Are you haunted by the question, “Why did I poop in my sleep?” Read on to learn why bowel movements sometimes happen while sleeping and what you can do about it.

Experiencing a bowel movement during sleep can be deeply troubling and affect your mental state. After all, pooping the bed is not considered “normal” for most adults, as we’re supposed to be able to control our bathroom habits. But don’t despair. Once you know the reasons why you’re pooping in your sleep, it’s easier to find solutions.

Why am I pooping myself in my sleep?

Bowel movements occurring in bed at night will likely be loose and watery stools. This is known as nocturnal diarrhea, and it can be caused by a brief illness or a more serious disorder. Because it often wakes you up at night, it can negatively affect the quality of your sleep.

Symptoms of nocturnal diarrhea

Symptoms of nocturnal diarrhea include: ¹

• Loose, watery stools
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Fever
• Urge to poop

These symptoms typically last just a few days. But if they last more than a couple of weeks, it may be a sign of a more serious condition. See your doctor if they persist for more than a few days.

Dangers of diarrhea

Whether it occurs during the day or at night, diarrhea can be dangerous to your health. This is because severe diarrhea can cause a depletion of water and electrolytes, leading to dehydration and serious health problems. Elderly people and young children are especially at risk for serious complications of dehydration.

According to research, around 20% to 30% of older adults are dehydrated.² There are several reasons for this, including an age-related decrease in body fluids. In most cases, the dehydration is minor. But if an older person develops diarrhea, it can quickly progress to severe dehydration if fluid isn’t replaced. This may require hospitalization.

Causes of nocturnal diarrhea

Here are a few conditions known to cause nocturnal diarrhea.

Infections

Viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections often create watery stools, a.k.a., diarrhea. Infections known to promote diarrhea include:³

• Viral: Norovirus, Rotavirus
• Bacterial: e Coli, Salmonella (These are foodborne infections, e.g., “food poisoning”.)
• Parasitic: Cryptosporidium enteritis, Entamoeba histolytica (Parasitic infections are most often transferred through infected drinking water and are also food-borne infections.)

In some cases, infections can affect both the stomach and the small/large intestines, causing inflammation of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, known as gastroenteritis. (Viral gastroenteritis is stomach flu and is not caused by the influenza virus.)⁴ This can result in diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, and sometimes fever.

Though gastroenteritis can clear up on its own, you should see your doctor if diarrhea lasts for more than 2 days. That’s because it may be caused by other more serious conditions. Also, a severe case of bacterial gastroenteritis is a medical issue that can lead to dehydration, kidney failure, and other dangerous conditions. ⁵

Foods

A variety of foods may cause diarrhea, including:

Dairy products

If you experience diarrhea after consuming dairy products, you may lack the enzyme necessary to break down the sugars in dairy. (This is known as lactose intolerance.) Because the body can’t break down these sugars, it often disposes of them through loose and watery bowel movements. About 36 percent of people in the U.S. are thought to be lactose intolerant.⁶

Gluten-containing grain foods

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye grains. (This includes foods made with white flour, as it’s made from milled wheat grain.) Those with “gluten sensitivity” are unable to break down or digest gluten, resulting in diarrhea and other gut issues. Experts believe around 6 percent of the U.S. population may be gluten sensitive. That’s 20 million people! Plus, one in 133 people in the U.S. is believed to have Celiac disease, a serious condition in which gluten damages the intestines.⁷

High-fiber foods

Fiber is a natural substance found in grains, fruits, and vegetables. Though dietary fiber is necessary for regular bowel movements, too much fiber too soon can be hard on your gastrointestinal tract. This often leads to diarrhea, cramping in the gut area, and other unpleasant symptoms. To avoid diarrhea, increase your fiber intake slowly. This gives your digestive tract a chance to adjust to it.

Coffee

There is no doubt that a cup of coffee in the morning can wake you up fast…but it can also promote diarrhea. That’s because the caffeine in coffee stimulates the bowels. To reduce your chances of diarrhea, try to limit yourself to just 1 cup of coffee per day. Two or more cups of coffee or caffeinated tea can lead to diarrhea. ⁸

Caffeine-containing foods

A common cause of diarrhea is consuming too many caffeine-containing foods, e.g., chocolate, tea, most sodas, etc. This has the same bowel-stimulating effect as drinking coffee.

Fruit

Though eating fruit is good for your health, it also contains a natural sugar called fructose that may cause loose stool and diarrhea. This is more likely to occur if you eat a large amount of fruit.⁹ To avoid runny stool, try to eat the fruit in moderation. Also, choose low-fructose fruit as much as possible. Citrus fruits and berries are popular low-sugar options.

