Overview
The term “narrow stool” describes feces smaller in diameter than usual and identifies several health problems. The cause of narrow stools may be constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colon cancer, or other gastrointestinal conditions. In addition, your healthcare provider can help identify the problem and provide effective remedies. See a doctor right away if your stools are thin.
What is Narrow Stool?
The narrow stool is pencil-thin, ribbon poop, or narrow-shaped stringy poop. In some cases, it’s both thin and flat stool. It could be rigid or fluid. Its estimated diameter is somewhere between one to two inches.
You can experience narrow stool in combination with additional gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and cramping in the stomach.
To know what your springy narrow poop is trying to indicate, let’s look at the causes in detail.
What are the symptoms of narrow stools?
Narrow stools, or pencil-thin stools, can signify various underlying conditions. Here are the detailed explanations of each possible symptom associated with narrow stools:
Consistently Thin Stools
- Stools that are consistently narrow and resemble a pencil or ribbon in shape indicate a change in the standard form of bowel movements.
- The shape of the feces may have changed, indicating a narrowing of the intestinal tube. There could be several reasons for this, such as changes in bowel motility or physical obstructions.
Change in Bowel Habits
- A noticeable change in the frequency, consistency, or ease of passing stools.
- Changes in bowel habits, such as alternating between constipation and diarrhea, can accompany narrow stools and might point to conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Abdominal Pain or Discomfort
- Pain or cramping in the abdomen that may vary in intensity and location.
- Abdominal pain associated with narrow stools can be due to intestinal obstructions, inflammation, or muscle spasms in the gut, which are common in conditions like diverticulitis or IBS.
Visible Blood in Stool
- Blood might appear as dark, tarry stools or bright crimson streaks in or on the stool.
- Blood in the stool is a concerning symptom that may indicate bleeding in the digestive tract. Causes can range from hemorrhoids to more serious conditions like colorectal cancer or severe inflammatory diseases.
Bloating and Gas
- A sensation of fullness or swelling in the abdomen, often accompanied by excessive gas passage.
- Bloating, gas, and narrow stools can occur due to disrupted digestion or obstructions in the intestines, which can be symptoms of IBS, partial intestinal blockages, or diverticulitis.
Sensation of Incomplete Evacuation
- The feeling that the bowel movement is incomplete or that more stool is left to pass.
- This sensation is often reported in conditions like IBS or rectal strictures, where muscle contractions or structural changes in the bowel interfere with complete evacuation.
Unexplained Weight Loss
- Losing weight without trying or without a change in diet or exercise routines.
- Unexplained weight loss, combined with narrow stools, could signal underlying severe conditions like colorectal cancer, which can affect appetite and nutrient absorption.
Fatigue
- Persistent tiredness or lack of energy that doesn’t improve with rest.
- Chronic conditions affecting the digestive system, such as cancer or severe inflammatory diseases, can lead to fatigue due to nutrient deficiencies, anemia, or systemic inflammation.
Nausea and Vomiting
- Feeling sick to the stomach or experiencing vomiting episodes.
- These symptoms, alongside narrow stools, may indicate a partial intestinal blockage or severe gastrointestinal disease that disrupts normal digestion and bowel function.
Mucus in Stool
- The presence of a jelly-like substance in the stool.
- Mucus in the stool can indicate inflammation or infection in the intestines, often seen in conditions like IBS, IBD, or diseases.
Why am I having skinny poop?
Thin or narrow stools can occur for various reasons, sometimes without an identifiable cause. Frequent occurrences of skinny stools may indicate conditions ranging from constipation to more severe issues like cancer.
Intestinal Infection
Intestinal infection is an independent cause of where the body may experience altered bowel movements and thin stools. Infection can be mainly in the colon, such as gastroenteritis. Narrow stools may result from a constricted stoma channel caused by inflammation of the intestines.
Gastrointestinal parasite infections
Parasites can be silent enemies that cause disturbances. Gastrointestinal Parasites, also known as roundworms such as little worms, might cause thin and narrow stool or diarrhea. They can survive in your gut after living in the soil and getting into your diet.
Constipation
Thin stools can be a sign of constipation. When stool moves slowly through the intestines, the intestines absorb more water, making the stool harder and more challenging to pass. Significant constipation can result in only small amounts of thin stool being passed.
