igmoidoscopy and colonoscopy.
How is it treated?
The treatment is pretty much directed towards the cause.
Once a potential reason is identified, the appropriate advice is offered and medications are prescribed. If stringy poop is just an occasional event and you do not have any additional symptoms then no treatment is required.
However, some treatment options are listed below according to the cause.
Increase your daily intake of fiber-rich diet and drink ample amounts of fluids.
2. Intestinal infections:
You may be prescribed specific antibacterial or antiparasitic medications according to the suspected or isolated causative agent. Appropriate rehydration is important in such infections to avoid further complications.
3. Inflammatory bowel disease:
This will require a specialist gastroenterologist to educate you about the disease and to decide the best treatment option for you.
4. Hernias and bowel obstruction:
Usually surgically treated. The surgery aims to place back the abdominal contents in their normal place, and then seal off the abdominal wall defect.
5. Colorectal cancer:
Necessitates the opinion of a specialist oncologist who is responsible for treating cancers. The options are usually surgical, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. The treatment regimen will depend on the type of tumor, stage of the tumor, and the general condition of the patient.
In summary, almost everyone experiences stringy poop at some point in his or her lives, and it is usually nothing to worry about. If there are no further complaints or associated symptoms, then relax.
However, if you have other symptoms like abdominal pain, bloody stool, weight loss and a drastic change in how often you poop, then kindly review your physician to make sure all is well. In general, most of the cases will be resolved with a fiber-rich diet, good hydration, and medical treatment.
- Borhan-Manesh, F. (2009, February). “Low caliber stool” and “pencil thin stool” are not signs of colo-rectal cancer. Retrieved June 18, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18683051
- Panda, H., & Andrews, C. N. (2016, March 01). Constipation in a 40-year-old woman. Retrieved June 18, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4771537/
- Constipation. (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2019, from https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/constipation/
- Which altered bowel habits indicate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? (2018, April 06). Retrieved June 18, 2019, from https://www.medscape.com/answers/180389-10067/which-altered-bowel-habits-indicate-irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs
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