What causes flat stool. How can flat stool be treated at home. When should you see a doctor for flat stool. What are the symptoms of conditions causing flat stool. How is flat stool related to hemorrhoids and other digestive issues.

Understanding Flat Stool: What It Is and Why It Happens

Flat stool, also known as ribbon-like or pencil-thin stool, is a variation in bowel movement shape that can occur occasionally or persistently. While normal stool typically resembles a sausage-like shape with some cracks on the surface, flat stool appears compressed, squarish, or stringy. This change in appearance can be concerning for many individuals, but it’s essential to understand that temporary changes in stool shape are often harmless and may be related to dietary factors.

Are dietary changes the primary cause of flat stool? In many cases, yes. Consuming foods high in fat or low in fiber can lead to changes in stool consistency and shape. However, persistent flat stool may indicate underlying health conditions that require medical attention.

Common Causes of Flat Stool

• Dietary factors (excessive fatty foods, low fiber intake)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Chronic constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Colorectal cancer (in rare cases)
• Fecal impaction
• Colon polyps
• Abdominal hernias

Is flat stool always a sign of a serious condition? Not necessarily. While it can be alarming to notice changes in your stool, temporary alterations in shape or color are often benign. However, if flat stool persists for more than a few days or is accompanied by other symptoms, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Its Impact on Stool Shape

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that can significantly affect stool consistency and shape. IBS is characterized by a group of symptoms that occur without visible signs of damage or disease in the digestive system. Patients with IBS may experience alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea, which can lead to changes in stool shape, including flat or ribbon-like stools.

Key Symptoms of IBS

• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Bloating and gas
• Changes in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea, or both)
• Mucus in the stool
• Urgent need to have a bowel movement

Can IBS cause persistent flat stool? Yes, IBS can lead to ongoing changes in stool shape and consistency due to alterations in gut motility and sensitivity. However, it’s important to note that flat stool alone is not diagnostic of IBS, and other symptoms must be present for a proper diagnosis.

Managing IBS-Related Flat Stool

Treatment for IBS-related flat stool often involves dietary modifications and lifestyle changes. Some effective strategies include:

1. Increasing fiber intake gradually
2. Avoiding gluten if sensitive
3. Following a low FODMAP diet under medical supervision
4. Managing stress through relaxation techniques
5. Regular exercise

Do all IBS patients experience flat stool? No, not all individuals with IBS will have flat stool. The symptoms and stool characteristics can vary greatly among patients, emphasizing the importance of a personalized approach to treatment.

Chronic Constipation: A Common Culprit for Flat Stool

Chronic constipation is another frequent cause of flat or abnormally shaped stool. When bowel movements become infrequent or difficult to pass, the stool can become compacted and emerge in unusual shapes, including flat or ribbon-like formations. Understanding the symptoms and treatment options for chronic constipation is crucial for managing flat stool related to this condition.

Recognizing Chronic Constipation

• Fewer than three bowel movements per week
• Hard, dry, or lumpy stools
• Difficulty or straining during bowel movements
• Feeling of incomplete evacuation
• Abdominal discomfort or bloating

How does chronic constipation lead to flat stool? When stool remains in the colon for extended periods, it can become compacted and lose its typical shape. As it passes through a narrowed or tense rectum, it may emerge flattened or ribbon-like.

Treating Constipation-Related Flat Stool

Addressing chronic constipation often involves a combination of lifestyle changes and medical interventions:

1. Increasing dietary fiber intake
2. Staying well-hydrated
3. Regular physical activity
4. Establishing a consistent bathroom routine
5. Using over-the-counter laxatives or stool softeners as directed by a healthcare provider
6. Considering prescription medications for severe cases

Is it possible to prevent constipation-related flat stool? In many cases, yes. Maintaining a healthy diet rich in fiber, staying hydrated, and engaging in regular physical activity can help prevent chronic constipation and associated stool shape changes.

The Connection Between Hemorrhoids and Flat Stool

Hemorrhoids, while often associated with pain and discomfort, can also contribute to changes in stool shape, including flat or ribbon-like stools. These swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus can partially obstruct the passage of stool, leading to alterations in its appearance. Understanding the relationship between hemorrhoids and flat stool is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.

