What's the matter with the stool 'hard at the front and soft and sticky at the back'? Anorectal doctor speaks the truth

Defecation is a normal physiological phenomenon. When we eat food, our teeth will help chew various foods, and then the amylase and saliva in the tongue and mouth will turn the food into paste, so that the stomach can better digest and absorb it.

Gastric juice can initially digest food through gastric wall peristalsis, grinding and gastric acid secretion. After the food becomes semi-liquefied chyme, it is easier to absorb, and the food is pushed into the intestinal tract through gastrointestinal peristalsis.

After food reaches the intestines and stomach, liver and gallbladder secretions continue to aid in digestion, and the body can then absorb the nutrients it needs through the intestines. After a round of absorption, the food residue enters the rectum, leaving almost only the bran. This is the prototype of poop.

Four distress signals for intestinal diseases

Signal 1, constipation. According to traditional Chinese medicine, as long as defecation is uncomfortable, it is called a secret; according to western medicine, no matter whether the stool is dry or loose, if there is no bowel movement for 8 hours, it is considered constipation. Short-term constipation is a red flag for gut health.

Long-term constipation is an invisible killer of intestinal health, which can cause toxic symptoms such as abdominal distension, bad breath, loss of appetite, and irritability. Over time, it can fatten the body and cause ailments such as anemia, anal fissures, hemorrhoids, and rectal ulcers.

Signal 2: Diarrhea. Speaking of diarrhea, everyone flushes the toilet several times a day, but in fact, diarrhea has almost nothing to do with the number of bowel movements. Even if you have one bowel movement a day, if your stool is pear-shaped or watery, you will have diarrhea five to six times a day, but if you have one-shaped stool, it cannot be called diarrhea.

Signal 3: Abnormal stool and defecation refers to discomfort in defecation and physical discomfort. Recently, the frequency of defecation has changed significantly, and the color and shape of defecation have changed. Inject blood during defecation, or drip blood after defecation. The blood and stool are not mixed, and the amount of bleeding varies. A foreign body in the anus could be a hemorrhoid.

Signal 4: Farting. In fact, farting is not a single gas, but a mixture of many gases. It contains hydrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, indole, esterified skatole. A high-protein diet produces a lot of hydrogen sulfide that smells like rotten eggs, hence the characteristic smell.

Why is the stool dry and hard at the front and soft and sticky at the back? Anorectal surgeons tell the truth.

The bowel is constantly moving, slowly turning the stool into a long strip or cylinder. After the intestines are moistened, these stools will become shiny and watery, and then under the joint action of the intestines and gravity, the stools will be pushed out of the body, and people will feel the feeling of defecation.

If you have no intention of defecation for a long time, you should consider that it is caused by improper diet or indigestion and lack of water. Normal stool should be yellowish-brown in color, with moderate hardness and softness, and the defecation process is particularly smooth without discomfort.

If abnormal stool characteristics, color, and quantity are found, the possibility of disease needs to be considered. What might be the symptoms of the disease?

When this problem occurs, most people think it is caused by constipation. Of course, the body will be angry, water or unreasonable diet will aggravate the symptoms of constipation and affect the excretion of waste toxins.

However, if the front of the stool is dry and hard and the back is soft and sticky, it may be related to the following diseases. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, if necessary, without delay.

Intestinal polyps.

At the beginning of defecation, the stool is relatively dry, and then the stool gradually becomes soft. It is necessary to consider the possibility of intestinal polyps. Intestinal polyps mainly refer to the protruding growths on the surface of the colonic mucosa. It is generally divided into three types: inflammatory, hyperplastic, and adenomatous.

Adenomatous polyps are likely to be cancerous, and inflammatory and hyperplastic polyps are less likely to be cancerous. The occurrence of intestinal polyps is mainly related to the patient's genetics, physical fitness and eating habits.

About 50% of patients with intestinal polyps have no obvious clinical symptoms. Bowel polyps will continue to develop if not aggressively treated. When complications occur, patients will also experience various symptoms, such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Patients with secondary infection may also have mucopurulent bloody stools. When the volume of polyps reaches a certain level, the intestinal lumen will be narrowed, and the stool may gradually dry out, making it difficult to pass out smoothly.

bowel cancer

Although hard stools before and then soft are changes in traits, not necessarily colon cancer, but this possibility needs to be considered, because some patients with colon cancer may indeed have symptoms such as hard stools and soft stools, thin stools, irregular stools, and bloody stools .

Due to the increase in tumor volume, the intestinal lumen will be narrowed, and the feces will be squeezed by the tumor, and the state will also change to a certain extent.

The stool stays in the intestine for a long time, and the water is absorbed. The stool discharged at the beginning is relatively hard, and the stool will be soft because of sufficient water.

Therefore, if the stool is repeatedly hard before and then soft, it is recommended to pay attention to it, and go to the hospital for CT or colonoscopy in time to determine whether there is a tumor in the intestinal cavity.

Irritable bowel syndrome.

This disease is mainly due to functional gastrointestinal lesions caused by bacteria or intestinal autonomic dysfunction, which is a common problem.

Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, abdominal distension, abdominal discomfort, abnormal defecation and other abnormal defecation, including increased frequency of defecation and changes in properties. Generally speaking, the symptoms can be obviously relieved after defecation.

Most people with IBS experience dry, sticky diarrhea when bowel movements begin. At this time, they need to go to the hospital for relevant examinations in time, and then adjust their lifestyles.

The phenomenon that the stool is hard before and then soft is related to many factors. Therefore, you should actively adjust your diet in your life and develop a good habit of defecation on time, which can help you maintain a stable internal environment and help you strengthen your physique.

How much stool can the intestine store?

Most adults have a bowel movement of 5-10 kg, and some even reach 15-20 kg. Stool is the root cause of some bowel disorders and may contribute to other chronic conditions as well. Intestinal stool is one to two kilograms, and some people even reach three to four kilograms.

The daily excretion of normal feces is about 100 to 300 grams. Pancreatic dysfunction and indigestion can lead to gastrointestinal disorders. At this time, the amount of defecation increases. Food normally passes through the stomach into the large intestine where nutrients are absorbed. Most nutrients are absorbed by the small intestine. When all the nutrients have been absorbed, the stool remains.

If there is no bowel movement for three days, it will generally not damage the large intestine, but active treatment is required. One is to control the diet, avoid spicy food, drink more soup, eat more vegetables and fruits, and drink honey water every day to promote bowel movements. When constipation cannot be relieved, you can go to the hospital to see a doctor and prescribe some appropriate medicines.