OK, lets try this again. Would not post first time. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced bowel movements that are not completely tubular? From what I have seen on this and other information it seems to be the description of normal shaped stools. I guess I am being a little more (or maybe too) observant. Had a friend recently diagnosed with colon cancer. I could not really say what my "normal" shape would be, but it does not strike me a tubular or round. It strikes me as more rounded at the bottom and gets thinner as it moves higher. Not exactly like this, but for illustrative purpose, maybe like a teardrop or triangular but with a rounded bottom.

I guess I never paid much attention to that since my main concern in this area has been more my reaction to dairy products and being lactose intolerant. Taking lactaid or dairy ease usually helps in those cases. Pizza can be a real danger. Sometimes I feel the urge of that eating and almost instant diarrhea from non-dairy stuff, but not often.

Anyway, I can't ever remember experiencing any other symptoms that would be listed as colon cancer symptoms, but I guess the thinning stool issue just made me wonder since it appears that what I have does not get described as normal in most cases I have read. The shape seems consistent regardless of whether the stool is larger and longer or very small and short.

Any thoughts wold be appreciated. I have also read in some posts about that issue of various inconsistant sizes of stool within one days bowel movements. Is that normal also?

Any thoughts/methods of dealing with the lactose intolerant symptoms others have discovered or used would also be appreciated. Can other things cause similar symptoms that might just be brought on by dairy? Always wondered about that irritable bowel syndrome.

Thanks!