Signs of Constipation Include
- Fewer than three bowel movements per week
- Hard or lumpy stools
- Difficulty or pain when passing stools
- A feeling of incomplete evacuation
Hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum or anus that can narrow the passage for stool, causing it to be thin. They can also cause rectal bleeding, visible in or on the stool.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS can alter the size and shape of stools, often resulting in narrower stools, especially in cases of constipation-predominant IBS. IBS flare-ups, usually triggered by stress, can cause narrow stools.
Additional Symptoms of IBS
- Constipation
- Gas and bloating
- Abdominal pain related to bowel movements
- Mucus in the stool
- Relief of stomach pain after a bowel movement
- A strong urge to defecate
Colorectal Cancer
A cancerous mass in the colon or near the anus can cause stool to be thin as it passes the obstruction.
Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
- Abdominal pain
- Blood in the stool
- constipation, diarrhea, or the impression that the gut doesn’t empty entirely
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fatigue
Anal Cancer
Anal cancer shares symptoms with colorectal cancer, including narrow stools. It originates in the cells around or inside the anus.
Additional Symptoms of Anal Cancer
- Bleeding and pain from or around the anus
- Anal itching
- Changes in bowel habits
- Straining during bowel movements
- Unusual discharge from the anus
- A bulge or lump near the anal entrance
Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis involves inflammation or infection of pouches (diverticula) in the colon, which can distort the colon and result in narrow stools.
Symptoms of Diverticulitis
- Blood in the stool might have a dark crimson, brilliant red, or black and tarry appearance.
- Foul-smelling stool
- Episodes of diarrhea or constipation
- Straining during bowel movements
Fecal Impaction
In severe constipation, known as fecal impaction, a lump of dry stool blocks other waste products in the rectum, allowing only narrow stools to pass.
What are the medical conditions associated with thin poop?
Following are the common coexisting or related medical conditions with narrow stools.
Hemorrhoids
These, often known as piles, are most likely veins with swelling similar to varicose veins in the lower rectum and anus. Also, hemorrhoids can form under the skin around the anus (external hemorrhoids) or inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids)
Narrow stools may result from hemorrhoids. Numerous factors might lead to hemorrhoids, including:
- Straining when having bowel movements
- Spend a lot of time on the toilet
- Persistent diarrhea or constipation
- Consuming low-fiber food
- Lifting heavy objects repeatedly
- Being overweight or obese
- Pregnancy
Usually, increased abdominal pressure causes hemorrhoids to form.
Diverticulitis
Diverticula are small, sharp-edged pouches that can develop in the lining of your digestive tract. They are usually present in the lower part of the large intestine (colon). When diverticulosis significantly worsens, the lower colon may become highly fixed, twisted, and restricted. It can lead to constipation, thin poop, and the sporadic start of diarrhea.
Fecal Obstruction
Fecal impaction, similar to constipation, occurs when a bulk of dry stool is stuck or lodged in the rectum and blocks the path of stool, making evacuation difficult. Thin feces pass through the blockage.
Colorectal Cancer
Narrow stools could indicate a cancerous gut tumor around the anus. For those concerned about narrow stools as an indicator of potential colon issues, it’s important to consider early diagnosis from healthcare providers. Consultation with healthcare professionals for a thorough colon cancer screening can provide peace of mind and crucial preventative measures.
Anal Cancer
Skinny stool caused by HPV (human papillomavirus)may result from this rare form of cancer. Feeling bloated and rectal bleeding are common symptoms.
Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
Changes in the stool can result from Crohn’s disease. The feces’ frequency, consistency, and appearance may differ from regular due to the inflammation (swelling and redness) and ulcers carried on by Crohn’s disease in the small or large intestine.
Twisted bowel (Volvulus)
“Volvulus” means when an intestine loop bends around itself and obstructs the gut. In several disorders, Volvulus may transmit diseases like Hirschsprung disease.
Read More: White Specks In Your Poop: Causes, Treatment and Complications
What are the risk factors of stringy poop?
- Age
- A family history of the condition
- Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease
- A diet rich in red or processed meat
- A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for colorectal cancer
- A history of abdominal surgery, particular drugs, and specific medical diseases like Crohn’s Disease are risk factors for intestinal blockage.
How to diagnose pencil poop?
Suppose you frequently see changes in the appearance of the stool, or it may be narrower than usual. In that case, your doctor can refer you to a rectal or colon specialist who can suggest various tests to diagnose the disease. Doctors recommend several methods.
