I am a 25 year old female and just today I noticed that my stool was narrower than usual. I know that this can be a symptom of cancer, but when my grandmother had her colonoscopy the doctor told my mother that stool had to be pencil thin to indicate a problem. So my question is, how narrow is too narrow? Is one bowel movement that is somewhat narrower then usual cause for alarm, or am I just being a hypochondriac?
Hopefully you are just overreacting. I do not know if there is a certain diameter that is considred too narrow. If the problem persists you should probably call a doctor. Most likely there is nothing to worry about but it is better to be safe with these types of things.
A stool is suppose to be about the diameter of a quarter.
A water soluble fiber supplement is a stool bulking agent as well as a BM regulator and it's safe to take daily.
I have used psyllium for 23 years-- I now use the Equate brand from Wal Mart-- the orange flavored sugar free powder form that you mix with water.
Thin stools also indicate that you are intaking too much insoluble fiber. It moves through your intestines faster.
I wish you well---Harry
I go to the bathroom so much better when I drink this stuff, but how do you get over the gas? I have so much fatulence after comsuming ANY kind of extra fiber that nobody can stand to be around me.
I go to the bathroom so much better when I drink this stuff, but how do you get over the gas?.
I have found that gas will go away with continued use of a water soluble fiber like psyllium but sometimes it take several weeks.
Natural fibers like psyllium does breakdown with digestion and it ferments --producing alot gas. You have to start off slow if you want to use this type fiber.
Citrucel is not a natrual fiber and produce no gas.
You may want to try using it.
What do you think of Metamucill? Does it work as well as the other stuff? If you take it in smaller doses does that help with the gas it causes? My Dr. recommended it but it give me such gas I quit using it! I too have prblems going! Some times I'm constipated and sometimes I have diahrea. Toots
Toots,
If you start off slow there will be less gas as your system gets use toit and as you continue the gas will go away.
I have taken it twice daily for 23 years and it will regulate you w/o staining. But, it does breakdown with digestion and ferments producing the gas -- just continue.
I now use the Equate brand from Wal Mart-- it works well.
How narrow is too narrow? 
