However in some cases, narrow stools — especially if pencil thin — may be a sign of narrowing or obstruction of the colon due to colon cancer. It doesn't really have any pain with it. Reducing the size, weight, and density of stools to the norm, is the most important and effective step toward the goal of preventing colorectal cancer. Posts : 1629. “The reason that a stool changes from wide and then thin can be caused by what a person drank, ate or what environment they have moved to,” says Sander R. Binderow, MD, FACS, FASCRS, with Northside Hospital in Georgia. Stool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile — a yellow-green fluid that digests fats — in your stool. Posted 4/1/2006 3:18 AM (GMT -7) Hiya, Does anyone ever go the loo and start off with a normal stool and then it turns loose and quite sloppy???? Changes in color, consistency and frequency of bowel movements are often considered as symptoms of various diseases. Connect by text or video with a U.S. board-certified doctor now — wait time is less than 1 minute! Stringy poop may also be referred to as stools that are pencil-thin, ribbon-like, thin, or narrow. Scary Symptoms does not make any representation regarding the accuracy of any information contained in those advertisements or sites, and does not accept any responsibility or liability for the content of those advertisements and sites and the offerings made by the third parties. Spotting followed by period. The frequency and consistency of bowel movements can be an important indicator of health. Providing easy-to-understand information about your medical concerns. The color of stools varies, but typically falls within the spectrum of brown color, depending on the foods you eat. Most of the time we think of watery stools when we think of diarrhea. You may notice occasionally that some of your stool may stick to the side of the bowl after you flush. Sticky poop can be a symptom of a temporary or chronic digestive disorder or the result of a diet that contains too much fat. If a person has a tumor, the stool can become thinner from obstruction, but this is NOT common. The degree to how thin stools may be varies by condition and also depends on the severity of the underlying cause. Narrow stool, sometimes called pencil-thin, may occur occasionally and is of no concern. A hernia is where a portion of the abdominal wall is weakened and may protrude outwards. However, your 'normal' pattern may be different from these … Various diagnostic investigations may also be required, like a colonoscopy, before the exact cause can be identified. I just discovered 3 weeks ago i am gluten intolerant after being extremely constipated, for weeks at a time. The age and health status of your cat can help your veterinarian to narrow … Answers from hundreds of doctors about benign to serious symptoms. Talk to a doctor now. Small or narrow stool is something which is not actually a solid rather a thin or pencil width stool. Common symptoms of colon cancer and IBS are constipation and change in … Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another condition that may cause changes in the size of your stools, so that they're smaller, larger or narrower than usual. Support Forums > Irritable Bowel Syndrome New Topic Reply Previous Thread | Next Thread LondonGirl22. It should be a chocolate-brown colour, and it should be easy for your cat to pass. Going longer than three days without having a bowel movement is too long. Visit the doctor, and … BMs come out the anus, which is of a certain width range when normal, allowing the stool matter to come out. Most textbooks of internal medicine and gastroenterology consider "small caliber stool" as one of the presenting signs of colorectal cancer (CRC). Normal stools require zero effort and zero straining for elimination. Diarrhea and Thin (pencil) stools. Excessive straining when you are on the toilet can result in a stool that is long and thin. However, if a portion of the bowel is trapped within the hernia then the bowel becomes narrowed. WebMD Symptom Checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms diarrhea and thin (pencil) stools including Colon cancer, Food poisoning, and Irritable bowel syndrome. If you notice that your bowel movements contain hard stools, it may be caused by dehydration, not eating enough fiber, lack of exercise, or sign of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Posts : 1629. Here a large stone released from the gallbladder can cause an obstruction within the bowels. Other symptoms that accompany thin stools need to also be taken into account when attempting to diagnose the underlying cause. “Colorectal [colon] cancer wouldn’t cause the thickness of stool to change, but a tumor in the lower anus or rectum could.”. Types 5, 6 and 7. 4. Hard to pass loose stool. There are 35 conditions associated with diarrhea and thin (pencil) stools. If it occurs after strenuous, Brown Menstrual (Period) Blood and Black Vaginal Bleeding, Midday Slump and Afternoon Dips (Fatigue) Causes and Prevention. Normal stool followed by loose. I was diagnosed earlier this year with U.C. If there’s a cancer mass near the anus or rectum, then the bowel movements that are on the way out would have to go through a narrower pathway or channel, as the tumor would be obstructing the pathway. I see plenty of undigested food in there as well I have an occasional cramp, but nothing else No real dietary changes I am a 40 year old male. For example, black bowel movement, watery stool or passing stool more then 3 times a day would be considered abnormal for most people. Very thin stools may sometimes be described as pencil thin stools or worm-like stools. Back to top #2 eric eric. I have also been taking Kaopectate stool softener for 4 days. A number of factors can determine bowel movement caliber (shape, texture, color, etc. Constipation and Thin (pencil) stools. Diarrhea followed by blood. The Bristol Stool Scale is a research tool that describes stools on a scale of 1 to 7 using words and pictures. Therefore narrowing within the rectum or anus will lead to thin stools. Discussing the subject of diarrhea is not for the faint of heart. You have thin, ribbon-like stools; Mucus in Stool. Dr. Mabria Loqman answered 38 years experience Bariatrics See your doctor: try and identify precipitating factors such as stress. In certain types of colon cancer , the bowel gets narrow, and so do your bowel movements. 3-I normally go every two days. Of course, once you have damage to the anal canal, achieving absolute “normality” may be hard. Normal stool followed by diarrhea. So when things look stringy, it can be scary. Normal stools pass through the anal canal without any perception of pressure. 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