2 things, plugging toilet and sitting in bathroom for way too long.

Might have her checked for a UTI if you haven’t already. If it burns when she goes, she may start and stop, which makes it take longer to finish. And using excess t-paper may be her pressing against herself to stop the pain or just because she thinks she’s done when she’s not. It’s especially easy for women to get UTIs.

Reduce size of toilet paper rolls to 16 sheets, or have no rolls, just some toilet paper available but not enough to clog.

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

@bclane Thanks, I've asked her before if having a discomfort urinating, she says not.

@shmerdloff Very sensible suggestion. Maybe a small tray with a few sheets, but not enough to clog the toilet if she decides they all need to....umm......go. 😀

@geppetto
She may not understand the question or be able to recognize what’s she’s feeling. I was a nurse many years ago on a geropsych unit and many of the patients would often have UTIs without being aware of discomfort. The staff usually figured it out based on behavior changes and then tests confirmed it. That may not be your wife’s problem, but it wouldn’t hurt to have her doc rule it out.

BTW, as far as stopped up toilets, I have had a problem with my husband stopping ours up every two or three weeks. He won’t drink enough water, etc., so it’s due to too solid stool. Plunging is hard work as far as I’m concerned, so I looked at a couple of YouTube videos done by plumbers. Advice was that as long as the water level is not to the rim, run a bucket of water (hot water works best and at least a gallon to a gallon and a half) and pour it quickly into the bowl. The momentum usually pushes everything through, although it may take a second try. It also helps to add a bunch of liquid dish soap, which has the side benefit of cleaning the toilet. Can’t beat that!

Anyway, I’ve been doing that for a while now, and it works great.

@shmerdloff I don’t really like your suggestion of making smaller toilet paper rolls. That puts a lots of work on geppetto and his wife may not like it at all and cause a different sort of problem. I think the best solution is a visit to the doctor to see what may be wrong. Another nurses’ opinion!

My guess is she's constipated. I would try sweeting liquids so she'll drink more, using Scott one ply toilet paper and using laxatives if she doesn't go daily. A bidet seat might help too.

@bclane this is an interesting share. Toilet clogged, run a bucket of hote water a gallon or so (as long as it's not up to rim), FLUSH, and it will push everything through? ALong with a potential second try. ANd a bunch of liquid soap, even better to clean the stopped up toilet. Our work is never done!

I'm going to try this. Best Karla