Medications and supplements

Certain medications are a common cause of watery stool. Medications that may lead to diarrhea include:¹⁰

• Laxatives: Laxatives are designed to make stool softer and easier to pass. However, taking too many laxatives could promote diarrhea.
• Magnesium: This mineral draws water into the intestines, thereby softening the stool. It can also relax the muscle of the intestines, helping make stool easier to pass.
• Antacids: Most antacid brands contain magnesium, which can lead to diarrhea.
• Antibiotics: As a treatment for infectious conditions, antibiotics work well. However, a common side effect of antibiotics is that they destroy certain types of bacteria. This can lead to an imbalance of good and bad gut bacteria that can result in diarrhea.
• Chemotherapy medications (a common treatment for cancer)
• NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are used to treat pain and arthritis, e.g., aspirin.
• Heartburn medications, e.g., Prilosec

Medical conditions

Several different chronic medical conditions can cause nocturnal diarrhea. Here are a few health conditions known to trigger diarrhea during sleep, as well as sporadic diarrhea during the day.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is a chronic inflammation of the GI tract. The cause of inflammatory bowel disease is unknown, but researchers believe an autoimmune response — in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells — plays a role.

There are 3 types of IBD: ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and microscopic colitis.

• Ulcerative colitis promotes chronic inflammation of the inner lining of the large intestine (colon) and rectum, causing painful ulcers (sores) in your GI tract. Signs may include bloody diarrhea, pain in the rectum, and fever.¹¹ However, the signs of ulcerative colitis vary greatly depending upon the part of the digestive tract affected.
• Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition causing inflammation anywhere in your GI tract, including the rectum. Symptoms of Crohn’s can be mild or severe, and they can even go into remission for a while. In addition to nocturnal diarrhea, signs of Crohn’s may include fatigue, stomach cramps, fever, and blood in the stool.¹²
• Microscopic colitis is another chronic condition of inflammation of the colon. Your doctor can detect it only by examining your colon with a microscope. The symptoms are often sporadic and may include chronic diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pains/cramping.¹³

Explanatory Text

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine.

Text describing the parts of the large intestine: transverse colon, descending colon, abnormal contractions, rectum, appendix, ascending colon.

Text describing the symptoms of IBS: abdominal pain, cramping, or bloating, excess gas, diarrhea or constipation, mucus in the stool.

Text describing the causes of IBS: muscle contractions in the intestine, nervous system, inflammation in the intestines, severe infection, changes in microflora.

End Explanatory Text

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic condition that affects the large intestine. However, unlike inflammatory bowel disease, IBS does not appear to damage the GI tract. This is because IBS is a functional disease, that is, a disorder in which the gut and brain don’t work together properly.

Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain/cramping, bloating, gas, pressure in the rectum, and diarrhea. However, nocturnal diarrhea is not a typical sign of IBS. For this reason, you should call your doctor if you experience diarrhea while you sleep. ¹⁴

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body uses glucose (blood sugar.) In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin and requires injections of insulin. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas either doesn’t produce enough insulin or the cells don’t respond to insulin well.

With both types of diabetes, glucose can build up in the bloodstream and cause medical complications. One of these complications is having diarrhea while you sleep.

Diarrhea is not the main sign of diabetes, however. Symptoms of diabetes vary and include increased thirst, irritability, and frequent urination. If you experience any of these signs, speak with your doctor.

Treatment for pooping while sleeping

It’s not fun pooping at night while you sleep. Not being able to control your bowels while sleeping can make you feel helpless and embarrassed.

The good news is that there is a treatment — several of them — that can help keep you from pooping while you sleep. The treatment you choose depends upon the reason for this issue and any advice from your doctor.

Here are a few things you can do to avoid pooping during sleep:

• Take an anti-diarrheal medicine, such as Pepto-Bismol
• Avoid foods and beverages known to have a laxative effect, e.g., prune juice, coffee
• Eat only bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast until your symptoms ease. This is called the “BRAT” diet, and it’s commonly prescribed for diarrhea because these foods are easy to digest.
• Make dietary adjustments that eliminate “problem” foods. For instance, if you know you’re lactose intolerant, avoid dairy foods.
• Avoid any triggers that may cause a flare-up of your IBD or IBS symptoms.
• Try to manage your blood glucose levels if you have diabetes

When to see a doctor

Nocturnal diarrhea typically resolves within a couple of days without medical treatment. But if diarrhea continues for more than 2 days, call your doctor. As previously mentioned, diarrhea can be a symptom of a more serious condition, and it can also cause dehydration.

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