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Constipation - what to ask your doctor
Constipation is when you are passing stools less often than you normally do. Your stool may become hard and dry and difficult to pass. You might feel bloated and have pain, or you might have to strain when you try to move your bowels.
Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider to help you take care of your constipation.
Questions
How often should I go to the bathroom during the day? How long should I wait? What else can I do to train my body to have more regular bowel movements?
Updated by: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.