Parcopresis or psychogenic fecal retention are the technical terms for holding your poo in when you should be pushing it out. It involves difficulty - or sometimes the complete inability - to have a bowel movement in a public toilet, due to an overwhelming fear of perceived scrutiny. People are going to hear what's going on, they're going to smell what's going on, they may even see what's going on, and you’re going to be exposed! In severe cases, the difficulty or inability can occur even in your own home. Shy bowel is classified as a psychological condition, but there are important physiological mechanisms in the digestive tract that are behind it. In this episode, I’ll explain the critical importance of dropping it while it’s hot – especially If you struggle with constipation or bowel irregularity.

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Dr. Robynne Chutkan