How Hemorrhoids Affect Stool Shape

• Partial obstruction of the anal canal
• Increased straining during bowel movements
• Changes in stool consistency due to associated bleeding
• Altered sensation in the rectum affecting bowel habits

Can hemorrhoids cause persistent flat stool? While hemorrhoids can contribute to changes in stool shape, persistent flat stool is more likely to be caused by other factors. However, the presence of hemorrhoids may exacerbate existing issues with stool consistency and shape.

Managing Hemorrhoid-Related Stool Changes

Addressing hemorrhoids and associated stool shape changes often involves a multi-faceted approach:

1. Increasing fiber intake to soften stools
2. Using sitz baths for relief and healing
3. Applying over-the-counter hemorrhoid creams
4. Avoiding prolonged sitting on the toilet
5. Considering medical procedures for severe cases

Do all hemorrhoid sufferers experience flat stool? No, not everyone with hemorrhoids will have flat or abnormally shaped stools. The impact on stool shape can vary depending on the severity and location of the hemorrhoids.

Colorectal Cancer: When Flat Stool Becomes a Red Flag

While less common than other causes, persistent flat or pencil-thin stool can be a potential sign of colorectal cancer. This change in stool shape occurs when a tumor in the colon or rectum narrows the passageway for stool, altering its form as it exits the body. It’s crucial to understand that while flat stool alone is not diagnostic of cancer, it should prompt further investigation, especially when accompanied by other symptoms.

Warning Signs of Colorectal Cancer

• Persistent changes in bowel habits, including stool shape
• Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chronic fatigue
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Feeling that the bowel doesn’t empty completely

How often is flat stool a sign of colorectal cancer? While flat stool can be a symptom of colorectal cancer, it’s important to note that most cases of flat stool are caused by benign conditions. However, any persistent change in bowel habits should be evaluated by a healthcare professional, especially in individuals over 50 or those with a family history of colorectal cancer.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

If colorectal cancer is suspected, the diagnostic process may include:

1. Physical examination and medical history review
2. Fecal occult blood test
3. Colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy
4. Imaging studies (CT scan, MRI)
5. Biopsy of suspicious tissue

Treatment options for colorectal cancer depend on the stage and location of the tumor but may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy. Early detection and treatment significantly improve the prognosis for colorectal cancer patients.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes for Managing Flat Stool

While medical attention may be necessary for persistent flat stool, several home remedies and lifestyle modifications can help address this issue, especially when caused by dietary factors or mild gastrointestinal disturbances. Implementing these changes can improve overall digestive health and potentially resolve flat stool concerns.

Effective Home Remedies for Flat Stool

• Increasing fiber intake through diet or supplements
• Staying well-hydrated throughout the day
• Engaging in regular physical activity
• Practicing stress-reduction techniques
• Avoiding foods that may trigger digestive issues

How quickly can lifestyle changes improve flat stool? The timeline for improvement can vary depending on the underlying cause and individual factors. Some people may notice changes within a few days, while others may require several weeks of consistent lifestyle modifications to see results.

Incorporating Fiber for Better Stool Health

Fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy bowel movements and can help address flat stool issues. Here are some tips for increasing fiber intake:

1. Choose whole grain products over refined grains
2. Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet
3. Add beans and legumes to meals
4. Snack on nuts and seeds
5. Consider a fiber supplement if dietary changes are insufficient

Is it possible to consume too much fiber? While fiber is beneficial for digestive health, increasing intake too quickly can lead to bloating, gas, and discomfort. It’s important to increase fiber consumption gradually and drink plenty of water to avoid these side effects.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Flat Stool

While occasional changes in stool shape are often benign, persistent flat stool or those accompanied by other symptoms may warrant medical evaluation. Understanding when to consult a healthcare professional is crucial for early detection and treatment of potential underlying conditions.

Red Flags Requiring Medical Attention

• Flat stool persisting for more than two weeks
• Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding
• Unexplained weight loss
• Severe abdominal pain
• Fever accompanying digestive symptoms
• Changes in stool color (especially black or very pale stools)

How urgently should one seek medical care for flat stool? If flat stool is accompanied by severe pain, significant bleeding, or signs of obstruction (inability to pass gas or stool), immediate medical attention is necessary. For less severe cases, scheduling an appointment with a primary care physician or gastroenterologist within a few days is appropriate.