Fecal Occult Test
A fecal occult test (FOBT) is to find hidden blood in stool samples. Additionally, this test checks for colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal conditions that may result in gastrointestinal bleeding. Moreover, the FOBT test takes a tiny feces sample and checks in a lab to identify whether blood is present. The guaiac-based FOBT (gFOBT) and the fecal immunochemical test are the two types of FOBT assays (FIT). To detect the presence of blood in the stool, the gFOBT test uses a chemical called guaiac, which turns blue with the sample.
Stool Sample Test
A doctor can also recommend doing a stool sample examination for infections. Using a stool culture, the doctor can check whether the intestines have bacterial contamination.
Little stool samples are collected by a technician in sterile plastic dishes with nutrients that promote the growth of particular bacteria. Growth will occur only if the targeted bacteria are already in the stool sample.
Blood tests to detect infection
The process of a blood test is simple and familiar. Lab attendants examine particular biomarkers that analyze the blood changed composition. When inflammatory bowel disease is present, a blood test will show an increased white blood cell count, which could indicate inflammation.
Imaging tests
The following tests are essential to get the correct diagnosis
- CT Scan
- Ultrasounds
- X-ray imaging of your abdomen and pelvis
The doctor may occasionally use a CT scan or X-ray to obtain a better image of the colon and rectum. These examinations can reveal further information regarding the internal structure of the organs and other abnormalities.
Endoscopy or colonoscopy
Medical techniques like endoscopy and colonoscopy can help identify the root cause of thin stools. In these procedures, a doctor may insert a long, flexible tube with a camera at one end into the colon and rectum to check their linings.
When a patient experiences thin stools, the doctor may detect a constriction or obstruction in the colon or rectum. In addition, you can use endoscopy or colonoscopy to find the position and size of any blockage.
The doctor may do a biopsy, which comprises collecting a microscopic tissue sample for analysis if an obstruction is found. It can help determine whether a tumor, scar tissue, or inflammation is the cause of the block.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Flexible sigmoidoscopy is another medical diagnostic procedure to find the cause of narrow stools. Like a colonoscopy, this operation focuses on inspecting only the rectum and the bottom part of the colon, called the sigmoid colon.
During a flexible sigmoidoscopy, a doctor inserts a flexible tube with a camera on its end into the rectum and sigmoid colon. Also, they are making it possible for the doctor to identify any irregularities, including inflammation, polyps, or tumors, on the lining of these organs.
How to treat narrow stools?
Prescription Medications
- Prescription Laxatives:
- Examples: Lactulose, linaclotide (Linzess), and lubiprostone (Amitiza).
- Usage: Used for chronic constipation not relieved by OTC medications.
- Anticholinergic Medications:
- Examples: Dicyclomine (Bentyl) and hyoscyamine (Levsin).
- Usage: Used for managing IBS symptoms by reducing intestinal spasms.
- Pain Medications:
- Examples: Low-dose tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil).
- Usage: Used for their pain-relieving properties in IBS.
- Antibiotics:
- Examples: Rifaximin (Xifaxan).
- Usage: Used for bacterial overgrowth in the intestines that can cause IBS symptoms.
- Medications for Hemorrhoids:
- Examples: Prescription-strength hydrocortisone cream suppositories.
- Usage: Reduce inflammation and swelling in hemorrhoids that may cause narrow stools.
- Medications for Colorectal Conditions:
- Examples: Chemotherapy drugs for colorectal cancer and anti-inflammatory medications for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
- Usage: Treat underlying conditions that cause narrow stools.
Over-the-counter (OTC) Medications
- Laxatives:
- Bulk-forming Laxatives:
- Examples: Psyllium (Metamucil) and methylcellulose (Citrucel).
- Usage: Add bulk to stools and make them easier to pass.
- Stimulant Laxatives:
- Examples: Bisacodyl (Dulcolax) and senna (Senokot).
- Usage: Stimulate bowel movements.
- Osmotic Laxatives:
- Examples: Polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX) lactulose.
- Usage: Draw water into the intestines to soften stools.
- Bulk-forming Laxatives:
- Stool Softeners:
- Examples: Docusate sodium (Colace).
- Usage: Help stools retain water, making them softer and easier to pass.
- Fiber Supplements:
- Examples: Psyllium (Metamucil) and methylcellulose (Citrucel).
- Usage: Add bulk to stools, making them easier to pass.
- Suppositories and Enemas:
- Examples: Glycerin suppositories and saline enemas.
