It began a couple of weeks ago while traveling in Africa. My stools became very loose though i only had the urge to go once a day and had no severe cramping ; felt perfectly fine otherwise. I returned home a couple of days after it started and it continued for another 4 days and then seemed to return to normal for a day or so; then I went for a couple days without going (which is very unusual for me) and when I did have the urge I was very constipated and ended up having to take a stool softner/laxative combo. After alot of straining I was finally able to have a bowel movement on Monday night and a little more Tuesday morning. I thought I would be good to go and back to normal but now I find I am not able pass anything even though I have the urge. I have not changed my diet and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other fiber foods. I have never had a problem like this before. Today I have upped my water intake and added lemon to it plus ate some prunes. I am concerned that if the prunes and other foods I have eaten to help kick in, the stools will be so hard I may have to strain as hard as I did before to pass anything causing my hemmoroids to flare up. I don t know if I should take another round of stool softner/laxative before I go to bed to make sure I am able to go tomorrow or wait to see if the prunes and lemon water I ate today work.