After a particularly busy month, I deemed myself in need of some deep pampering. I’d been burning the candle at both ends, doing extra work during the day, and attending events in the evenings. I was getting a lot done and having a lot of fun, but I was overextending myself, much to the chagrin of my newly blotchy skin and fatigued body. A two-pronged approach—healing my mind and body—seemed to be the best restorative measure I could take. So, I booked a stay at New York’s Ayurvedic retreat center, YO1, in the Catskills.
Having previously visited Ayurvedic spas in both California and India and also completed a panchakarma cleanse (an Ayurvedic detox for the five senses), I thought I generally knew what to expect during my stay at YO1. Based on those experiences and a recent consultation with Ayurveda practitioner Ananta Ripa Ajmera, director of Ayurveda at wellness center The Well, I anticipated I’d be on a caffeine and alcohol-free nutrition plan full of kitchari and other warming vegetarian foods. I also expected to be situated in a cozy environment where healers perform traditional practices, like shirodhara (the practice of drizzling oil over the scalp to stimulate melatonin production) and herbal massages tailored to each dosha (or Ayurvedic energy type). As it turned out, my expectations didn’t match up with what actually happened.
Here’s what happened at the Ayurvedic YO1 Catskills wellness center
When I first arrived at YO1, the gate attendant welcomed me to the palatial property with a “namaste.” Many more namastes greeted me throughout the check-in process, which included a tour of the facilities and a consultation to determine my dosha and my bespoke itinerary for the stay based on my personal energetic needs.
First up on the docket was a meeting with Ayurvedic counselor, Vidhyarani Shetty, who asked me several questions regarding my energy levels and emotional attitude before declaring my dosha as a fiery pitta dominant. This surprised me because previous readings have most often landed me as an airy vata. (After returning from my stay at YO1, I remained curious about this descrepancy, so I asked Ajmera for a second opinion. She confirmed that, occasionally, the three doshas can shift balance at different times in life.)
Next, I met with naturopathy counselor Naveen Sharma to fill my itinerary with treatments targeting my physical and energetic pain points, like knee pain, digestion, and hormonal imbalances. In addition to the general programming available to all visitors, like yoga and a gong bath (which is basically a sound-bath meditation, but guided by the sound waves of a gong), Sharma recommended I try an herbal powder treatment called Podikizhi, visit the reflexology rock pathway, and soak in a Dead Sea mud bath, all to tame my pitta fire.
Using a neti pot and tubes, the kriya ceremony clears the nasal passages in order to “bring balance to both the physical and pranic body, while aiding sinus conditions and allowing for clear breathing.”
With my personalized folder, holding that just-for-me schedule of events, I headed back to the residential wing to clock some shut-eye before an early-morning yoga session and a 6 a.m. purification ceremony, or “kriya.” Using a neti pot and tubes, the ceremony clears the nasal passages in order to “bring balance to both the physical and pranic body, while aiding sinus conditions and allowing for clear breathing,” Sharma says.
While my other treatments skewed relaxing and spa-like, certain offerings I saw on the menu might intimidate the uninitiated. Take spinal-spray therapy, a pressure wash that Sharma says, “soothes the spinal cord from neck to tailbone, supplying nervous energy all over the body [and is] recommended for those with high blood pressure and to induce sound sleep.”
But, no matter which treatments and experiences are on a given visitor’s itinerary, it would seem difficult for fears or jitters to subsist given the serene, sprawling grounds. There’s nothing like a panoramic view of a placid pond during a morning yoga session to ease any sense of worry in the world. (That’s what I ultimately found to be the case, at least.)
Eventually, the morning fast on my itinerary concluded, and lunch was served in the basement dining hall. Ravenous, I devoured purple sweet potato soup, guacamole with microgreens and a falafel platter, all of which was designed to nourish and stimulate the senses. Successfully stimulated and also happily full, I embarked on my final activity: a two-hour walk through the woods to digest not only the meal, but the entire experience. While YO1 may not have been what I expected to experience, it did successfully offer me an energetic reboot. I left the wellness retreat feeling much more centered than I did upon arrival.
This 1 Gut Health Issue Causes Diarrhea and Constipation…at the Same Time
Here's how experts treat it—especially if you already have tummy troubles.
