Person with stomach crampsDespite what fans of non-medical colonic irrigation might say, GI surgeons are often against the idea.Not only can it disrupt your microbiome and potentially cause electrolyte imbalances, but the idea that your digestive system is meant to fully clear after a bowel movement is false – “since stool is made up in large part of bacteria, faecal matter is continuously being formed,” VeryWell Health explained.Still, you should feel “empty” after pooping, the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust said.And if you don’t, especially if you still experience the urge to go after a trip to the loo, you might have a condition called tenesmus (which can sometimes, but more rarely, affect your bladder too).What’s tenesmus?Per The Cleveland Clinic, tenesmus “is a constant feeling that you have to go to the bathroom, but you can’t. Even if you’ve just emptied your bowels or your bladder, it feels like you didn’t get everything out”. It can even cause your body to keep involuntarily straining after you’ve gone to the toilet, and can cause pain, feelings of pressure, and cramping, too. Tenesmus is not in itself a disease, but rather a “symptom of an underlying condition”. It should not be your norm.According to Medical News Today, rectal tenesmus – the kind linked to the poop, and not the pee, issue, as both are separate – can be caused by everything from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to diverticulitis, a prolapsed haemorrhoid, constipation or diarrhoea, and bacterial or viral colon infections. Sometimes, it can be caused by bowel cancer. There are many other potential causes for the issue, too.When should I see a doctor about tenesmus? Healthline says that you should see a doctor if you have tenesmus often or if it doesn’t go away after a few days. And the Cleveland Clinic says, “If tenesmus is new to you, it may be a sign of a new, acute condition that needs to be diagnosed”. You should also see your GP if you notice tenesmus alongside any of these symptoms: abdominal painblood in your stoolvomitingfeverchills. Related...I Developed A Condition In My Mid-40s That Made It Impossible To Poop Normally – And It Gets Even More EmbarrassingWant To Poop Better? This Eating Change May Help, Says GI SurgeonHere s The Maximum Time Doctors Say It Should Take To Poop
Monday 17 November 2025
huffingtonpost - 17 days ago
Don t Feel Empty After You Poop? You Might Have This Condition
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