Faster than a speeding prune. More stubborn than a supermarket trolley with one dodgy wheel. Able to cling to the bowel walls with astonishing determination.

Unfortunately, this is one superhero nobody actually wants turning up.

A stool like this is made up of hard, lumpy segments that have spent a little too long in the colon while water has been absorbed out of them. The result? An uncomfortable push, a lot of effort, and often the feeling that you've still not quite finished.

Your bowel could be hinting that it needs more fibre, more fluids, a review of your routine—or even a look at whether medication is slowing things down.

For people living with a spinal cord injury, recognising these early warning signs is far more than a curiosity. Understanding stool types can help prevent bigger bowel problems before they become painful, time-consuming and potentially serious.

At Fellow Carer, we teach carers to recognise these everyday clues, because the bowel usually whispers long before it starts shouting.

So be honest... has Captain Constipation ever paid you an unwanted visit, and what finally sent him packing?