Strange symptoms - Bowel Disorders Message Board

gardener45 · 03-15-2005, 04:58 AM

Hi, I'm new to this board, and hope to find if anyone else out there has ever experienced, or heard of, the symptoms I'm having now:

-- small diameter of stool. The size may vary from time to time, but is always narrower than what I would consider "normal". I don't really have any problems having a bowel movement, no constipation, no diarrhea, but the size is always the same. The closest thing I can compare it to is toothpaste squeezed from a tube. The color is light - mostly with an orange or yellowish tinge. It's not dry or too loose, but seems to always be rather soft/sticky and always the same consistancy. I've had smaller sized stools before (when dieting), and I am eating less now, but don't recall this type before, and it's persisted for about a month. I also have alot of gas, no matter what I eat. When doing research online about this type of symptom all I find are links to colon cancer, and some to IBS.

This week I did a fecal occult blood home test, which turned out negative. I plan to continue testing and make a doctor's appointment in the next month. I've also started taking a natural fiber suppliment, psyllium, and an acidophilus formula suppliment this week.

History (could any of this relate?):

*I had a physical about 2 years ago, because I was feeling tired and run down. The doctor found that I was "slightly" anemic, but everything else was fine. I wasn't too concerned, since I was (and still am) premenopausal.

*I had a bout with hemorrhoids last fall, usual symtoms/w. minor bleeding, something I haven't had since my teens. Symptoms subsided after about a week.

*I suffered what I think was minor food poisoning over the christmas holidays, from something I ate (cheddar cheese with bacon bits), and experienced a night of vomiting from it, and extreme weakness for 2 days after. I don't recall having much diarrhea from this episode. But it does seem that the stool changes I'm having now have followed since this experience. Could it be an intestinal infection of some sort?

Any sharing of suggestions, ideas, or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, gardener45

gardener45 · 03-15-2005, 04:24 PM

Well, I guess my symptoms are not that common and no one has had anything similar, or maybe they are common and I'm just being silly to be concerned about them.

It's difficult to talk about these things, kinda sorry I posted.

invisible1234 · 03-15-2005, 05:32 PM

I am no expert in bowel disorders and can only relate from my own experience. I've had narrow bowel movements for about 5 months now and just got a colonoscopy which showed inflammation in the rectum. I haven't had a follow up visit yet with the gastroenterologist, so don't know much more than that.

How many bowels movements do you have a day? I have about 8 narrow ones. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 3 years ago by colonoscopy and biopsies and I believe I was in remission for about a year, stopped taking my medication and now it's coming back. Over 3 years ago it started with narrow stools which lasted a few months followed by no form at all for over a year. That's when I told my doctor about my stools and I had my first colonoscopy. I have never had blood in my stool, however.

Have you discussed this with your doctor? It's so important that you do and don't put it off.

Njoylife · 03-15-2005, 07:57 PM

Hello,
I have IBS and my symptoms started out like yours. My doctor did send my for a colonoscopy first before deciding I had IBS. Acidophyllis is good but doesn't help my IBS. I would definitely see the Dr. for tests. Best of Health