This 1 Gut Health Issue Causes Diarrhea and Constipation…at the Same Time
Here's how experts treat it—especially if you already have tummy troubles.
Published Feb 12, 2025
Written by
Contributor
Photo: Getty Images/Lucky Business
Published Feb 12, 2025
Written by
Contributor
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Have you ever had what feels like constipation and diarrhea at the same time? It might sound like a paradox—running to the toilet because you have to "go," but then straining once you get there, and then having loose stool—but it's totally possible. The condition is aptly named paradoxical diarrhea1 (or overflow diarrhea) and it happens when watery stool seeps around hard poop stuck in your rectum (i.e., the end of your large intestine).
board-certified gastroenterologist at the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California
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Overflow diarrhea can resemble a regular case of "the runs," but it usually happens to people with chronic constipation2. While anyone can feel backed up from time to time, some folks are more likely to have long-term constipation, including those over age 65, those who don't eat enough high-fiber foods, those who take certain medications, or people with neurological or digestive diseases (like Parkinson's disease or irritable bowel syndrome).
Curious to know whether this is what's happening to you? Read on to learn top causes, management options, and prevention tips for overflow diarrhea—according to gut health experts.
What are the symptoms of overflow diarrhea?
“Overflow diarrhea is a type of diarrhea that happens when the large intestines are partially blocked (usually from constipation or fecal impaction), causing a buildup of stool behind the obstruction,” Peyton Berookim, MD, FACG, a board-certified gastroenterologist at the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California, tells Well+Good. “This blockage results in liquid stools leaking around the blockage,” Dr. Berookim says. He notes that other symptoms—beyond diarrhea and constipation—may include the following:
In most cases, overflow diarrhea is a symptom of another underlying health issue. Here's a closer look at what some of those conditions may be.
1. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
“IBS is a chronic gut condition characterized by chronic abdominal pain that occurs with altered bowel habits (either constipation or diarrhea),” Dr. Berookim says. Research shows there are four subtypes of IBS3:
IBS with constipation (IBS-C): Most of your poop is hard and lumpy and you have abdominal pain.
IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D): Most of your poop is loose and watery with abdominal discomfort.
IBS with mixed bowel habits (IBS-M): You alternate between loose stools and constipation with abdominal discomfort.
Undefined subtype (IBS-U): Symptoms may vary between all of the above.
When you have IBS-C, in particular, the chronic constipation can cause a partial blockage in your intestines, Dr. Berookim says. And when solid poop can’t pass through your pipes, watery stool might leak around it, leading to overflow diarrhea. Along with constipation and diarrhea, people with IBS will also typically experience gas and bloating.
How to treat it:
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One of the first lines of treatment for IBS includes making changes to your diet. Dr. Berookim says this could look like:
Increasing fiber-rich foods. Eating fruits, vegetables, grains, prunes, and nuts can help with constipation.
Drinking plenty of water: Aim to have anywhere from 11.5 to 15.5 cups of water per day through drinking and eating water-rich foods. This will help keep your GI tract lubricated and help treat or prevent constipation.
Gut health experts may also recommend other lifestyle tips to keep IBS in check, such as exercising daily, meditating5 or trying other stress-relief practices, and getting enough sleep every night.
2. Fecal impaction (aka stuck poop)
Fecal impaction happens when poop gets stuck in your rectum, keeping you from passing stool. Overflow diarrhea can develop when liquid stool leaks around the poop blockage, Dr. Berookim says. This is usually caused by chronic constipation because, if you can't move your bowels, they will get severely backed up over time. Other causes of fecal impaction can include the following:
A sedentary lifestyle
Neurological conditions (like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease)
Side effects of certain medications (like narcotic pain medications, anticholinergics for muscle spasms, and certain anti-diarrheal medications)
You might also notice some other symptoms with fecal impaction, including abdominal pain, inability to eat, frequent urination, nausea, dehydration, confusion, or bleeding, per Mount Sinai.
How to treat it:
Treating fecal impaction involves your healthcare provider removing the blockage, which can be done in a few ways6. The first is with an enema—where fluid is injected into your rectum to loosen poop—or physical assisted removal—where your provider uses a gloved finger to dislodge the impaction. Other options include abdominal massage to loosen stool, laxatives, or surgery, in severe cases.