Diagnostic Approaches for Persistent Flat Stool

When evaluating persistent flat stool, healthcare providers may employ various diagnostic tools:

1. Detailed medical history and physical examination
2. Stool analysis for occult blood or infectious agents
3. Blood tests to check for inflammation or nutritional deficiencies
4. Imaging studies such as CT scans or MRI
5. Endoscopic procedures like colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy

Can flat stool be a sign of a medical emergency? While flat stool alone is rarely a medical emergency, it can be associated with conditions that require prompt attention. Any sudden, severe changes in bowel habits, especially when accompanied by pain or bleeding, should be evaluated immediately.

In conclusion, flat stool can result from various factors ranging from benign dietary changes to more serious medical conditions. While occasional changes in stool shape are often not cause for concern, persistent flat stool or those accompanied by other symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. By understanding the potential causes, implementing appropriate lifestyle changes, and seeking timely medical attention when necessary, individuals can effectively manage flat stool and maintain optimal digestive health.

Causes, home treatment, when to see a doctor

Occasionally, stool may be flat, squarish, or stringy. These changes are often the result of diet. However, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, and other conditions may cause long-term changes in stool shape.

Poop should generally resemble the place from which it comes: the intestines. It is usually slightly rounded, like a sausage, and smooth, with some cracks on the surface.

It can be concerning if stools are suddenly not “normal.” Most of the time, however, a change in appearance is short-lived and nothing to worry about.

Temporary changes to the shape or color of stool are common and not necessarily a sign of illness.

Sometimes, they stem from the person’s diet. For example, foods containing colorings can change the color of poop. An excess of fatty foods can lead to oily or greasy poop, and eating too little fiber can likewise give stool an unusual appearance.

If the changes only last for one or two bowel movements, or even a couple of days, they are likely no cause for concern.

However, if changes in stool shape or color last longer or accompany other symptoms, the cause may be an underlying condition that requires medical attention.

Learn more about different types of poop here.

While changes in the color or appearance of stool often stem from the diet and are temporary, some underlying health issues can cause more lasting changes.

Below, we describe some conditions that may cause flat poop:

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) refers to a group of gastrointestinal symptoms that occur without any visible signs of damage or disease in the digestive system.

Symptoms include:

• stomach pain
• bloating
• gastroesophageal reflux
• gas
• needing the toilet urgently
• whitish mucus in stool

Treatment may include:

• eating more fiber
• avoiding gluten
• switching to the low FODMAP diet

Learn more about the signs of IBS here.

Constipation

Constipation involves having fewer bowel movements than usual or having hard stool that is difficult to pass.

Symptoms include:

• small, hard, pellet- or pebble-like stool
• stomachache
• cramping
• gas
• frequent belching
• bloating
• no bowel movements for several days

Treatment may include:

• avoiding triggering foods
• drinking more fluids
• taking laxatives
• taking stool softeners
• taking fiber supplements

Find home remedies for constipation here.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the passage of loose or watery stools several times a day. It may also involve pain or discomfort.

Symptoms include:

• an urgent need to use the bathroom
• cramping
• a loss of control of bowel movements
• nausea
• pain in the abdomen

Treatment may involve:

• taking over-the-counter diarrhea medication
• treating the underlying cause
• replacing lost fluids and electrolytes

Learn how to stop diarrhea fast here.

Colorectal cancer

Changes in the shape of stool can be one sign of colon or rectal cancer. If a tumor grows in either area, it can change the shape of the bowel and cause stool to be flat or thin and pencil-like.

Symptoms include:

• blood in the stool
• darker stool, indicating bleeding further up the gastrointestinal tract
• feeling the need to have a bowel movement and no relief afterward
• diarrhea, constipation, or other changes in bowel habits that last more than a few days
• weakness and fatigue
• unintended weight loss
• vomiting

Treatment may include:

• surgery to remove the cancerous cells
• radiofrequency ablation, which involves killing these cells with a probe containing tiny electrodes
• cryosurgery, which freezes and destroys the abnormal tissue
• chemotherapy, which involves stopping cancer’s growth with drugs
• radiation therapy, which involves using high energy X-rays, for example, to kill cancerous cells or keep them from growing
• targeted therapy, which involves attacking cancerous cells, without harming regular cells, using drugs or other substances
• immunotherapy, which involves using the immune system to fight the cancer

It is important to remember that the earlier a doctor diagnoses cancer, the better the likelihood of successful treatment.

Learn more about colorectal cancer here.

