Ok It's Really TMI, Pencil Thin Poop??

You girls are great!!! Thanks for responding so quickly to my hail for help.

OrahDeb, doing some research I found that pencil thin poop is a hallmark sign of colorectal cancer. I did have a colonoscopy in October and was found to be perfectly normal, not even a polyp. And the reason I can truly attest to it is because I was awake the entire time, no Versed. Since I was having so much rectal pain and the GI doc had gotten the full report of my history from Dr Wonderful (and found out I am a nurse) he asked if I wanted to be awake so that I could see first hand and I jumped at the chance. It was "whistle clean"!
I did find another site that said adhesions at the transverse colon can cause pencil thin or ribbon like stool. So I'm at a total loss as to what is causing this.


LuvAggs85,
I agree with Carol, every time I see your Avatar I have to chuckle and I have to remind myself that it's not really you. I have not tried splinting and don't feel anything any more unusual in the vagina than is normal for me. I always have the urge to poop and never feel completely empty after a BM. The anus itself is always very sore and I have about 1-2 hours of surrounding muscle discomfort after having a BM. Sort of feels like my bum ran a marathon! For awhile after the last surgery I felt like the rectocele was no longer protruding into the vagina but popping out my backside, like one of those balloons that clowns make shapes out of. I wonder if the rectocele or enterocele has recurred but is higher up and I can't feel it bulging into the vagina.

I don't think I'll get any answers until my appointment May 30th but it sure feels good to be able to talk with you all about it. I swear I'm going to drive myself right to the looney bin. Whenever I have a really bad painful day the Drs and nurses I work with always say they wish there was something they could do and my answer is always the same. A bum transplant and make it young , healthy and skinnier please?

Michelle

Michelle For keeping a good sense of humor.
LOL, love your attitde! Even with all the obvious pain, you still retain a sense of humor.
I'll keep you in my prayers and fingers crossed that it's just from the swelling from surgery and not the dreaded cancer possibility. in there till the appointment on Monday. Glad you don't have to wait too long.

On my recovery thread I actually had someone ask if that was me. LOL I still like it too because it is so dang funny looking. I'm not nearly so daring to go around with pink hair, although my DD is (but she likes bright teal and purple). She's had to get responsible now that she's graduating and looking for a job. I sometimes miss her crazy hair because it reminds me of how far she's come from the rejected, shy middle-schooler she was. I think that's one reason I like Edna so much because of what "she" represents.

LJC

No answers for you, Michelle, but wanted to stop in with some and .

Michelle,
I have had thin soft stools since surgery. I asked colorectal surgeon about not having bulk to my BM's even before surgery. I asked him if I would be more predisposed to cancer(colon) since my stools were thin. He said it was totally unrelated. I have been diagnosed with a slow colon. If I take the stool softeners and the occassional Miralax things are not slow but then they are thin and soft. I find I need to have 1-2 BM's a day in order not to feel the pressure. Also I let the stools become more formed this past weekend and the retrocele repair screamed OUCH. I even had a little burning and a trace of blood on the TP. I probably have a hemorroid. So I purposely stay soft since surgery and plan on that for life as long as the docs don't have a problem with it.
Hopefully your doc will call and reassure you, that this isn't a problem since you have had more than your fair share.
keep us posted!

Hi Michelle,
I wouldn't worry about CA if you just had a colonscopy. Usually by the time a polyp turns into Ca it is nasty looking. Are you taking a stool softner? Adding fiber to your diet will bulk up your stool. But it sounds it could be hemorrhoids. If you don't see any on the outside they could be internal. Hopefully you will get your answers with your appointment. I salute you girl for having a colonscopy without sedation. I am a GI Nurse and assist with these procedures. When it came time for mine (Turned 50) they could't give me the diprivan fast enough. Try not to worry I Think us nurses are the worst. I had myself convince I had pancreatic ca a couple of weeks ago after my gallbladder surgery. I was giving them order for other test when I went in for my gastroscope. The Ct came out negetive for ca but I have hematoma at the gallbladder fossa or the beginning of an abcess. Like the tuttie problems were not enough. I keep telling the Lord "I have my compassion back for my patients". Please no more test. Hang in there. Thank you so much for your replys. My prayers are with you.

Michelle,
I hope you got a call from your doctor today. I have had flat 'poop' before - but I do have IBS, so who knows if it was that or swelling. I hope it's a 'passing' problem. lol. Hugs.

"Bowlinggrl, the flat poop has been going on since the mesh repair so I'm concerned but not so worried about that. It's the fact that the stool has become pencil thin every day for the last 2 weeks that has me worried. It used to be normal sized soft stool.
Dr Wonderful did call me today. As I suspected he did not get the message from my 2 previous calls. He again told me that he always returns my calls when he gets a message to call and told me I should call him at home when I don't hear from him. I wouldn't bother him at home unless it was an emergency and since I have not had any worsening pain I didn't think this was emergent.
He said we both know there's definitely something wrong in there. He doesn't think it's adhesions, he thinks it's in the lower rectum. Since I'm still having BM's albeit small, it's not an obstruction. He said if I were having abdominal pain or worsening rectal pain he'd have me in the office ASAP for an exam and order a Barium enema. Since right now I'm stable he wants to just watch and wait until my appointment May 30th with the Uro/Gyn, Colorectal specialists who will be performing their own specialized testing. (I'm assuming a defecogram. Yuck!) I'm to call immediately if the pain gets worse or I am unable to have a BM or have nausea and vomiting. He wants me to write down every symptom so I can explain everything to the Drs. (He should know I would go prepared anyway. I always go into his office with my little paper in hand)
So although I don't know anything more than I knew before talking to him I do feel better about this. And I know if it becomes suddenly worse he'll be there for me in a heartbeat.
Michelle"

He really does sound wonderful!!!

I have IBS and Diverticulosis and this can made pencil thin stools at times. More fiber.....
NOTHING with seeds !!!!!!!

Michelle,
The 30th will be here before you know it......... I know that doesn't help but at least it's in the near future. I hope those doctors can get all your tests run without too many trips to their office. Hugs - I've been thinking about you.