and Stubborn Stools

We need to talk about poo. It’s not something people discuss much, so it makes sense that many of us don’t really know how things like a stubborn stool or constipation happen. Your gut is much like a second brain and it’s important to know how it works, so read on to learn what no one ever taught you about stubborn stools.

Are you normal? That’s something we all wonder from time to time. From the thoughts in our heads to the bits on our bodies, everyone has their insecurities and it is very normal to wonder whether there is something ‘wrong’ with us.

It’s hard to know whether or not our bowel movements are ‘normal’. How many times a day are we meant to go? Is it too much or not enough? You might worry that you’re chronically constipated if you don’t poo every day, but having regular bowel movements is subjective and really depends on the individual person. Some people poo multiple times a day and others may move their bowels three times a week, so what’s normal for one person might be unusual for someone else. If you’re wondering, the symptoms of constipation¹ are:

• Having less than three bowel movements a week
• Having a hard time passing your stool
• Hard or lumpy stools
• Needing to strain to pass stool
• Feeling blocked or like you haven’t passed all of your stool

Constipation can be frustrating and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t mean that you are doing anything ‘wrong’ or that you or your lifestyle are unhealthy. There are many other reasons someone may be experiencing constipation:

• Your emotional state can have a big impact on your gut, and your gut can have an impact on your emotions! Your emotions can contribute to both constipation and diarrhoea.²
• Not going when you need to go³
• Changes in routine³
• Some prescription and OTC (over the counter) medications⁴
• Some dietary supplements, such as iron⁵
• Anaesthetics⁶

Constipation can also be a symptom of a medical condition such as:⁷

• Pelvic floor conditions and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Diabetes and other conditions which have an affect on your hormones and metabolism
• Some disorders like spinal cord injury, Parkinsons and stroke can cause constipation
• Alzheimer’s or dementia

There are many reasons someone may experience constipation or a stubborn stool at different times in their life. Sometimes it’s short lived, but if you are concerned then you may want to consider seeing a healthcare professional.

Sometimes, people can experience diarrhoea and constipation at the same time: this is called paradoxical diarrhoea and can be a symptom of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). It can be triggered by lifestyle changes, an imbalance in your gut or infection. Paradoxical diarrhoea can clear up on its own, but you should speak to your doctor if it’s been happening for longer than a week or if you are experiencing any other adverse symptoms like blood in your stool, vomiting and abdominal pain.⁸

You may have heard conflicting things about bananas, stubborn stools and constipation. Some people say that bananas are good for constipation, while other people recommend using them to treat diarrhoea, which suggests they have the opposite effect! So do bananas cause constipation? It really depends on the banana.

Ripe bananas contain soluble fibre which, when it dissolves in water in your digestive tract, forms a gel which acts as a natural stool softener and makes it easier to pass your poo.⁹

Unripe green bananas, on the other hand, contain higher numbers of tannins and resistant starches which can aggravate existing stubborn stools or constipation symptoms.¹⁰

Some people swear that their morning coffee helps move their bowels, but how true is that? While coffee does seem to have a laxative effect on some people, it’s hard to tell whether it’s the coffee or the caffeine shifting a stubborn stool.¹¹

Why? Because it has been shown that decaf coffee can have a similar effect.¹¹ However, drinking a lot of any caffeinated drink may cause softer stools and diarrhoea.¹²

Constipation while pregnant is both common and uncomfortable. It can be hard to tell which medication you can and can’t take while pregnant and you’ll naturally be feeling more cautious than usual, but luckily you don’t just have to push through.

Stool hydrators like Movicol^® are virtually unabsorbed by the gastro-intestinal tract as they work by increasing the water content in the poo, so they are commonly used during pregnancy.¹³ Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.

Date of Prep: June 2024 |GL-GE-MOV-2400042

^[1] Constipation. NHS. Page last updated: 1 July 2023. Accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation/

^[2] Constipation. Guts Charity. Page last updated: 2023. Accessed here: https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/symptoms/constipation/ 

^[3] Constipation. NHS. Page last updated: 1 July 2023. Accessed here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/constipation/

^[4] What to do when medication makes you constipated. Harvard Medical publishing. Page last updated: October 22, 2019. Accessed here: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-to-do-when-medication-makes-you-constipated 

^[5] Ileus Due to Iron Pills: A Case Report and Literature Report on the Importance of Stool Softeners. Cureus. Page last updated: 1 June 2020. Accessed here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7331903/ 

^[6] Tips for Managing Constipation After Surgery. HSS. Page last updated: 21 April 2023. Accessed here: https://www.hss.edu/article_constipation-after-surgery.asp 

^[7] Concerned About Constipation? NIA. Page last updated: 22nd October 2022. Accessed here: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/constipation/concerned-about-constipation

^[8] What Is Paradoxical Diarrhoea? Healthline. Page last updated: 22nd November, 2023:  https://www.healthline.com/health/diarrhea/paradoxical-diarrhea#getting-medical-help 

^[9] Food For Constipation. Hopkins Medicine. Date last accessed: 2nd July, 2024.  Accessed here: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/foods-for-constipation

^[10] Can Eating Bananas Make You Constipated? Health. Page last updated: 28 September, 2023. Accessed here: https://www.health.com/do-bananas-cause-constipation-7974627

^[11] Why Does Coffee Make You Poop? Healthline. Last updated: 22nd March, 2018. Accessed here: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-does-coffee-make-you-poop# 

^[12] Is Coffee a Laxative? Healthline. Last updated: 24th May, 2017. Accessed here: https://www.healthline.com/health/is-coffee-a-laxative

^[13] Constipation during Pregnancy? Senna. Bumps. Last updated: July, 2022. Accessed here: https://www.medicinesinpregnancy.org/leaflets-a-z/senna