- Usage: Stimulate bowel movements in cases of severe constipation or fecal impaction.
Home treatment
- Increasing Water Consumption
Drinking more water is a quick and efficient way to ease the symptoms of a narrow bowel movement. Furthermore, water is necessary to keep a soft bowel movement and avoid constipation, which can result in pencil poop and difficulty in releasing.
- Fiber-rich diet
You can promote regular bowel movements and avoid constipation by increasing your diet with high-fibre meals, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Also, it is essential for narrow stool disease because constipation worsens symptoms.
Read More: Poop Looks Like Coffee Grounds – Causes and Treatments
When to Consult a Doctor
If your bowel motions change or you have prolonged thin stools, consult your doctor; it can signify a more serious medical problem that needs diagnosis and treatment. Call your doctor immediately if your bowel changes are accompanied by severe stomach discomfort or rectal bleeding.
FAQS about Narrow Stools Answered by Your Doctor Online
Several medications can contribute to thin stools by slowing down intestinal movement. Common culprits include opioid pain relievers like morphine and hydrocodone, anticholinergics such as scopolamine and oxybutynin, and overused antidiarrheal medications like loperamide (Imodium), which can cause constipation and thin stools if taken for extended periods.
A normal stool is typically medium to dark brown, indicating a healthy digestive process. It should be smooth, soft, and sausage-like, reflecting adequate fibre and water intake. Normal stool should pass easily without straining and be moderately sized and consistent. It should neither be too hard nor too runny, falling between the extremes of constipation and diarrhea. Regular bowel movements, typically ranging from three times a day to three times a week, are also a sign of normal stool.
A healthy bowel movement is usually brown, smooth, and soft in texture and is formed into a sausage or snake-like shape. It should be easy to pass without straining and not too hard or loose. Frequency can vary, but regularity is critical, ranging from a few times a day to a few times a week for most people.
Indeed, anxiety and stress can lead to thin stools. This is due to the robust link between your stomach and brain, often known as the gut-brain axis. Your body releases stress-related hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can affect digestion and cause diarrhea or loose stools. Thus, experiencing a thin stool may be a legitimate reaction to anxiety.
Yes, when polyps get bigger, they can occasionally cause the stool to get narrower. Unusual tissue growths called polyps can form in the rectum and colon (large intestine). They may partially clog the colon, causing variations in the size and form of the stool, depending on their position and size. Though many are found during standard screening before they produce any discernible changes in bowel habits, not all polyps cause symptoms. You must consult your healthcare physician if you have any concerns regarding your stool or the possibility of polyps.
Various factors, including a diet rich in green vegetables or foods with green colouring, can cause green poop. Rapid transit through the digestive tract can also lead to greenish stool, as bile doesn’t break down completely. Infections causing diarrhea may result in green stool, as can certain medications or supplements. While usually harmless, green stool can sometimes indicate underlying issues like malabsorption or bacterial infections.
Gas and thin stools might have several causes. Dietary practices are essential; a diet heavy in items that produce gas or poor in fibre may cause these symptoms. Changes in stool consistency and increased gas can also be caused by digestive problems such as gastrointestinal infections or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Furthermore, some drugs can interfere with digestion, producing gas and weak stools. But occasionally, these signs could point to more serious underlying illnesses, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or colon cancer.
No, thin, long, skinny poop or stools don’t always mean cancer and are often caused by factors like a low-fibre diet, temporary infections, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). But if the thin narrow stools don’t go away after a week or come with other symptoms like blood in the stool, stomach pain, vomiting, or unexplained weight loss, those could be signs of a more severe illness like anal or colorectal cancer. See a doctor for a diagnosis if you experience any of these symptoms, as early detection and treatment are crucial for successful cancer treatment.
Diverticulitis can cause changes in stool without indicating a specific colour. Watch for thin or pellet-like shapes due to colon narrowing, and be alert for bright red, maroon, or black stools, which can signal bleeding. The condition can also cause diarrhea or constipation, affecting consistency, and you might notice more mucus in your stool. Additionally, changes in frequency or an increased foul odour could be signs of diverticulitis.
Long poop can result from various factors, including a diet high in fibre, which promotes healthy digestion and bulkier stools. It can also be due to good hydration, which helps soften stools and allows them to pass more quickly. However, it could be a good idea to see a doctor to rule out any underlying issues if other symptoms like discomfort, pain or changes in bowel habits accompany the length of your stool.