3. Food allergies
“Food allergies can cause inflammation in the digestive tract resulting in diarrhea,” Dr. Berookim says. But this type of loose stool is often just regular diarrhea, not the overflow kind. However, "in extremely rare cases, the inflammatory response7 may lead to swelling of the intestines," he adds, which may cause a potential blockage and eventual overflow diarrhea.
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Additionally, food allergies or sensitivities (like lactose intolerance) can worsen IBS symptoms8, and, as we learned, people with IBS-C are more prone to chronic constipation and possibly overflow diarrhea.
How to treat it:
Keep a food diary to track your symptoms. This can help you identify if a particular food is triggering your tummy troubles. Once you figure out which food is causing problems, you can limit or eliminate it from your diet, with the guidance and support of your healthcare provider.
4. Bacterial infections
Certain bacterial infections can “cause inflammation, scarring, and possible stricture of the intestines, resulting in overflow diarrhea,” Dr. Berookim says. These include:
Clostridium difficile (C. diff): An intestinal infection that often occurs after taking antibiotics, which kill off other helpful bacteria.
Shigella:An intestinal infection caused by contact with stool of an infected person or eating contaminated food or water.
While diarrhea is the most common symptom, you can also experience stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting with these bacterial GI infections.
How to treat it:
For most bacterial infections, you will need to see a healthcare provider who can prescribe an antibiotic medication to kill the bad bacteria in your gut. And since some of these infections are highly contagious, like shigella, it's recommended to get treatment ASAP, to avoid spreading it to other people.
5. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
IBD is a group of medical conditions that happen when you have chronic inflammation that damages your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The most common are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, both of which can cause scarring and potential abnormal narrowing of the intestines, which can trigger overflow diarrhea, says Dr. Berookim. You may also experience abdominal pain, rectal bleeding or bloody stools, weight loss, and fatigue with IBD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Beyond IBD, Dr. Berookim says there are a few inflammatory gut health issues that don't fall under the IBD umbrella that can lead to overflow diarrhea, too, such as diverticulitis—inflammation of your diverticula, or pockets on the inside of your colon.
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How to treat it:
If you think you might have IBD, visit with your healthcare provider, who can run diagnostic tests and take stock of your symptoms. If you have a form of IBD, treatment often includes a multi-pronged approach, including various medications to reduce gut inflammation and pain and lifestyle changes—like adopting an anti-inflammatory diet and reducing stress.
6. Certain medications
The contents of your medicine cabinet might be the culprit of your overflow diarrhea. For example, “the main side effect of pain medications, such as opioids, is severe constipation,” Dr. Berookim says. Why? Essentially, these medications make the nerves in your gut sleepy, thereby slowing things down in your GI tract. With long-term use, this can lead to chronic constipation and overflow diarrhea, he adds.
But opioids aren’t the only offenders. Other drugs including antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and anticholinergics (found in meds for urinary incontinence and allergies) may also cause constipation as a side effect.
How to treat it:
If you think your medication is messing with your gut, let your healthcare provider know. They may be able to prescribe you a lower dose of a particular drug or prescribe you something new altogether. Just be sure to talk to your provider before quitting your meds cold turkey.
Additionally, you might be able to counteract medication-induced constipation through a variety of lifestyle changes like adding fiber-rich foods to your diet (think: beans and greens), staying well-hydrated, taking fiber supplements, or using other over-the-counter (OTC) remedies, such as Miralax—with a provider's permission, of course.
7. In rare cases, a mass or tumor in the rectum
In some cases, a physical blockage—like a mass or tumor—might be responsible for obstructing your intestines and backing you up in the bathroom. More specifically, Dr. Berookim says that tumors in the rectum or distal (lower) portion of the colon can cause blockages of stool and potential overflow diarrhea.
While most rectal masses are benign—think, harmless polyps or fatty lumps called lipomas—others can be cancerous. If that is the case, you might notice other signs and symptoms like rectal bleeding, a sudden change in how and when you poop, fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss.