Other potential causes

Anything that may cause the colon or rectum to narrow may also cause flat poop. These issues include:

• fecal impaction — a partial blockage or impaction of waste in the intestines or rectum
• hemorrhoids — swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus
• trapped abdominal hernias
• colon polyps
• a distended, or stretched, colon
• food poisoning

The best approach depends on the cause of the issue. Some home care techniques involve:

Fiber

If constipation causes flat stool, eating more fiber-rich foods can help.

Foods with high fiber content include whole grains and many fruits and vegetables. Leave the skins on, when possible.

Learn about high fiber foods here.

Water

Drinking lots of water can ease the passage of stool, making it less likely to be flat.

Learn about the symptoms of dehydration here.

Exercise

Some types of physical activity may have a positive impact on gastrointestinal problems.

Activities such as walking, yoga, aerobic exercise, and tai chi may help improve physical and mental health-related symptoms of IBS, according to research from 2019.

Low FODMAP diet

FODMAP stands for “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.” These are short-chain carbohydrates that can be poorly absorbed by the small intestine and can cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Evidence supports the use of a low FODMAP diet in the treatment of IBS.

Learn more about the low FODMAP diet here.

Flat poop is rarely a cause for concern. However, a person should seek medical advice if any of the following symptoms occur:

• blood in stool
• dark stool
• pus or mucus in stool
• high fever
• abdominal pain or cramping
• sudden, prolonged constipation
• pooping more or less often than usual
• drastic changes in the consistency of stool

Overall, if thin or flat stool occurs for more than 3 days, even without any of the above symptoms, a person should consider contacting a doctor.

Here are some questions people ask about flat poop.

Is flat poop normal?

Flat poop is not usually a cause for concern. However, people should speak with a doctor if they have blood in their stool or persistent changes in bowel habits for no clear reason.

What can flat poop mean?

Flat poop can be a sign of constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, an enlarged prostate, or colorectal cancer. Stool can also change in color and consistency according to the diet.

Bowel movements naturally vary from day to day, and these temporary changes are usually nothing to worry about.

However, prolonged changes can indicate an underlying health issue. If flat poop occurs for more than 3 days, seek medical advice. It may be wise to do so earlier if there are other symptoms.

Causes, home treatment, when to see a doctor

Occasionally, stool may be flat, squarish, or stringy. These changes are often the result of diet. However, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, and other conditions may cause long-term changes in stool shape.

Poop should generally resemble the place from which it comes: the intestines. It is usually slightly rounded, like a sausage, and smooth, with some cracks on the surface.

It can be concerning if stools are suddenly not “normal.” Most of the time, however, a change in appearance is short-lived and nothing to worry about.

Temporary changes to the shape or color of stool are common and not necessarily a sign of illness.

Sometimes, they stem from the person’s diet. For example, foods containing colorings can change the color of poop. An excess of fatty foods can lead to oily or greasy poop, and eating too little fiber can likewise give stool an unusual appearance.

If the changes only last for one or two bowel movements, or even a couple of days, they are likely no cause for concern.

However, if changes in stool shape or color last longer or accompany other symptoms, the cause may be an underlying condition that requires medical attention.

Learn more about different types of poop here.

While changes in the color or appearance of stool often stem from the diet and are temporary, some underlying health issues can cause more lasting changes.

Below, we describe some conditions that may cause flat poop:

Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) refers to a group of gastrointestinal symptoms that occur without any visible signs of damage or disease in the digestive system.

Symptoms include:

• stomach pain
• bloating
• gastroesophageal reflux
• gas
• needing the toilet urgently
• whitish mucus in stool

Treatment may include:

• eating more fiber
• avoiding gluten
• switching to the low FODMAP diet

Learn more about the signs of IBS here.

Constipation

Constipation involves having fewer bowel movements than usual or having hard stool that is difficult to pass.

Symptoms include:

• small, hard, pellet- or pebble-like stool
• stomachache
• cramping
• gas
• frequent belching
• bloating
• no bowel movements for several days

Treatment may include:

• avoiding triggering foods
• drinking more fluids
• taking laxatives
• taking stool softeners
• taking fiber supplements

Find home remedies for constipation here.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the passage of loose or watery stools several times a day. It may also involve pain or discomfort.

Symptoms include:

• an urgent need to use the bathroom
• cramping
• a loss of control of bowel movements
• nausea
• pain in the abdomen

Treatment may involve:

• taking over-the-counter diarrhea medication
• treating the underlying cause
• replacing lost fluids and electrolytes

Learn how to stop diarrhea fast here.

