# I'm Scared... IT, won't come out. Yep, #2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034 "2000-07-09T13:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Farmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@Farmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/1 "2000-07-09T13:50:27Z")
Now I should probably try laxatives, but I’m wondering If one is constipated for a duration of like a week, and eats regularly. How long before there’s trouble of anykind? What’s the longest one can hold it in involuntarily. Could it backfire? I’ve heard that in the Military during training they make you hold it in, so enemies won’t find it and what not. Could something medically bad happen? I mean, I’m packin’. Something’s gotta give. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/2 "2000-07-09T13:56:04Z")
I say it’s Ex-lax time. People have _died_ from intestinal blockage, although those must be very extreme cases. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/3 "2000-07-09T13:57:30Z")
Do what constipated mathematicians do; work it out with a slide rule… ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/4 "2000-07-09T14:05:22Z")
Forget the laxatives. After a week of no defecation, your lower bowel will have reabsorbed all the water from any faeces that has collected in the rectum or sigmoid colon. Once this happens, a state of _impacted faeces_ develops, from which there is only one way to get it out: manually. That’s right - with the fingers of a gloved hand. However, if you can get hold of a couple of enema suppositories, you may be able to soften up what’s there by injecting the liquid contents via the anus. Maybe then you might be able to crank it out with a lot of groaning. Remember: there’s nothing more over-rated than a bad f\*\*\*, and nothing more under-rated than a good shit. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/5 "2000-07-09T14:08:07Z")
As always, I recommend you check [healthcentral](http://www.healthcentral.com/mhc/top/000230.cfm) for health related matters. Using laxatixes regularly is a bad idea and you’d be better off correcting the cause. I have _never_ suffered from constipation since I eat more fiber. But it’s too late for this incident and I do not know what to recommend. I wonder if enemas would help. I do think you should not wait too long before consulting a doctor. If you make a point of eating every day an orange and a bowl of bran cereal you should never have this problem again. Good luck and let us know how it came out (har har) ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/6 "2000-07-09T15:03:18Z")
A few pints of draught beer usually keeps Fleetwood regular. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/7 "2000-07-09T15:50:40Z")
For someone who is already bound up, the enema is probably how you’ll have to go. For prevention: hot peppers. Chiles, Anaheims, jalapeno, Thai, and habanero or Scotch bonnet for the very brave or foolhardy. Hot peppers, besides providing lots of vitamin C, will positively keep things moving. If you can work some of these into your meals, I’m sure you’ll notice a freer and more liberal colon. It may not be a kindler and gentler colon, though, until you get used to 'em. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/8 "2000-07-09T16:06:03Z")
IMHO laxatives, irritants, stimulants etc used regularly are a _bad_ idea. Just eat some fiber and you won’t have any problems and you’ll be lowering your chances of colon cancer and other problems. I do not think regular doses of jalapeños will do you any good. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/9 "2000-07-09T16:08:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DVous Means \* > \*\*Forget the laxatives. After a week of no defecation, your lower bowel will have reabsorbed all the water from any faeces that has collected in the rectum or sigmoid colon. Once this happens, a state of _impacted faeces_ develops, from which there is only one way to get it out: manually. That’s right - with the fingers of a gloved hand. > \*\* Not necessarily. This varies between different people. My schedule is such that I often go a week without movin’ the mail, with no problem. ---
**Author:** ![Hedgemeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/77aa72/32.png) [@Hedgemeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedgemeister)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/10 "2000-07-09T16:09:33Z")
After about a week, the ‘urge’ to move your bowels will increase slowly but steadily. Gas will begin to build up in your upper colon, causing some discomfort. The increase in peristaltic action will begin to liquefy very small portions of the obstruction. After two weeks, the ‘urge’ will be upon you every hour, at least. The pain will increase in your bowels as the gas expands the skin of your colon. Your appetite will decrease sharply, although you will be able to eat. Peristaltic action will begin to break up very small pieces of waste, so if you don’t spend all day in the bathroom, you may want to wear Depends. You may experience numbness to the anal region as the pressure overstimulates the nerves. It’s possible your colon or small intestine could rupture, but these organs are incredibly elastic and can stretch to several times normal size. Although an enema is, as stated already, the most effective means to reduce blockage, you could take Metamucil, which is powdered Psyllium fiber and reintroduces moisture to your colon. If you take a glass or two of water mixed with Metamucil a day for about a week, the blockage will soften enough to be pushed out. At that point, however, expect to be amazed at the size of what comes out. The anus is also remarkably elastic, but there are limits - expect to see a little blood. Expect, also, an enourmous wave of relief. If you’re male, you may gain a little appreciation for what a woman delivering a baby goes through. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/11 "2000-07-09T21:19:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\*I do not think regular doses of jalapeños will do you any good. \*\* They work for me without any discernible adverse side effects. There a lots of links out there extolling the benefits of hot peppers, so I’m not going to list them. But from a brief seach, I saw quite a few beneficial claims listed. One site listed the following: Hot peppers: Improve circulation Speed up metabolism Fight the common cold Lower cholesterol Aid digestion, and Relieve pain I don’t assert that all of these are true, but I will state that I don’t think hot peppers are harmful, and quite likely are beneficial. Besides, they taste good. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/12 "2000-07-09T21:25:23Z")
How about jalapeño enemas? ---
**Author:** ![Danielinthewolvesden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Danielinthewolvesden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danielinthewolvesden)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/13 "2000-07-09T21:48:21Z")
They make these glycerine suppositories. Drink several large glasses of fluid- maybe some metamucil. NO EXLAX!! A stool-softener type laxitive yes, an exlax/stimulant kind, no. Wait for a bit, until there is an 'urge", then insert suppository. Wait a bit longer. Go to toilet, sit down, relax, read a good book, don’t strain. It will all come out. To prevent this, us a fiber supplement & drink more fluids. Bulk-formong laxitives, or fiber supplemnts are very safe, and non-addictive. Stimulant types are not very safe, and are addictive. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/14 "2000-07-09T22:14:28Z")
Help me out here. I eat a high-fiber diet, 'cause the guys in the lab coats tell me to, but it doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to me. I would think that fiber, as it absorbs water, would be effective against diarhhea - ya know, it would help you keep your s\*\*t together. But as a defense against constipation, I figure excess water would be your friend in getting things going. Sua ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/15 "2000-07-09T22:15:35Z")
Having been called ‘shithead’ more than once, I claim expertise in the impacted feces arena. Drink several glasses of liquid, preferably water. Just before bed, take a slug (a couple of tablespoons) of mineral oil. In the morning, first try a glycerine suppository. We will save the nitro-glycerine suppository until the last minute. If that doesn’t work, take an enema with warm water and a little mineral oil. Keep it going until you feel it pass the impacted area. If you feel serious pain, stop. THEN is the time to have the doctor use a roto-rooter on you. Don’t take mineral oil regularly but, if you are impacted, it will help detach the faces from the wall of the intestine and prevent tearing as the mess exits. Eat five servings of fresh vegetables a day. That will solve the problem forever. ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/16 "2000-07-09T22:20:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tcburnett \* > \*\*if you are impacted, it will help detach the faces from the wall of the intestine and prevent tearing as the mess exits. > \*\* Must be a Freudian slip. In any event, having someone’s head up your butt will cause impaction. Plus, it will impair their vision until you have it removed. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2000, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/17 "2000-07-09T23:56:12Z")
Slide rule? No way, a pencil is what they use. Did you see that guy on Survivors? Didn’t shit for two weeks. [webmd.com](http://webmd.com) has great infor on all things medical. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2000, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/18 "2000-07-10T02:45:31Z")
Make sure you get enough liquid with your fiber. See Cecil’s column [Is it possible to have too much dietary fiber?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_094.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ross6655](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Ross6655](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross6655)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/19 "2012-12-31T23:42:03Z")
Just go eat some Mexican food it’ll clean ya out real quick haha ---
**Author:** ![Michael63129](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@Michael63129](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael63129)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034/20 "2013-01-01T00:01:33Z")
> [@Ross6655](#): > > Just go eat some Mexican food it’ll clean ya out real quick haha I imagine that after 12 years(!) the OP must have solved his blockage issue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-scared-it-wont-come-out-yep-2/25034.md?page=2)