Passed Rock Like Thing During Bowel Movement After Feeling Bloated And Constipation. What Is It?

Posted on Mon, 30 Sep 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 Answered on

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I PASSED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A ROCK DURING A BOWEL MOVEMENT,AFTER DAYS OF FEELING BLOATED & SUFFERING FROM SEVERAL DAYS OF CONSTIPATION. WHAT COULD THAT POSSIBLY BE?

Answered by Dr. Nsah Bernard (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Fecalith or fecaloma

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for posting on XXXXXXX

It must be terrible to have had such an experience and you must be confused as to where the stone came from. The only explanation I can provide (assuming that you did not swallow any solids) is that you must be suffering from a fecaloma or fecalith. A fecaloma, also called fecalith, fecolith and coprolith, i.e., a "stone" made of feces, is a hardening of feces into lumps of varying size inside the colon, which may appear whenever chronic obstruction of transit occurs, such as in megacolon and chronic constipation. Certain diseases might encourage the forming of these stones and this will require that you see a visceral surgeon to rule them out. If you continue having constipation or hard stool you might be required to go through a surgical procedure of disimpaction to remove the compacted feces.
Taking much fibres, fruits and fluids and avoiding too much of dry food could also help soften the food.
Make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible before we arrive at any further complications such as bowel obstruction.

Hope this helps and wish you the best.
Dr. Nsah

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar