You did not mention your age or gender, which makes it difficult to be very specific with my response.

Many factors can affect our bowel habits, including changes in diet, our level of physical activity, and medications.

If you have recently experiened a change in your bowel habits, and if it has not responded to a high-fiber diet and plenty of water, then you should be evaluated by your personal physician to rule-out any serious disorders of the colon or rectum.

Sincerely/ Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

http://doctorwascher.com

I have this similar problem. Can't empty my bowel. I'm 48 have had 5 children vaginal birth. Have a rectocele & cystocele. Have to take metamucil every day, Dr recommends surgery, will that resolve the problem? could it be made worse. will I ever be able to live without laxatives and what is long term effect of straining still and using metamucil?

I have a similar problem. I'm 40, male, and after I go I almost always have discomfort - it feels like I don't finish, but there's nothing I can do. It takes about 5 or 10 minutes to recede. This all started a few months ago. Another unwanted result - I hate to be gross - is that I often need to wipe again after a while as I can feel some unfinished business there and it quickly becomes irritating. The whole thing is troubling and confusing to me!