How to treat it:
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If you think you have a rectal mass or tumor, it's best to check in with your healthcare provider, especially since they can be cancerous. Your provider will likely perform a physical exam and a colonoscopy to get a better look inside your intestines. If they find any abnormal masses, they may perform surgery to remove them, or recommend certain therapies (such as chemotherapy or radiation) depending on the severity of the mass.
Are there any long-term complications of overflow diarrhea?
Unfortunately, if left untreated, there are some potential long-term complications of overflow diarrhea beyond just being uncomfortable. Dr. Berookim says this may include the following:
Dehydration and nutrient deficiencies from chronic loss of fluids
Hemorrhoids (popped veins on the anus) or anal fissures (small tears in anal lining) from straining during bowel movements or irritation
Fecal incontinence (i.e., unintentionally leaking poop) from weakened anal muscles
Additionally, your “quality of life can be severely impacted with chronic diarrhea,” Dr. Berookim says.
How to treat overflow diarrhea
First and foremost, treating overflow diarrhea requires a healthcare provider's assistance. They may recommend a few different routes to treat the GI condition, according to Dr. Berookim. Since most cases are a result of fecal impaction and chronic constipation, your provider will need to remove blocked stool with an enema or physical removal with a gloved finger. Your provider may also try performing an abdominal massage to target stuck stool or suggest taking laxatives to help soften things up.
In severe cases, however, surgery to remove the blockage may be required. Your provider can request an MRI or other screening test to check the severity of the blockage and determine the course of treatment from there.
Tips to prevent simultaneous constipation and diarrhea
The best way to prevent overflow diarrhea? Getting chronic constipation under control. Here are a few tried-and-true tips to keep your bowels moving:
Fill up on fibrous foods. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole-grain breads and cereals are solid sources of fiber. Aim to get 25 to 30 grams of fiber every day.
Get anywhere from 11.5 to 15.5 cups of water per day—which equals about 92 to 124 ounces—through drinking and eating water-rich foods such as cucumber or watermelon. This water will help lubricate your GI tract.
Exercise regularly. When you move, your GI tract does, too. And you don’t need a lot; even gentle movement like walking is great for digestion.
Use a dietary supplement like magnesium for constipation. Magnesium isn’t safe for everyone. Always check with your provider before you begin taking a new supplement.
Add an OTC fiber supplement to your diet, like Metamucil, MiraLAX, Citrucel, or Benefiber. Always start slowly with these to allow your body to adjust, and to avoid uncomfortable symptoms like bloating and gas.
Avoid processed meats, fried foods, and refined carbs like white bread, pasta, and potatoes. Eating too many highly processed foods can cause constipation.
Use a stool when you go number two. Raising your feet, leaning back, or squatting may make pooping easier. For reference, we like the Squatty Potty stool ($25).
Take a very mild OTC stool softener or laxative (such as docusate). But only if needed and for no longer than two weeks. Over-relying on laxatives can worsen your symptoms.
Don’t make a habit of holding in your poop. Eventually, it will block the signal from your colon to your brain to relax and let the poop out.
When to see a healthcare provider
If you're dealing with constipation and diarrhea at the same time, this is usually a sign that something's up with your intestines. So, don't ignore your body's signs! See your healthcare provider right away if you have overflow diarrhea with symptoms like decreased appetite, nausea or vomiting, and moderate abdominal pain.
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These are all signs of complications from chronic constipation, which, if left unchecked, can lead to serious problems like bowel obstruction (i.e., a blockage) or perforation (a hole in your digestive tract). Both require emergency life-saving medical care.
