Get Virtual Care
For Businesses
About Us
A member asked:
What causes occasional pencil thin stools, often the first stool in a bm is normal diameter, but everything else is increasingly thinner? concerning?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Might: Most likely for a person who is 19 year old and has no other sign or symptoms i would not be worried. Irritable bowel syndrome which is very common can be blamed. This also has been described in colon cancer but cancer is a disease which affects people over 50.
Answered 9/27/2018
5.2k views
If you were: Older i would say there would be a concern for colon cancer. At your age, without a strong family hx of familial polyposis, this is not a concern. Why this is occurring could be worked up but the chances of an issue of cancer is very low probability.
Answered 3/31/2019
5.2k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
I've been getting worm-shaped(not pencil thin) thin stools along with normal ones today, all of them are type 4 on stool chart is this natural?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
If pencil thin stools are caused from an obstruction, why wouldn't a c t scan show this. The e r dr told me it would show any obstructions. Confused. ?
8 doctors weighed in across 4 answers
A member asked:
For past several weeks stools have been relatively thin/narrow, about twice the caliber of a pencil. Coincided with beginning amitriptyline. No other symptoms. Cause for concern?
3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
A member asked:
Having pencil thin stools for a few months could it be caused by low fiber intake should i be worried ?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
Stool came out pencil thin. Yesterday was completely normal. Only other thing out of the norm is my back muscles have a very mild ache. Be worried?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
People also searched for:
My stools are not pencil thin, but thinner than normal for me for last few days. Should I worry?
Daughter is 13 eats healthy but not past 2 days today had thin stool not pencil thin but thinner than usual Wasn't painful or dark. Cause? Cancer?
How wide is a normal stool? Are stools that are 1-2 cm wide normal, or are they considered pencil-thin stools?
Should occasional thin stools be worrisome? I have thin stools at times but not always "pencil" thin. Is this serious?
Can miralax (polyethylene glycol) cause pencil thin stool?
Didn't find what you're looking for?
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.
Ask your questionMore of what we treat
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