Colorectal cancer

Changes in the shape of stool can be one sign of colon or rectal cancer. If a tumor grows in either area, it can change the shape of the bowel and cause stool to be flat or thin and pencil-like.

Symptoms include:

• blood in the stool
• darker stool, indicating bleeding further up the gastrointestinal tract
• feeling the need to have a bowel movement and no relief afterward
• diarrhea, constipation, or other changes in bowel habits that last more than a few days
• weakness and fatigue
• unintended weight loss
• vomiting

Treatment may include:

• surgery to remove the cancerous cells
• radiofrequency ablation, which involves killing these cells with a probe containing tiny electrodes
• cryosurgery, which freezes and destroys the abnormal tissue
• chemotherapy, which involves stopping cancer’s growth with drugs
• radiation therapy, which involves using high energy X-rays, for example, to kill cancerous cells or keep them from growing
• targeted therapy, which involves attacking cancerous cells, without harming regular cells, using drugs or other substances
• immunotherapy, which involves using the immune system to fight the cancer

It is important to remember that the earlier a doctor diagnoses cancer, the better the likelihood of successful treatment.

Learn more about colorectal cancer here.

Other potential causes

Anything that may cause the colon or rectum to narrow may also cause flat poop. These issues include:

• fecal impaction — a partial blockage or impaction of waste in the intestines or rectum
• hemorrhoids — swollen veins in the lower rectum or anus
• trapped abdominal hernias
• colon polyps
• a distended, or stretched, colon
• food poisoning

The best approach depends on the cause of the issue. Some home care techniques involve:

Fiber

If constipation causes flat stool, eating more fiber-rich foods can help.

Foods with high fiber content include whole grains and many fruits and vegetables. Leave the skins on, when possible.

Learn about high fiber foods here.

Water

Drinking lots of water can ease the passage of stool, making it less likely to be flat.

Learn about the symptoms of dehydration here.

Exercise

Some types of physical activity may have a positive impact on gastrointestinal problems.

Activities such as walking, yoga, aerobic exercise, and tai chi may help improve physical and mental health-related symptoms of IBS, according to research from 2019.

Low FODMAP diet

FODMAP stands for “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.” These are short-chain carbohydrates that can be poorly absorbed by the small intestine and can cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Evidence supports the use of a low FODMAP diet in the treatment of IBS.

Learn more about the low FODMAP diet here.

Flat poop is rarely a cause for concern. However, a person should seek medical advice if any of the following symptoms occur:

• blood in stool
• dark stool
• pus or mucus in stool
• high fever
• abdominal pain or cramping
• sudden, prolonged constipation
• pooping more or less often than usual
• drastic changes in the consistency of stool

Overall, if thin or flat stool occurs for more than 3 days, even without any of the above symptoms, a person should consider contacting a doctor.

Here are some questions people ask about flat poop.

Is flat poop normal?

Flat poop is not usually a cause for concern. However, people should speak with a doctor if they have blood in their stool or persistent changes in bowel habits for no clear reason.

What can flat poop mean?

Flat poop can be a sign of constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, an enlarged prostate, or colorectal cancer. Stool can also change in color and consistency according to the diet.

Bowel movements naturally vary from day to day, and these temporary changes are usually nothing to worry about.

However, prolonged changes can indicate an underlying health issue. If flat poop occurs for more than 3 days, seek medical advice. It may be wise to do so earlier if there are other symptoms.

Stool with hemorrhoids can change almost every day

Problems with bowel movements occur in every second patient of a proctologist. Prolonged constipation, bleeding, mucous discharge, changes in consistency and diarrhea become the eternal companions of patients. A chair with hemorrhoids can change almost every day. Patients, not knowing what these symptoms are associated with, begin to assume the presence of serious diseases (up to oncology). That is why it is necessary to figure out what the stool is like with hemorrhoids, and how to normalize it.

Most often, patients who have been diagnosed with internal hemorrhoids complain of difficulty in emptying the intestines. It is with this type of proctological disease that patients notice any, even minor changes in feces. With hemorrhoids with internal localization of cones, in addition to problems with stools, patients are concerned about the following symptoms:

• bleeding;
• pain that gets worse during or after defecation;
• burning in rectum;
• mucous discharge;
• itching of soft tissues in the perianal area.

The manifestations of the disease listed above indicate the development of an inflammatory process in the rectum, an increase in hemorrhoids in size, the appearance of microcracks and ruptures of soft tissues.

Altered stool with internal hemorrhoids increases the symptoms of the disease, but is not the cause of the disease.