Hsu, Mark, et al. “S2544 an uncommon paradoxical cause of chronic diarrhea.” American Journal of Gastroenterology, vol. 118, no. 10S, Oct. 2023, https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0000959816.43044.b7. ↩︎
Forootan, Mojgan et al. “Chronic constipation: A review of literature.” Medicine vol. 97,20 (2018): e10631. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000010631 ↩︎
Self, Mariella M et al. “Subtypes of irritable bowel syndrome in children and adolescents.” Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association vol. 12,9 (2014): 1468-73. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2014.01.031 ↩︎
Qin, Hong-Yan et al. “Impact of psychological stress on irritable bowel syndrome.” World journal of gastroenterology vol. 20,39 (2014): 14126-31. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i39.14126 ↩︎
Kanchibhotla, Divya et al. “Improvement in Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) following meditation: An open-trial pilot study in India.” Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine vol. 12,1 (2021): 107-111. doi:10.1016/j.jaim.2021.01.006 ↩︎
Araghizadeh, Farshid. “Fecal impaction.” Clinics in colon and rectal surgery vol. 18,2 (2005): 116-9. doi:10.1055/s-2005-870893 ↩︎
Chen, Linlin et al. “Inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated diseases in organs.” Oncotarget vol. 9,6 7204-7218. 14 Dec. 2017, doi:10.18632/oncotarget.23208 ↩︎
Crowe, Sheila E. “Food Allergy Vs Food Intolerance in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome.” Gastroenterology & hepatology vol. 15,1 (2019): 38-40. ↩︎
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There are approximately five thousand days in the month of January—and yet somehow February (and its mid-month celebration of *all things love*) always creeps up on you. But don’t panic: The latest TikTok trend has you covered this Valentine’s Day, whether you’re showering your romantic partner, all your besties, or yourself with TLC.
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At 1.2 billion TikTok views and counting, bae baskets are making a major splash, and for good reason. The concept isn’t complicated: Put together a care package of sorts, filled with simple-but-swoon-worthy goodies that feel unique and personal to your recipient. It’s a super thoughtful (not to mention low-effort) way to show your A team you notice and care about the things that bring them joy—and the best part? It can be totally wallet-friendly, and definitely doesn’t seem like you waited until the last possible second to grab them a gift.
To get you inspired to build your own Valentine’s Day gift basket, we scoured the shelves at CVS—because nothing can beat the convenience of CVS if you’re a last-minute shopper—and rounded up eight essentials that anyone on your love list is guaranteed to appreciate and *actually* use. Think: cozy pillows for your favorite homebody, candles and beauty products for the self-care connoisseur, and plenty of sweet treats for, well, everyone.
Bonus: They’re all under $25—which you can brag about to your friends who love to budget, or keep as your best-kept secret (we won’t tell)—and with CVS ExtraCare, you can get additional savings and Extrabucks back on tons of Valentine’s Day finds. So grab a wicker box, a shower caddy, or a canvas bag, and start filling bae baskets for every love in your life (reminder: that includes you).
Start your bae basket with a festive and romantic base (extra points for one that fills up some space). This white, faux fur pillow is a fun seasonal add to any couch, bed, or cozy chair, and serves as an understated invitation to snuggle.
You can never have enough candles, and this soy blend—made with rose and tonka for a warm, sweet, and spicy scent that’ll linger in any space—serves as a reminder to relax and relish in a little self-care. Mood lighting, activated.
Keep the self-care session going strong with healing bath salts that help relax the body and moisturize the skin (and they smell like summertime). The hibiscus and berry extracts form a soothing foam and give the tub a red tint that feels *very* seasonally appropriate. Feeling fancy? Toss in some rose petals to really give your bath-themed basket some extra pizzazz.
There’s no greater love than BFF love—and adding friendship bracelets to your bae basket is a sweet way to acknowledge that. Gift your #1 this pack of eight, dish them out to your closest crew, or stack them all on your own wrist (because, ICYMI, it’s very cool to be your own best pal).
The TikToksphere loves bae baskets almost as much as it loves Stanley tumblers. Skip the investment and nestle this heart-fluttering dupe into your care package for better hydration on Valentine’s Day and beyond. Toss in a couple boxes of Sweethearts Conversation Hearts to round out the theme.
A new tube of lip tint will have all your beauty-loving besties blowing kisses. This long-lasting formula from Maybelline glides on smoothly and leaves a soft, matte finish on your pout—and it comes in 10 buildable and blendable shades. From February 9 to 15, you can get $6 Extrabucks when you buy two tubes, so go ahead and grab one for yourself.
No bae basket is complete without chocolate (yes, even for the S.O.s who claim they don’t like dessert). From coconut, to raspberry velvet, to sugar cookie, there’s a surprise filling for everyone in this box of 14 truffles.
No need to choose between chocolate or gummies this Valentine’s Day (or, um, ever). Instead, pair your Godiva chocolates with this heart-shaped carton of classic Haribo bears. With ExtraCare, you can buy one and get the second box 50 percent off. How sweet is that?
