What can I do about my light colored stool?
A surgical removal of the tumor is recommended, followed by a radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Once the right diagnosis is made and the real cause behind these light colored stools is determined, with the necessary treatment your stool should get back to normal again and have its brown color.
What should I do if I have clay stools?
If you experience clay stools on a regular basis, you need to see a healthcare professional so you can be checked for possible medical conditions. In cases where urine is darker than usual and jaundice is present in addition to pale stool, immediate medical attention should be sought.
What does it mean when your POOP is light colored?
Light-colored stools (grey or clay-colored) in adults can be caused by lack of bile in the digestive system. It is usually from a blockage in the bile ducts, either from a stone or a tumor. Bile helps digest fats and is responsible for the brown color of stool.
What are the tests for pale stools?
Your doctor may also perform tests to help diagnose the cause of your pale stools. Possible tests include: computed tomography (CT) scans, to see if you have any swelling of your liver or bile ducts
How do you fix pale stools?
Commonly prescribed medications include cholestyramine (Questran) to treat itching and ursodiol (Urso Forte), which aids in removing bile from the bloodstream. Your doctor may also suggest taking vitamins A, K, E, and D, to replace the nutrients that are lost in the fatty stools.
What does very light-colored poop mean?
Light-colored, white or clay-colored. A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction. Certain medications, such as large doses of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs.
Is pale stool an emergency?
White stool isn't normal and should be evaluated promptly by a doctor. White or clay-like stool is caused by a lack of bile, which may indicate a serious underlying problem.
What is the home remedy for yellow stool?
Yellow stools sometimes result from changes to the diet. Eliminating yellow foods, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and turmeric, from the diet may make the yellow color go away. A person should avoid high fat foods, such as fast food and processed meats, as these speed up digestion and can produce yellow stool.
What does a doctor do when you have light colored stool?
The doctor may perform tests to help determine the cause of the change in color of the stool. Some of the tests performed are:
Why is my stool light colored?
While some causes of light colored stool may not be prevented, others can be. If the problem is caused by hepatitis, you may need vaccines to prevent the condition. If alcohol has results in inflammation of the liver, you may want to stop drinking excessively . In case there is no known cause for light colored stool, you may want to ensure you have a healthy bowel movement by having a balanced diet that contains high amounts of fiber.
Why does my stool change color?
Some foods may make the color of stool in children to change, however, if a child has light or pale stool, it may be as a result of something serious such as antacids, a milk only diet, blocked bile ducts, liver disease, or barium sulfate arising from barium enema.
What is the best stool color?
Ideally, the stool should be as type 4, but type 3 and type 5 are also acceptable. A healthy stool is a medium to light brown in color, with an S-shape, soft and smooth, formed into one long shape, about 18 inches long and 1 or 2 inches in diameter, with a natural and not repulsive smell, with uniform texture, which also quietly ...
Why does my stool turn light colored?
Due to an inflammation of the liver with hepatitis viruses A, B, and C can lead to light colored stool. Hepatitis C is the type of viral hepatitis which often leads to liver diseases, affecting the normal function of the liver, including bile production.
What causes brown stools?
Normally, the liver produces bile which is released into the stool, giving the stool its characteristic brown color. If the liver does not produce enough bile, if the bile flow is blocked in the biliary system than normally the bile will not be able to drain into the intestines, leading to a light colored stool. (3, 4)
What does it mean when your stool is white?
A light colored stool often referred to as clay – colored or white stool is not a normal stool and it indicates a problem with the liver, pancreas, gallbladder or the biliary system. If you notice a light colored stool, seek immediate medical help.
Why does my stool turn green?
Green stool. Indicates that the food passes through the large intestine too quickly and the bile doesn’t have the time to completely break down as it normally should. Iron supplements, green leafy vegetables, as well as, green food coloring can lead to a green stool too.
Why is my stool black?
Black stool. Indicates a bleeding in the upper part of the gastrointestinal system, usually from the stomach. Seek immediate medical help as it could signify serious medical conditions, which when left untreated can lead to serious complications and even death. Iron supplements can lead to a black stool as well.
Why is my stool red?
Bright red stool. Indicates a bleeding in the lower part of the gastrointestinal system, often caused by hemorrhoids or a bleeding in the rectum or large intestines. Certain foods can lead to a bright red stool as well, such as cranberries, beets, tomato juice, red food coloring, etc. If you have consumed the above – mentioned food types during ...
What does it mean when you pass light colored stool?
When someone passes light colored stool, he or she can be described as having grayish, light yellow or putty colored stool. These color varieties are related to different kinds of medical problems involving the organs and structures within the biliary system.
Why is my stool brown?
It is the bile that is responsible for the brown coloring of the stool. The bile is a greenish substance that works in digesting fats. Anything that alters the production of bile in the liver will result in changes in the stool’s color. Light colored stool in adults is rarely caused by diet and medications. Oftentimes, the stool becomes light due to certain kinds of medical conditions that cause the liver to produce less bile. The problem could also develop when there is an obstruction within the bile duct going to the gallbladder or pancreas. Problems in the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and bile duct could make the stool become lighter.