Lack of treatment and external provoking factors (malnutrition, alcohol consumption, taking medications without a doctor’s prescription) lead to complications. Increasing bleeding, thrombosis of internal hemorrhoidal cones, pinching, purulent inflammatory processes, accompanied by an increase in body temperature – all this awaits patients who decide not to fight the disease, to let the treatment take its course.

Causes of changes in feces and its varieties

The main cause of changes in the shape of feces in hemorrhoids are internal hemorrhoids. With the progression of the disease, they increase in size, narrow the lumen of the large intestine. By changes in the shape of feces, one can judge the development of certain complications of hemorrhoids. Proctologists distinguish 3 types of feces, namely:

1. Fine cal. This type of stool is observed with spastic constriction of the sphincter. Most likely, in addition to hemorrhoids, the patient began an inflammatory process in the rectum. Thin feces are also characteristic of some diseases of the autonomic and central nervous systems.
2. Hard stools progressing to prolonged constipation. Most common in patients suffering from hemorrhoids. To get rid of it, you just need to revise the diet. This method is effective in 90% of cases.
3. Ribbon-like feces with hemorrhoids indicates the presence of polyps or tumors in the rectum. Acts of defecation may be accompanied by the release of mucus. It has a sharp unpleasant odor, increases the itching of soft tissues in the anorectal zone.

If you notice any changes in your bowel function, just in case, contact your proctologist with your complaints. Especially when detecting sharp-smelling mucous secretions before emptying the intestines, the appearance of fistulas in the perianal region.

What awaits patients after surgery?

Patients who have been prescribed surgical treatment for hemorrhoids are interested in what changes in their health status they will face after the operation. Doctors usually reassure patients, try to present them with either incomplete information or facts in a slightly modified form. For example, many experts are silent about the fact that the shape of feces in an “acute” disease will change after surgery. The advice boils down to meager phrases that you will need to reconsider your eating habits, do not heavily burden the intestines and stomach, and try to switch to fractional nutrition.

Most patients who are “fortunate enough to survive” the surgical treatment of hemorrhoids, there are problems with the stool. The slightest deviation from the therapeutic diet after surgery causes a sharp deterioration in health – severe cutting pains, spasms of the intestinal muscles. Hardened feces begin to injure the irritated mucosa, can contribute to the divergence of the seams, the development of a purulent inflammatory process.

About 10% of patients after surgery try to empty their intestines as little as possible (the psychological desire to prevent the pain syndrome from getting worse). Prolonged constipation only exacerbates the patient’s condition.

To get rid of stool problems with hemorrhoids during the rehabilitation period, you must strictly follow a diet. After surgery, you should reduce the load on the gastrointestinal tract, allow the body to recover. In the first few days after the operation, patients are only allowed to drink water, diluted juices, eat light soups and other liquid foods. The amount of salt and spices in dishes is minimized. If the patient has a tendency to constipation, then he is prescribed microclysters and mild laxatives.

How to normalize bowel function?

In order to comprehensively deal with the proctological problem, it is not enough to use medication alone. You need to completely rethink your eating habits. From the moment of diagnosis, proctologists advise their patients to switch to therapeutic nutrition. It will help not only normalize the stool with hemorrhoids, but also improve digestion, get rid of extra pounds.

Doctors recommend increasing the proportion of plant foods in the diet. Vegetables, fruits and greens will improve intestinal motility, prevent the development of constipation. The same effect on the gastrointestinal tract will have foods rich in fiber, sour-milk drinks. It is better to boil porridges in water without adding salt, sugar and butter. If cereals are used as a side dish for dietary meat or vegetable salads, then spices and spices will help improve the taste.

Do not choose spicy dry mixtures – they can provoke an exacerbation of hemorrhoids, increase pain and burning.

Fermented milk products will relieve the stagnation of feces with hemorrhoids. Patients need to include kefir, fermented baked milk, low-fat milk in the daily diet. Sour-milk drinks are more appropriate to use as snacks. If the patient, in addition to hemorrhoids, has problems with extra pounds, then the same kefir can easily replace one of the main meals. For example, in the evening you can drink a glass of drink, diluted in it with a tablespoon of fiber purchased at a pharmacy or health food store. So, you will prevent constipation and get the required number of calories.

All products are recommended to be boiled or steamed. Fried fatty foods will take a long time to digest in the stomach, causing bloating and a feeling of heaviness. Doctors advise to eat often, but in small portions. Mineral water will help you get rid of overeating – just 1-2 glasses half an hour before a meal will reduce the amount of food consumed by 30-40%. Experiment and see for yourself.

Water helps loosen stool that has settled in the intestines. Proctologists strongly advise to drink at least 2 liters of mineral water daily.

You can also improve the functioning of the digestive tract with the help of exercises. Physical activity should be regular and moderate. Hiking, swimming, running – with the help of simple exercises, metabolic processes in the whole body are normalized, blood circulation improves.

Mild laxatives, oily microenemas and natural rectal suppositories may be used to facilitate bowel movements. They soften the feces with hemorrhoids, soothe the irritated mucous membrane, and prevent injury to the internal hemorrhoids. Before experimenting with drugs, you should consult with your doctor.

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Feces in colon cancer: stool color in adult oncology, mucus, types of feces, photos with explanations

Changes in feces in cancer are different. Oncological diseases, including malignant tumors of the intestine, are dangerous because they do not cause any symptoms for a long time. But even when cancer symptoms appear, they are non-specific. The symptoms of bowel cancer are very similar to those of other diseases. A person may think for a long time that he has an intestinal disorder, because he “ate something wrong”, or some kind of infection, or hemorrhoids, or a violation of the stool due to problems with the liver, pancreas.

It is important to take good care of your health. If you have unusual stool changes and other symptoms that persist for a long time, see your doctor and get tested. In most cases, this is not an oncological disease, but there is always a chance. If the symptoms are still caused by cancer, it is important to diagnose it as soon as possible and start treatment.

What are the symptoms of colon and rectal cancer?

The main manifestations that can occur with bowel cancer:

• Diarrhea or constipation that persists for several days.
• Change in the appearance of feces. It becomes thin, like a pencil, due to the fact that the tumor narrows the intestinal lumen.
• After going to the toilet, there is a feeling of discomfort, a feeling that the bowel has not been completely emptied.
• Bleeding from the rectum.
• Blood in the stool.
• Dark, tarry stools – in medical language, this appearance of feces is called chalky . More often this symptom occurs with lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
• Pain, cramps in the abdomen.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Constant weakness, increased fatigue.

Why should I get tested as soon as possible? If these symptoms are caused by cancer, then they indicate that the tumor has already grown quite strongly or has managed to spread in the body. The more time passes, the more the cancer progresses. This means that the prognosis worsens, the chances that the disease can be dealt with are reduced.

Changes in bowel habits

Colon cancer often manifests itself in the form of changes in the frequency of bowel movements, the number and consistency of stools. Some patients are concerned about constipation, a condition in which the passage of stool through the intestine is impaired. It manifests itself with symptoms such as:

• Absence of stool for more than three days.
• Pain, discomfort, abdominal cramps.
• The volume of feces decreases, it becomes dense.
• An unpleasant feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, a feeling of “fullness”.
• Bloating, enlargement of the abdomen.
• Belching, gas.

Cancer sometimes develops acute intestinal obstruction is a life-threatening condition. It manifests itself in the form of severe cramping pains in the abdomen, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Due to a drop in the level of protein in the blood, edema develops, and due to fluid loss, dehydration. Rotting begins in the intestines, toxic products enter the bloodstream and poison the body. Developing necrosis (necrosis) of the intestinal wall, its contents enter the abdominal cavity and lead to peritonitis. If a patient with acute intestinal obstruction is not provided with timely medical care, he will most likely die within 4-6 hours.

Euroonco offers all types of treatment for intestinal obstruction. Our surgeons perform operations on the intestines, install stents, apply ileostomies and colostomies. Patients who develop emergency conditions receive treatment in intensive care and intensive care units equipped with modern equipment.

Diarrhea is a condition in which frequent stools are noted – 3 or more times within 24 hours, while the feces have a liquid consistency. Sometimes pain and discomfort in the stomach bothers, sometimes not. If diarrhea persists for several days, you should consult a doctor.

Constipation and diarrhea can be caused not only by cancer, but also occur as side effects of chemotherapy, radiation therapy. In order to cope with this symptom, the doctor may give some recommendations about diet and lifestyle, and prescribe medications. Diarrhea caused by chemotherapy usually resolves within 3 weeks after cancer treatment is completed.

Severe diarrhea, even if it is not caused by cancer, is dangerous because it leads to loss of fluid, electrolytes, and intestinal absorption of nutrients. This is fraught with dehydration, exhaustion, electrolyte imbalance.

