Parcopresis (the inability to defecate when there is people around)

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Ataraxia

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Anyone else suffer from this? It's a psychological disorder, so I'm told, and it certainly doesn't make my life any easier.

Basically, I can't seem to defecate (no matter how much I need to) when there's people in the house/close to my bathroom. Like, for example, the bathroom I have in my flat right now is right next to my room, so when my girlfriend comes over and she's lurking about, I can't go. The same goes for public toilets, as I know people will be able to hear any "noise".

May sound funny to most, but it's definitely not a nice thing to have on top of Crohn's Disease. Only adds to the cramping/stomach pain I get when I can't relieve myself.
 
Hi Andy

If you're selling the tee-shirts on this I think I need to buy one!

For me it's the stuff of bad dreams... and I can link it to a traumatic experience when I was about 6 and went to the toilet in the infant school. Some kid looked under the gap at the bottom of the door while I was sitting there, and I've had a problem ever since. I really can't stay in other people's houses, and like you I've ended up with cramping from having to "hold on to it" for too long.

I'm very lucky to have three toilets in my current house, so if we have any guests I can always find one which is out of earshot and noseshot.

It is definitely ironic to have such a hang-up and have crohns at the same time.
 
Hi!

Firstly I notice you're from West Yorkshire, too. Wow, coincidence? Whereabouts exactly?

As for the peaking under the gap thing, damn. That thought occurs to me every time I'm in a public bathroom with people in there. It's gotten to the point that I scout desperately for the toilet every time I enter a new place. If the toilet's too small and "not private enough" I won't go there. Pretty sad, really.
 
I thought i was the only one like this. Well i can go in my house with people in, but a bit leary if someone is near toilet. The problem is i can't seem to go in public ones. I am scared for someone to hear. Even if i am alone in the public toilet, i'll still be anxious for someone to come in. I even get to the point of nausea from the stress of it. This is not good with this kind of disease. When i hold it, i seem to get constipated later. Iam already a really anxious person, so this is something i can't deal with.
 
I feel for you all. I can't imagine having to go like crazy, only to be scared shitless literally! This has got to be making your condition worse, it's just not good to hold it in under any circumstances!

I can go anywhere, any place, any time.

Have any of you ever considered seeking professional help for this? It's got to be so painful physically and anxiety producing to not be able to go when you need to.

- Amy
 
What is the opposite... I have that. And odds are cats / dogs / neighbors / people driving by are going to hear it.
 
I had something similar to Rebecca.... I would not be able to go (even if desired) unless I was near home. Sometimes I would be at school and as soon as I started walking home I would literally need to run to make it home in time!

After surgery things improved (don't know what mentally changed though) so I don't have this problem anymore. I certainly know how something like this can be a challenge though and wish I could provide some useful advice :(.
 
I get by with a combination of a "mental cork" and careful management. Going at work is not a problem any more... I was made redundant last year... but I used to have a procedure for when I was really desperate and I had to go. First make sure the coast is clear... no-one heading down the corridor. Then flush the toilet to make some noise... and try and go before the noise of the flush dies away. Sad really... but it worked.

Andy... I'm on the far side of Huddersfield, right in the hills and in spitting distance of the Pennine Way. And the sun is shining even as I write this.

... and the avatar photo is in Whitby... I'm doing my Van Helsing impersonation
 
hi i am leeds also, and have suffered from this since being a teenager.

i only use my own loo and my mums, as long as no visitors there.

when i was young i could hold on for days, eek.
since having bowel issues, this is difficult, if i really have to go when i am out i will only use disabled toilets, for this i have had dirty looks as i look abled bodied.

i am a nurse and do 13 hour shifts so again, need to plan best way i can, nothing more mortifying than having to go at work, it can make me cry, but my body cant hold on like when i was young.

thinking of getting a radar key?
 
I tend to have this problem too. If I hear someone outside the bathroom, I can't go, having the fan on helps a bit. In public restrooms though, it's hard and I go a little when someone else flushes or I wait until everyone is out of there meaning that I'm in the bathroom for like 20min. I wonder if having headphones on while listening to loud music might help a bit. Reminds me that I need to charge my ipod. :p
 
Ack. Yes.

I've taught myself to not worry about going when my family is around... But public restrooms... Never in my seventeen years have I ever... Except maybe as an infant, or urinating...

But, having CD, I'm trying to teach myself to get over it. Whenever I'm in public, it's like... I'm in extreme pain, but I don't have to go... When I'm home, any amount of pain, and I have to go.

I have a teacher who doesn't believe that I'm sick, because she expects me to be using the washroom atleast once a class... :ymad: Doctor's note slap to the face fixed that problem though.

But yeah. I don't go anywhere really long anymore, because I find the idea terrifying.
 
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I think most people do as defecating has a big stigma attached to it. I used to hate going in public toilets (even at work) but then changed my attitude. Most people who would hear me id never see again, and if the people i did and knew i had a problem made a big fuss of it, then sod them. Still feel embarassed sometimes but its getting better lol
 
Glad to know I'm not the only one like this haha. Well not glad we all do it but at least it's not just me being crazy! I almost NEVER poop in public, only if it's about to come out no matter what lol, and at my house I usually avoid the middle level bathroom because that's so in the way, so either go upstairs or in the basement. And as soon as I pick one away from everyone, here comes someone right by and then I hold it until I think they have left lol. And then I open the door and there they are right there and then they deal with the wonderful smells that creep out the bathroom once I leave lol
 
OMG I thought I was the only one with this weird issue!! Unless I am having a really bad flare I can only go at home, and it also takes a lot to go at home if my husband is home too. Lately it hasn't been as bad because I am having really bad symptoms (which I am relieved the "mental cork" isn't strong enough to make me sicker).

I feel for you guys! I just wish there was a way to change it!
 
Waaahhaha! Years later and i still cant get used to letting hell loose on the throne... in company. Chuckling!!! it is so cool to know i am not the only one...

Happy crapping friends!

Luv Brenda
 
Been talking with my partner and she has this problem, also. She doesn't have Crohn's, but she's anxious of making "noise" when she's in the bathroom and I'm in the next room.

Women are such polite creatures ;)
 
Agent X20 said:
I get by with a combination of a "mental cork" and careful management. Going at work is not a problem any more... I was made redundant last year... but I used to have a procedure for when I was really desperate and I had to go. First make sure the coast is clear... no-one heading down the corridor. Then flush the toilet to make some noise... and try and go before the noise of the flush dies away. Sad really... but it worked.

Andy... I'm on the far side of Huddersfield, right in the hills and in spitting distance of the Pennine Way. And the sun is shining even as I write this.

... and the avatar photo is in Whitby... I'm doing my Van Helsing impersonation
Click to expand...

Actually, I do something similar: I normally turn the shower on when I really, really need to go and there's someone in the house. The water splashing off the bath disguises the flatulation pretty well, I think ;)

And that's, good, mate! Not too far from me, then? I'm from Shipley, near Bradford. I actually caught sun stroke for the second week in a row today, in APRIL! Damn...
 

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