Narrowing of Stool

[CGTMHI]

Dear Doctor:

I've noticed that my stools seem narrowed recently.  Stool at the beginning of a BM seems normal in form, but becomes flattened after the first few inches.  Nothing else seems unusual about the stools - no evidence of blood,
no change in regularity.  A little bit of mild cramping at times, but cramps/gas aren't unusual for me.

I'm a 32-year-old male, in decent shape and fairly active, and I just had a complete physical around February of this year, including a prostate exam (digital rectal exam) for completeness sake, since I hadn't had a physical before.  The only things that turned up abnormal were liver-related - my hemoglobin was marginally high, and my SGPT came back high as well.  It was
80 back in March, but has since dropped into the low 50s.  I had an ultrasound of my liver, kidneys, pancreas, etc., with nothing abnormal except a small kidney stone in my right kidney.  I've had a total of five blood tests in the last six months, including check for hepatitis, and they are at a loss for a reason for the elevated SGPT, but have decided to monitor it every six months.

I'm looking for pointers on the narrowed stool issue, and an idea of whether the liver issue could somehow be related - I doubt it, but wanted to get an opinion.  I have no family history of cancer at all - grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents were all quite long-lived (my great grandmother is 91 and still independent and healthy), with only
heart problems in males on my mothers' side.  I know that the narrowed stools can be a symptom of colorectal cancer, but I think that's very unlikely given my age and lack of family history, so I'm looking for other possibilities.

Also, I should mention that I'm currently between doctors because of Kaiser's pullout from New England, and I have to wait until I switch over to my new health plan to see either a new doctor, or my old doctor once they become active with my new insurance plan.

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

Dear Rick,
I can not think of a connection between your elevated liver tests and the thin stool.  You are correct that thin stool can be a sign of narrowing of the colon as occurs with colon cancer.  Insufficient fiber in the diet can also cause thin stool.

You arer also correct that it i sunlikely that you have colon cancer, but nevertheless, you shoul dhave your stool checked for blood.

THis information is presented for educational purposes.  Ask specific questions to your personal physician.

[Cathy Conrad]

My daughter had surgery for a meckels diverticulum with a meckels band a year ago and she is all of a sudden having curly narrow stools, I am wondering if this is something to be concerned about.

[Glbert anderson]

I've had the stool smaller but not flat. I was diagnosed with and annual fissure and have been to the ER, my doctor twice and a specialist twice. The lower GI showed nothing abnormal, my cancer test was .4 and .5 on the last two results. I have blood on the stool and it's always painful to defecate. This has been going on for seven months now. I am a male, 67 yrd. old. All the doctors could tell me was to just let it heal. It's not healing.
I have to take a laxative to relieve myself. But after that the stool turns hard again. I drink lots of juices and water (coffee too) and eat lots of fruits and veggies. Right now I'm trying and all liquid diet for a few days to see if that helps. It's hard to sit or walk and boy, this is getting old. None of the docs recommended any medications, except the ER gave me a strong laxative. My faith in doctors is diminishing rapidly.
Gil Anderson

[Sue Ross]

How do you get an answer on this thing? (My comment was susan nov 22,1999)

[Susan]

I have had yellow stools off and on for about a year.  I also have 2 liver cysts that are scanned each year.  In August I had a CAT Scan and was told the cysts were benign.  I had foot surgery 2 weeks ago (and the pain medication Tylenol etc. that follows) I have had yellow stools for this 2 week recoup. period.  SHould I get further liver tests?

[jeff]

Hi..  Im a 32 year old male with  same thing. Sometimes it will be normal...Then for a week its not normal..I think its IBS...And mabey food allergys..Its not a nice thing to have to check but I guess its a guy thing...Ive been to the Dr. and had stool test and ultra sound ,all is normal except for some crytals in stool which are caused buy allergys and he says IBS so will shall see what we find out here.. Thanks

[kim`]

you need to get the colonoscopy and endoscopy.  i also had that symptom and i have peutz - jeghers syndrome.

[jean]

By trial and error, I've discovered that this problem, for me, comes from eating foods that contain sugars derived from any source other than cane or beet. I have a severe allergy to corn, though, which doesn't sound like your problem at all. Any sugars derived from corn or containing sugars derived from corn cause me to have ribbon stool. If you want to try eliminating these sugars from prepared foods in your diet, check labels for: corn sweetener, corn syrup, glucose, fructose, sucrose. Also, I find that even health food type cereals that are sweetened with fruit concentrates do the same thing.

One of my sons has Crohn's and has to avoid all these sweeteners because they make his symptoms more severe. He is not allergic to corn.

[weez]

I have that problem as well, however, mine has been after I had radiation for cancer.  I am not sure what yours could be from, but maybe you should see a gastrointestinal specialist.