What color is my poop?
The color of your stool may seem irrelevant. However, clay-colored or pale stool can be a cause for concern. Some people who experience pale stool ignore it, thinking there is nothing they can do about it. Normal looking stools are various shades of brown, and this is normally a result of a healthy diet. Clay-colored stools are pale, white, ...
Why is my stool light colored?
For example, a barium enema—which is a special X-ray test of the large intestine—can be conducted to help uncover disease affecting the intestine. The inability to absorb fat properly may lead to the light-colored stool. The term for this is “acholic” and it is usually a result of lack of bile.
Why does pale stool turn yellow?
Complications resulting from untreated pale stool is jaundice because there is a build-up of bile in the body which makes the skin appear yellowish. Jaundice is also a symptom of liver disease and so it’s highly important you see your doctor if you notice color changes of your skin and the whites of your eyes.
Why is my stool brown?
The term for this is “acholic” and it is usually a result of lack of bile. Bile salts are released into stool by the liver and give them their brown color. When the liver is not producing enough bile, or when the flow of the bile is blocked, stools become clay-colored. Pale-colored stool in adults is no reason for alarm if it only happens once in ...
How long does bile acid dissolution therapy last?
This treatment can last anywhere between 6 to 12 months and involves taking an oral solution to help dissolve gallstones.
Why do I have a clay odor in my stool?
For instance, some anti-inflammatories can cause clay-colored stool. Antibiotics, anabolic steroids, and some birth control pills have also been known to cause clay-colored stool.
Do you have to rush off if you have a clay stool?
When you have a clay-colored sto ol on an occasional basis, you don’t have to rush off to the doctor. If you experience clay stools on a regular basis, you need to see a healthcare professional so you can be checked for possible medical conditions.
1. Light brown stool is a normal variant (due to food)
As a rule, all shades of brown stool, such as light brown stools and very dark brown stools, are considered normal. However, your stool color varies according to what you eat and several other factors.
A. Large fatty meals
Too much fat in your meal can turn your stool into light brown. The more fat you eat, the more the fat content of your stool.
2 . Diarrhea (loose stool)
The normal brown color of the stool is a result of the action of gut bacteria on bilirubin (secreted in bile to the gut tract).
3. IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
IBS is a common bowel disease that affects a large subset of people. It primarily affects the large intestine and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and bowel changes.
4. Gut infections
The gastrointestinal tract (gastroenteritis) infections often lead to diarrhea with subsequent light brown or yellow stools.
5. Food intolerance or allergy
Food intolerance is the inability of your digestive system to digest or absorb certain foods. It is a prevalent condition affecting up to 20% of the population. In addition, certain types of food intolerance are prevalent in the community, such as lactose intolerance (which affects about 65% of adult people).
6. Bible-related conditions
The brown color of your stool originates from bilirubin which reaches your intestine through the bile. The bile is formed initially inside the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the duodenum through the bile ducts.
Why does stool color change?
Only rarely does stool color indicate a potentially serious intestinal condition. Stool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile — a yellow-green fluid that digests fats — in your stool. As bile pigments travel through your gastrointestinal tract, they are chemically altered by enzymes, ...
Why is my stool red?
If your stool is bright red or black — which may indicate the presence of blood — seek prompt medical attention. Food may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely.
What does it mean when you have no bile in your stool?
A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction. Certain medications, such as large doses of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs. Excess fat in the stool, such as due to a malabsorption disorder, for example, celiac disease.
What Is Light Colored stool?
Diagnosis of Light Colored Stool
- Pale stools for an unknown reason
See a doctor immediately if you notice:
- Fever, chills, abdominal pain on the right side and yellowing of skin
- Dark colored urine
Treatment
Prevention
- The normal color of stool is brown, but it may vary because of the diet you take. Having stool that is light colored or pale may not be normal. In most cases, if your stool is light colored, you could have a problem with the biliary system. The bile may not be draining properly. Remember that the color of stool comes from bile. 1,2,3 The biliary system comprises of the pancreas, liver, and gall…
What Is A Normal stool?
- In diagnosing light colored stool, a doctor may ask questions regarding the symptoms you are experiencing and if you have been taking certain medications. The doctor may perform tests to help determine the cause of the change in color of the stool. Some of the tests performed are: 1. Blood tests that help check for jaundice or infections 2. Computed tomography scans may be or…
When to Worry About The Stool color?
- Treating light colored stool is targeted towards solving the problem that is causing it. Depending on the cause, a doctor will provide the right treatment option. Here are some of the treatment approaches a doctor may use if you are experiencing persistent light colored stool as a result of problems with the biliary system. 1. If you have discolore...
Causes
- While some causes of light colored stool may not be prevented, others can be. If the problem is caused by hepatitis, you may need vaccines to prevent the condition. If alcohol has results in inflammation of the liver, you may want to stop drinking excessively. In case there is no known cause for light colored stool, you may want to ensure you have a healthy bowel movement by ha…
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