Fleet Enema - What is the difference between constipation and fecal impaction?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 12, 2024.
Fecal impaction is a condition in which the colon becomes blocked from a mass of stool that can't be moved by colon contractions. Fecal impaction can cause pain and vomiting, and a person with fecal impaction may require emergency treatment or hospitalization. Fecal impaction is a fairly common complication of long-term constipation in the elderly and bedridden, occurring in about 30% of all nursing home residents.
Symptoms of constipation include:
Fewer than three bowel movements per week
Small, hard, dry stools that are difficult or painful to pass
The need to strain excessively to have a bowel movement
A feeling that your rectum is not empty after a bowel movement
Frequent use of enemas, laxatives or suppositories
Symptoms of fecal impaction include:
Liquid stool (the stool is leaking around the impacted mass of feces and can be mistaken for diarrhea)
Abdominal pain, especially after meals
A persistent urge to move the bowels
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Poor appetite, weight loss
Malaise (a generally sick feeling
For more detailed information on constipation and impaction visit:
https://www.drugs.com/health-guide/constipation-and-impaction.html
Read next
Related medical questions
- Can antibiotics cause constipation?
- Does gabapentin cause constipation?
- What is the maximum dosage for Colace stool softener at one time?
- The Do's and Don'ts of Treating Constipation
- Does tramadol cause constipation?
- Can Adderall cause constipation?
- Amitiza - how long does it take to work? Is it better to take after dinner?
- Why does Aimovig cause constipation?
- Can Farxiga cause constipation?
- What type of pain does fibromyalgia cause?
- Over the Counter Medication for Pets
- What type of drug is Motegrity?
- How do you to treat hemorrhoids at home?
- What do I need to know about Medications/Vaccinations before I Travel?
- Can you take metformin without food?
- Which is more effective, Beano or Gas-X for gas from ulcerative colitis?
- If I am Lactose Intolerant or Lactose Allergic, are there Medications I should Avoid?
Drug information
Related support groups
- Fleet Enema (18 questions, 33 members)
- Constipation (215 questions, 597 members)
- Gas (92 questions, 205 members)