Changes in the appearance of stools

Changes in the appearance of stools may indicate that there is cancer or other pathological process in the intestines. With constipation, it becomes more dense, with diarrhea – mushy, liquid. If the cancer partially blocks the intestinal lumen, the stool becomes thin, like a pencil (“ribbon stool”). In addition to cancer and benign neoplasms of the intestine, this symptom can be caused by diseases such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, parasites.

Discoloration of stools

With bowel cancer, stools can turn black, look like tar and have an unpleasant odor. Such stool is called melena, and it looks like this because the blood is exposed to digestive juices in the stomach, intestines. Thus, melena can be a manifestation of cancer of the esophagus, stomach, less often – cancer of the small intestine.

In order for the stool to darken and become tarry, at least 500 ml of blood must enter the intestines. If such a symptom occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor!

If there is a suspicion of bleeding in the digestive tract, which is not manifested in a change in the appearance of feces (so-called occult bleeding), a stool test for occult blood is prescribed. The most common type of study is benzidine test (Gregersen reaction) . This laboratory diagnostic method plays an important role in the detection of cancer and some other diseases, it is indicated in the following cases:

• Prolonged constipation, diarrhea, mushy stools.
• Pain in the abdomen.
• False urge to defecate.
• Unexplained loss of appetite, weight.
• If a colonoscopy (endoscopy of the colon) reveals cancer.
• If tumors or ulcers are detected during FEGDS (endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum).

Fecal occult blood test is a very sensitive test. It can show a positive result in nosebleeds, bleeding gums. This must be taken into account and the results of the analysis should be evaluated in combination with other diagnostic methods.

Bleeding from the rectum, blood in the stool

If the source of bleeding is in the lower intestine, the patient may experience the following symptoms:

• traces of blood on toilet paper;
• traces of blood on underwear, sheets;
• streaks of blood in feces;
• bleeding from the rectum.

If you notice more than two traces of blood on toilet paper, blood in the stool, or bright scarlet blood coming out of the rectum, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Mucus in the stool in an adult

Mucus in the stool in an adult is not a typical manifestation of malignant tumors of the intestine. Cancer is suspected when this symptom is combined with others, such as bleeding, chronic diarrhea, etc.

Most often, jelly-like mucus in the stool or even mucus instead of stool (excreted between bowel movements) are signs of infections in the intestines. Sometimes they are caused by a decrease in the tone of the sphincter muscle of the rectum. In any case, in order to exclude cancer or other serious disease, it is better to immediately visit a doctor and get checked.

Prevention and early diagnosis of bowel cancer

If a patient has fecal changes, they are referred to a coloproctologist. During the appointment, the doctor finds out what symptoms bother the patient, for how long, what he has been ill for during his life, and whether there are any intestinal pathologies in close relatives. Then a digital examination of the rectum is performed.

In order to detect cancer and other bowel pathologies, the following tests are used:

• Proctoscopy and colonoscopy – endoscopic examination of the rectum and colon. These diagnostic methods allow you to visualize cancer, polyp and other pathological changes.
• Biopsy is an examination that can be done during an endoscopy. The doctor, using a special tool, receives a fragment of a pathologically altered area of ​​the intestinal mucosa and sends it to the laboratory, where it is examined under a microscope. If malignant cells are found, it is cancer.
• Fecal occult blood test.
• Complete blood count – helps to detect anemia as a result of bleeding.
• If bowel cancer has already been diagnosed, a blood chemistry test is done to evaluate liver function, as there may be cancer metastases in the liver.
• Blood test for tumor markers: cancer embryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9 . This study is not very informative in the diagnosis of cancer, as it can give false positive and false negative results. Tests for tumor markers are used as part of a comprehensive examination to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and detect relapse.
• Once colorectal cancer is diagnosed, CT scan, ultrasound, MRI, angiography, chest X-ray, PET scan are performed to evaluate its spread and stage.

Screening tests help diagnose cancer before stool changes occur. Colonoscopy is used as the main type of screening. It is recommended for all people over 50 years of age. At Euroonco, this study is performed by experienced doctors using modern equipment. In order for the patient not to experience discomfort during the procedure, our doctors immerse him in a state of light anesthesia – “medicated sleep”.

How to prevent colon cancer

To reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, follow these guidelines:

• Maintain a healthy weight.