Why am I having dark, sticky, unformed and foul smelling bowels? I am a 60-year-old female with some gastrointestinal problems. My lingering problem started a decade ago with constipation followed by sudden urgency to have bowel movements resulting in embarrassing runny bowel incontinence multiple times a day. Consulted doctor and got treated but after sometime I again started getting flatulence with bad smell every evening inspite of satisfactorily answering nature?s call in the morning. After sometime my motions became sluggish with very weak peristalsis. The stools dark, sticky and unformed. I literally had to push them out with extra efforts. For the past few months, I notice besides all this, morning rituals have also become difficult. Peristalsis has further weakened and I am unable to defecate completely inspite of all efforts, with the result it has become all day process (multiple times) and still by evening, I start getting flatulence with bad smell. Now for the past few days I am noticing whatever I am able to excrete has become thin and scanty besides being dark, sticky, unformed and foul smelling. Please help me understand what my problem is and where I am heading and what is the reason. What is the diagnosis? Is it polyps? Anything serious? Am I heading towards cancer? So many questions but I am not willing to go to hospital at present owing to my weak immunity and asthma problem. Thanks in advance.