Poop Apnea is a bowel movement disorder characterized by abnormal pauses in breathing during a bowel movement which can last up to 30 seconds. They are presumably due to the act of pushing to assist the bowels. Sometimes the apnea, or pause in breathing, is accompanied by a grunting sound, but the most common indication of poop apnea is the loud exhale and subsequent (also loud) inhaling during or after the bowel movement.
This person in the stall next to me needs to have their poop apnea checked out. I find myself listening for them to inhale again and wondering is this the day they stop breathing and I have to call 911.
by lemmiewinks April 25, 2012