Writing this for my cousin. He hasn’t been officially diagnosed with IBS yet, but his doctor believes it’s highly likely. For now, the doctor has recommended therapy because his symptoms seem to be related to anxiety. They tend to improve when he’s not stressed—like when he was stress-free for a month, his symptoms eased up, but they came back once he got stressed again.
He’s currently concerned about colon cancer, especially since it runs in the family. Fortunately, he doesn’t have any alarming symptoms such as losing more than 10 pounds unexpectedly or seeing blood in his stool, and being only 14 is another positive sign.
However, he’s anxious because he’s noticed his stools have been small and thin lately, especially this past week. He hasn’t been very healthy and missed taking the fiber supplement his doctor recommended, which usually helps bulk up his stool. Is it common for IBS to cause thin or pencil-thin stools, or should he be more concerned about cancer? The size and shape of his stools keep changing, and his stress levels aren’t helping.
Hi there, thanks for sharing your cousin’s story. It sounds somewhat similar to what my uncle has been going through, though in his case, the issues started after a round of antibiotics for a bladder infection about 14 months ago. Ever since, he’s had ongoing digestive problems—heartburn, abdominal pain, gas, and more. Like your cousin, he’s been dealing with a lot of anxiety around his symptoms, and it seems stress is playing a huge role.
My uncle’s been researching SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) because antibiotics can sometimes wipe out the good bacteria and cause an imbalance, leading to gut issues. He’s planning to bring this up with his gastroenterologist and request a breath test. Maybe it’s something to consider for your cousin as well, especially since his symptoms seem to improve with stress management.
The connection between stress, anxiety, and gut health is really strong, and it’s good that therapy has been recommended for your cousin. My uncle’s symptoms also seem to worsen when he’s anxious, and he’s been thinking of ways to reduce stress to help manage his digestion better.
Regarding the thin stools, I’ve heard that IBS can sometimes cause changes in stool size and shape, especially during flare-ups or when stress is high. Still, it’s great that he’s staying on top of things and keeping an eye out for other more serious symptoms. Encouraging him to stick with the fiber supplement his doctor recommended should help too, as staying consistent with those kinds of lifestyle changes can make a difference.
Hopefully, both your cousin and my uncle can find the right balance to get back to feeling better.