Bowel movements are a regular part of healthy digestion, it is the way our body removes waste. After you eat a meal, your body will take the vitamins and nutrients from the food, and then get rid of the rest.
But, if you are like me, you will have the occasional pebble stools, or as I call them: rabbit pellets. Sometimes, the stool will look like a solid piece consisting of pebbles. You are not alone in the struggle. Like you, I have done a lot of research regarding the issue.
So, What Causes These Annoying Little Pebbles?
One simple word: constipation. When you have small, hard, pebble-like stools, you are most likely constipated. A number of things can cause constipation:
- Low In Fiber– Fiber adds to the bulk of your stool. It is found in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. When you consume enough fiber, the fiber breaks down in your colon, forming a gel that keeps the stool from breaking apart into pieces. As you can imagine, when you lack the fiber and gel, your stool will harden and break apart.
- Not Enough Fluids- Have acne? Drink water. Hungover? Drink water. Constipated? You guessed right, drink water! Fiber and water work together to make your stool pass. If you are dehydrated, or not getting enough fluids in your system, the stool created will not pass out as smoothly.
- Medical Conditions– Constipation can be caused by medical conditions such as
- Dementia
- Diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Colon cancer
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Medications– Certain medicine will cause constipation. Antidepressants, antacids, diuretics, iron supplements, and other medications such as narcotics can slow down digestion and cause dry, rabbit pellet stools. Speak to your doctor about the medications you’re on if you are experiencing constipation.
Fiber is the easiest answer to this problem. The average adult consumes 15 grams or less of fiber a day. The recommended amount is 38 grams of fiber for men, and 35 grams for women under 50. Make it a point to take the daily recommended fiber necessary in order to avoid constipation.
Also, drink water! Proper hydration can get lost in day to day busy-ness, especially with how active your lifestyle can be. I get it because I try to drink water as much as possible, but almost always fall short of my daily goal.
When To See The Doctor
After researching solutions for my troublesome stools, I decided to involve a doctor to rule out any conditions. I was then diagnosed with IBS, which explained the reason for the constant rabbit pellets, constipation, gas and bloating I have dealt with for years.
If you are having pebble stools that lasts longer than 1-2 weeks, then seek medical advice. It will rule out any medical conditions you might have causing the stool issues. In the meantime, stay hydrated, eat a healthy diet, exercise, and consume enough fiber.
I am grateful for your advice. I just, tonight, Nov 30, 2020 had an episode of “pebbles” and a lot of straining n pain when passing stool, eventually. I had not read your advice until it was over (out) and I vowed to find away to avoid what I thought might be an impacted colon. The morning of the incident, I had taken liberal amounts of chia seed, flax n hemp along with a square of baker’s unsweetened chocolate with black coffee and a Granny Smith apple. I fasted the rest of the day until I felt perastalsis. I began to panic when I couldn’t go,so I took a Colace n drank 3/4th bottle of mg citrate. After 90 min of cramping I went, dry pebbles first then a very large deposit. My last b m was two days before. I’m not sure why it happened, but your advice is well taken. Thank you. RGR K.C., MO
It is great to hear that the advice was helpful to you! It is something I have experienced first hand so I understand the frustrations, but I am glad we were able to help!
Hi, can you help? I’ve suffered with pebbly poop for years. Eating more fiber makes it worse and drinking lots of water just makes me pee more. It seems to help when I walk a lot but the effects only last about one pooping later. I have no pain, no constipation, no bloating, or anything. I’m suspecting my intestine is too tight in some spots and it’s breaking the poop down right before exit. Is this possible?
Hi Lynn, I am sorry to hear about your pebble poops. It is something I have suffered for years so I understand! Honestly, I think it is something you should speak to your doctor about as soon as you can. It is better to check all possible routes in order to rule out any serious conditions!
Excellent, what a blog it is! This blog presents helpful information to us, keep it up.
Thank you Valorie!
On Jan 12, 2022 I was admitted to hospital with a 10 over the top abdominal pain which lasted about 5 minutes. I was diagnosed with constipation. Before I had the severe pain I was somewhat constipated but still had normal bm’s. Since the pain I had soreness in my stomach area and no bm for about one week. Ate lots of fibre and drank lots of water since then. I have tried metamucil, senokat, prunes, beet cleanse, bran, glycerin suppositories and I produce only a bit of pebble poop. Now its almost one month after the pain and still pebble poop. The soreness is gone. I had two accunpucture treatments to produce a bm and neither treatment worked. Worried and do not know what to do next. I have been healthy all my life. I am a senior now. Its February 9, 2022 as I write this
Hi Barbara! I am so sorry to hear that you have been having these issues. I have been personally dealing with constipation and pebble poop since my teenage years, so I understand how you feel. If you have tried all of those ways to pass a bm, then I suggest seeing your primary care physician and notifying them. They might be able to prescribe you something to help and might suggest a colonoscopy to make sure that everything is okay internally. I hope this helps and that you find relief soon.
I have degenerative disc disease in my thoracic and I am nauseated constipated and have stomach pain 24/7 after a hospital stay for 3 days they sent me home with constipation diagnosis I know my problem is coming from my thoracic degenerative disc
I take methadone as a prescription and in the last few months have had very painful pebble poops and now for the first time have had to manually get it out and it’s still not all out I’m panicking and stuck in bed
Mallory, I am sorry you’re going through that! Don’t panic, I suggest maybe mixing fiber, such as Metamucil, with some water and taking it for a couple of days and see if it makes a difference. But you definitely should speak to your doctor about it- there might be something they can prescribe that will work with the constipation effects you’re experiencing with methadone.
I’m dealing with constipation and no appetite and just dnt feel well at all. I’ve done miralax and liquid laxatives and suppositories and now only like liquid comes out but I have to lift legs to do that I’m a single mom of 5 and this has taken a toll on me and had my anxiety so bad
Oh my gosh, Mallory, I am so sorry you are going through that. You definitely should try to avoid overdoing it with laxatives, because it can leave you dehydrated! I would take a break from the laxatives and see your doctor as soon as possible! In the meantime, make sure to drink a lot of water, and add a probiotic or fiber to your diet – there are fiber and probiotic pills and even powder that you can mix with water and drink.
Doctors are hit or Miss for me.,, I’ve been to countless doctors for constipation they just tell me to take miralax or metamucil and send me back home. I sometimes take Colace clear gels as it’s not as harsh on me as the laxative are, I don’t like miralax at all, sometimes the laxatives work but I still feel completely backed up and pile that on top the shaky dizzy feeling I get afterwards. Side note I did have an ED for a year or two and that’s what really messed up my”flow”if I knew I would be in this much pain after recovering I wouldn’t have put my body though so much. It’s long term as I’ve been dealing with the constipation ever since but too late to change anything now
For constipation, try warm prune juice.