Thanks for that and to everyone else!
I just realized that when the toilet was almost overflowing (several times and for extended periods), contaminated water and nasty stuff could easily have entered the holes under the rim since the water level was well above them.
That's what I was gettin' at.
Why not?
If I forced it back through the inlet/fill hole at the bottom of the bowl and there is a physical path between there and the fill holes under the rim, I don't see how it could be ruled out. I was definitely applying enough pressure to push water upward a few inches.
Sure, you push the water *level* up a few inches. However, the maximum pressure you could apply to the fill holes (assuming they are just beneath the rim, right?) is the height difference between the holes and the spill over of the bowl. This is just a few inches of water.
And it is not enough pressure to push water back up the holes and into the tank.
Id put a few drops of dawn dish washing liquid in the tank as it refills every time I flush it
Toilet-Repairs | How to Fix a Toilet
shows cutaway view of toilet, to give you an idea of the area that could be contaminated. Like someone else already said, block off most of the holes, get more water flowing in the space, and let it run. Hope you have success.
Maybe just add some more roughage to your diet and avoid the clogging material?
I've plunged maybe 2x in my life.
Close the lid, turn on the fan, and walk away. Let things sit and dissolve (paper as well as other stuff). Often if you come back some time later the water will be gone as it absorbs/siphons out. You can flush again to see if it drains and if the bowl fills again instead, walk away again for a while longer. Soon it will all flush out. Plunging can do damage and cause other messes, as you are finding out. consider a courtesy flush mid "activity", especially if it seems a lot of paper will be required....
fun topic! LOL
-rvb