Funny you should mention this; Ithink I suffer with this problem and it began 15 years ago; all of a sudden I the BM's got smaller and smaller; now, no matter how soft it is, it don't want to come out- I never never never get diarrehea or take a "dump" (sorry to be so crude but don't know any other way to put it). I also have a largefibroid uterus which could be causing a problem too but I really don't plan on getting a hysterectomy unless I absolutely had to; surgery is just too scary. the inability to relax the sphincters is a huge problem and all the fiber, water and prayer don;t help alot.