How do you cope with hard feces?

You might want to try taking a magnesium supplement. Do all the things that Susie suggested and try adding magnesium. I noticed a difference when I started taking it and when I have not kept up with it, I noticed my system doesn't work as well and my poop is not as soft.

When it happened to me as a kid, mom would tell me to drink more (but I did not want to go pee too often), would feed me paraffin oil, and give me glycerin suppositories.

When it happened to me as a kid, mom would tell me to drink more (but I did not want to go pee too often),

In America kids (including myself) often didn't drink enough because they don't want to use the school restrooms. Messy and, at least in the past, bullies would sometimes use the opportunity to pick on kids. Not to mention that you had to ask and teachers had "policies" on bathroom... in addition the plumbing was old and the drinking fountains had an "off" taste, which also doesn't encourage their use. Hopefully today things are better.

Generally a soapy enema does the trick

As a youngster my mother would sometimes employ the small glycerine syringe which she'd fill with parrafin oil the night before . . then come morning and after expelling the residual parrafin & any waste product that might have been loosened a soapy Enema would follow

Even though I take Colace and magnesium - I still have to use my sure-shot shower enema twice a day; one in the morning, and once before I go to bed. Having the shot shot right next to the toilet makes it easy to do.

Never I shall try to expell hard feces. Instead of this I will swallow ½ oz (= 15 ml) castor oil and when the effects will begin to occur I shall hold back so long as possible.

I use a warm mineral oil enema and hold as long as possible. Pro tip: avoid passing gas unless you are sitting on the toilet. I ruined a cute pair of bikini undies.

I will sometimes add a half ounce or one ounce of liquid glycerin to an empty Fleet enema bottle and fill it with mineral oil. I inject it in a knee chest position and then lie down to wait for it to work. The glycerin provokes a strong urge to go while the oil lubricates inside. Always follow with a rinse enema or two.

They are nearly impossible to find in the US, but if you go on eBay you can often find some small enemas that are popular (especially with women) in many Asian countries, and have them shipped to the USA.. They are mostly glycerin, but they work amazingly fast, when you have hard bowel movement backed up in your rectum. These are from Taiwan, but are available right now in the USA. They usually come in 20ml, 30ml, 40ml sizes. They sometimes have some interesting names like Speedy Enema, or Atomic Enema. https://www.ebay.com/itm/293845383492?epid=6042627367&hash=item446a8cb944:g:Vu8AAOSwmktfuDY6 or something like this https://www.ebay.com/itm/224941280201?hash=item345f8b8bc9:g:bvQAAOSwwERiWxcd

If you are very full of hard poo, about the last thing you want to do is take something that forces you to expel it immediately because at best that can be painful and at worst it can tear you passage which can be very problematic.

Here's what I do. Cover the bed with a waterproof sheet and bath towel. Either of the next two methods work well. Choose which you prefer.

With an bulb syringe (4 o 8 Oz): Get a bowl of warm water and take one bulb full every 15 to 30 minutes over several hours. Do not expel between bulb fulls. Results will take a couple of hours, but the retained water will soften the poo and eventually it'll all come out.

The other option is a bag, a flow control clamp that allows good flow control down to a slow drip, and a F 32 balloon catheter. Inset the catheter and inflate, then start a dip flow so the bag takes 2 to 4 hours to empty into you. Do not expect prompt results.

The aim is to take the enema very slowly to soften the poo before an urge occurs and ease and lubricate the passage when the urge happens. Do not add soap, glycerin, or any other urge enhancer to the enema solution. Salt or baking soda are OK.

That happens to me if I don't drink enough water. Are you properly hydrating through the day?

@Nixie

For me, just drinking more water doesn't really do much to soften my poo. But, adding a dose or two a day of Miralax a day sure does soften things up well. The stuff is completely tasteless and can be dissolved in pretty much any drink… water, juice, tea, coffee, lemonade, etc. … and be completely undetectable. Even one dose a day has a marked effect on me.