I have pencil stools that are getting narrower

BTW, I'm female and soon to be 73 yrs old

Dulu,

I'm sorry you are feeling fear of the unknown. Fear is much easier to deal with when you know what you are dealing with. I wish that fear wouldn't keep so many people from investigating what they are scared of.
If you become aware of changes in your body that cause concern, contact your doctor right away and explain your concerns. Your PCP believes your concerns are valid and sent you to a gastronoligist.
I would contact your PCP and ask to have their office call and have your Colonoscopy moved up over concerns of a blockage. Two months is too long wait.
Also ask your PCP to write a script for blood work right away. Ask for basic blood panels like a comprehensive metabolic and a CBC as well as CEA & CA 19-9. The last two are important as they are cancer markers for Colorectal Cancer. They are not sure signs, but can relieve some worry, if they come back normal, until you get your colonoscopy.
I'm not a professional, but have gone through a full bowel blockage with emergency surgery, that I had clear signs there was a something wrong months before I was forced to address it.
I could have started treatments much earlier and avoided a host of issues over the last 4 years.
Like all cancer concerns, early detection is the best way to attack it and the improvements in treatments are near miraculous now.
Do not beat yourself up over not acting sooner, you have acted now and are on the way to any recovery required. At a minimum you can ease your fears and know you have started on your path of celebrating many more upcoming Birthdays.
Happy 73rd birthday and the many more God intends to give you !!

That happened to me as I was developing a dangerous blockage…docs took it seriously, especially since I was swelling up and in pain…we moved up plans for CRC surgery and avoided the worst…maybe, consider communicating your urgency to the docs asap…

@dulu, I just had a colonoscopy a couple of months ago, I’m 74 years old and I have had this test done every 3 to 5 years, sometimes I had polyps and other times none. I mentioned this because I also had pencil thin stools many times but thankfully no cancer, I know that it’s a symptom but not a definitive one, not sure why this happens but definitely not always due to cancer. It’s normal to worry about it but you’re getting checked out soon and that’s the best thing to do, also, the colon is very treatable and the scope can remove everything right away. I read that it can take a polyp up to ten years to become cancer so this is why routine check ups are very important, I hope that helps you feel better and good luck with the results.

@frouke blockages can have many origins…. Whatever the root cause, they are not good, and rarely if ever go away on their own…mine ended up being cleared in the OR, not the ER, so the nasty NG tube was used while I was under anesthesia…

@nycmusic
Hi, yes, I managed to move it up to Feb 4th
Thanks

@popobrady . Hi, yes, o have managed to move it to to Feb 4th. Thank you so much

@dulu so glad you got it moved up…one thing that helped me was not eating too much, no appetite anyhow….not adding more pressure to my system…but, we are all different…i hope you get the relief you seek !

I sincerely hope it isn’t a blockage, that’s why it’s always best to see your doctor, my intention was to alleviate some stress NOT to provide medical advice, I believe this was mentioned in my previous post, I’m not a medical professional and I always recommend that you see the doctor.

Good for you that you got your scope moved up I have been down this road as well as medical always wants to scheduled you 10 years out for tests Be firm but polite and insist you want the 1st open appt. Even if it is at 6 a m take it. If they jerk you around to wait ten years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Say to the scheduler would you want to wait that long to find out what the issue is. And then say nothing This puts the pressure on them to get it together good luck & remember it is your body yaaaaa got only one