We have heard from a number of mothers whose children suffer embarrassment because their bowel movements are so large they clog the toilet. It always makes sense to check in with the pediatrician and rule out anything serious that might be the cause. But until this reader told her story, we didn’t have a good solution to this persistent problem.
Q. My teen-age daughter has always had a problem with large stool, cantaloupe-sized, that clog the toilet. She would only have a bowel movement every couple of weeks.
We kept paint stirring sticks under the sink so she’d be able to break them up and flush the toilet. In addition to loading her diet with fruits and veggies, I’d end up giving her stool softener laxatives.
Then my mother mentioned that she had found probiotics helpful when she had a similar problem. I bought a bottle of probiotics (Ultimate Flora, in the refrigerated section) and after a few days she became regular. Her stool gradually became smaller and now it is a normal size and she no longer needs to use the paint stirrers.
The probiotics are a bit pricey, but when we ran out it wasn’t long before she was back to a cantaloupe in the toilet bowl. The probiotics on the shelf without refrigeration don’t work at all. We hope this helps another family.
A. We trust that your daughter has seen a doctor about her digestive difficulties, just to make sure there are no serious health problems.
Probiotics to the Rescue
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to re-establish a healthy balance of micro-organisms in the digestive tract. They are sometimes recommended for improving bowel function, although more studies are needed (Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, July 2011).
You are right to emphasize a diet with plenty of produce along with refrigerated probiotics, which should also be stored under refrigeration at home. These are more likely to provide the anticipated numbers of healthful microbes.
