Quick background info here - I've been a bit stressed the past few weeks, mostly due to my job. I've had a few days off since last Friday and boy was I looking forward to them.
I took few benzos over the past week, one or two low dose ones a day. I did this because I wanted to completely relax and unwind from work as I was finding it hard to get it out of my head.
My bowel movements are usually fairly regular - once a day and usually early in the day. About 2 days ago I was feeling a bit constipated, didn't have a bowel movement until nearly bedtime and I was thinking it's probably the tablets doing it to me (my diet wasn't great either). Then yesterday I went 3 times. I didn't take much notice of the first time but the second time it looked as if my stools were flat, but on one side of them. Instant panic of course. I've read things in the past about flat stools, not exactly sure what I read but I won't go looking again.
I've had 2 bowel movements today so far and it still looks like they're a bit flat. Not totally flat like a ribbon but definitely a flat shape to a part of them.
I've stopped taking the tablets now and I won't be taking them again but I don't know if they could have caused this. My last tablet was yesterday, one low dose tablet.
Of course I'm worrying about the big c here because my HA seems to be flaring up recently.
Are flat stools a sign of anything sinister? Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks!
Oh and I don't have IBS. Generally I have no issues with my bowel movements, except about a year ago when I had a bit of blood which was probably due to a fissure but of course I thought the worst then too!