Medical conditions that can cause pale stools
- Medications. ...
- Viral hepatitis. ...
- Alcoholic hepatitis. ...
- Biliary cirrhosis. ...
- Gallstones. ...
- Sclerosing cholangitis. ...
- Structural defects in the biliary system. ...
- Biliary stricture. ...
- Tumors. ...
- Cysts. ...
Full Answer
Is it normal to Pee before you poop?
You can pee, just pee, if you don’t have to poop, but you can’t just poop and not pee at the same time. Why you ask? Let me explain. The reason why your pee has to come out with your poop is pretty simple, turns out. There are a bunch a muscles down there, some we control and some we don’t. They control the movement of our bodily wastes.
Are pale stools a serious problem?
The occasional pale stool in adults is often not a cause for concern. However, long-lasting pale stool or stool that is white can indicate a serious issue with the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.
What foods cause pale stool?
What Foods Cause Pale Stools. Certain foods can change the color of your stool. For example, beets can change the color of your poop to dark red and eating alots of veggies can give your stool a green hue. But are there foods that lighten stool color? Yes. Foods high in fat can lighten the color of your stool. Food coloring in foods can also ...
Why is poop light colored?
The most common reasons for a pale stool color include: 1. Foods Some foods may lighten the color of stool, especially fatty foods, or those containing food coloring. Vitamins that include iron can...
What causes light colored stools?
Stools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs.
Is Pale poop serious?
Obstructed bile duct from tumor The pale/grey stools or progressively worsening jaundice may be the first sign that something is wrong. You may also get an infection in the blocked bile, called cholangitis. That can cause fever and abdominal pain, and in severe cases, confusion and low blood pressure.
What is considered a pale stool?
The stool can be gray or clay-colored if it contains little or no bile. The pale color may signify a condition (biliary obstruction) where the flow of bile to the intestine is obstructed, such as obstruction of the bile duct from a tumor or gallstone in the duct or nearby pancreas.
Why is my poop light beige?
If your liver is not producing enough bile, or if the flow of the bile is blocked and not draining from your liver, your stools may become pale or clay-colored. Having pale stools once in a while may not be a cause for concern. If it occurs frequently, you may have a serious illness.
Is peanut butter colored poop normal?
Lifestyle changes to improve stools include eating fiber, drinking water, or exercising. Stools should be brown, have a peanut-butter texture, and look like a sausage.
Can stress cause pale stools?
Anxiety does not specifically affect the color of stool, but it can affect how food moves through the digestive tract. There are several ways that anxiety affects digestion, increasing the risk of yellow feces.
Can IBS cause pale stool?
Dramatic changes in stool colour would not be considered normal and may be something a doctor would like to investigate. Light coloured stools would not be considered normal, and this can be an indication of an issue with the gallbladder, liver or pancreas.
Can dehydration cause white poop?
Symptoms of dehydration such as decreased urination, increased thirst, fatigue, and light-headedness, also require immediate medical care. Seek prompt medical care if you have white stool unless a specific cause, such as prolonged antacid use or a recent barium study, can be identified.
Why is my stool white?
Some of the causes are: a milk-only diet. barium sulfate from barium enema. antacids. blocked bile ducts or liver disease. You should contact your doctor any time your child’s stool changes color, especially if they haven’t had any brightly colored foods or if the stools are pale, white, or clay-colored.
Why do kids have bright colored stools?
Brightly colored stools in children are usually caused by colorful foods like breakfast cereal. However, pale, white, or clay-colored stools in children can be caused by something more serious. Some of the causes are:
What is the hardened deposit in the gallbladder that can block the flow of bile?
Gallstones are hardened deposits in the gallbladder that can block the flow of bile.
How to fix bile ducts?
Your doctor may be able to correct the problems using surgery or a stent. A stent is a small tube that a surgeon places inside the ducts to keep them open so that bile can flow freely.
What is endoscopic balloon?
endoscopic balloon: inserting a balloon at the end of a long tube into the bile ducts to open any narrowing
What causes a pale stool?
Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as: 1 Alcoholic hepatitis: This disease of the liver occurs after overexposure to alcohol. 2 Biliary cirrhosis: This is a type of liver disease where the bile ducts are damaged. 3 Birth defect: Some people are born with a problem in the biliary system. 4 Cysts: A cyst may block a bile duct. 5 Gallstones: These calcium deposits in the gallbladder could block bile ducts. 6 Hepatitis A, B, or C: Infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile. 7 Infection: Certain types of infections could affect the biliary system. 8 Sclerosing cholangitis: This is a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts. 9 Side effects of medication: Overuse of certain medications could cause drug-induced hepatitis. These drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, hormonal birth control, and certain antibiotics. 10 Strictures: A narrowing of the intestine could block the flow of bile. 11 Tumor: A tumor could block the flow of bile.
What tests are used to determine if a person has pale stools?
In addition to a complete medical history, some of the tests that might be used to make a diagnosis are: Liver function tests: Liver function tests can help determine if there is a condition that involves the liver that's causing the pale stools. 2 .
Why is my stool brown?
Bile is what gives stool its brown color, so if bile is not being produced or if the bile ducts are blocked, and bile isn't entering the small intestine, the result could be stool that is light. Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as: Alcoholic hepatitis: This disease ...
Why do my bowels look like clay?
Stools that are pale, white, or look like clay or putty may be the result of a lack of bile or caused by a blockage in the bile ducts. Stools that are light in color or look like clay can also occur after a test in the colon that uses barium (such as a barium enema ), because the barium may be passed in the stool.
What does it mean when your stools are acholic?
The medical term, " acholic, " refers to light-colored stools that result from a lack of bile.
What causes a lack of bile?
Hepatitis A, B, or C: Infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile. Infection: Certain types of infections could affect the biliary system. Sclerosing cholangitis: This is a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts. Side effects of medication: Overuse of certain medications could cause drug-induced ...
What does it mean when your urine is clay?
Concerning Symptoms. Clay-colored stool that is caused by certain medical conditions may be accompanied by a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes ( jaundice) or darkened urine. If signs of jaundice occur, a physician should be consulted immediately.
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 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 ...
Why is my bile duct narrowing?
Structural defects – Some people are born with defects in their biliary system that prevents the flow of bile. Biliary stricture – Gallbladder removal surgery can lead to narrowing of the bile ducts.
What are the symptoms of a bile duct cyst?
Symptoms include jaundice, loss of appetite, itching, fever, and pain on the right side. Cysts – Cysts on the bile ducts can prevent the flow of bile. Symptoms include jaundice and a mass in the upper right side of the stomach.
How to fix a clay poop?
In situations where bile ducts are blocked, surgery may be the answer. When the problem is linked to the gallbladder, surgical removal of the gallbladder may be the best way to address it. There are cases where removal is not necessary, but surgery to fix the issue can be performed. Bile acid dissolution therapy is an alternative to surgery in situations where there is a gallstone less than 0.5 mm. This treatment can last anywhere between 6 to 12 months and involves taking an oral solution to help dissolve gallstones. When it comes to repairing strictures in the bile duct, surgery is also a possibility. It will allow bile to flow properly again.
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 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, ...
What does it mean when your stool is red?
Consult your doctor if you're concerned about your stool color. If your stool is bright red or black — which may indicate the presence of blood — seek prompt medical attention.
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.
Does bile break down?
As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely. Green leafy vegetables, green food coloring, such as in flavored drink mixes or ice pops, iron supplements. A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction.
Why is my poop pale?
Other causes of pale poop. A more serious cause is a lack of bile in your stool. (Remember, bile gives poop its brown color.) Your body makes bile in the liver, stores it in the gallbladder, and releases it into your small intestine to help digest your food.
Why is my poop different color?
It’s rare for it to be a sign of a serious condition in your digestive system. But if it’s white, bright red, or black, and you don’t think it’s from something you ate, call your doctor.
What Do Different Stool Colors Mean?
Different stool colors can mean different things , mostly depending on what you’ve eaten.
What causes dark stools?
Medicines that have bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can also cause very dark stools.
What foods make your poop orange?
Pumpkin. Sweet potatoes. Foods with orange coloring, such as sodas, candy, or gelatin dessert, can also give your poop an orange color. Also, antibioticsand antacids that have aluminum hydroxide in them can make your stool orange.
Why is my diarrhea green?
It’s likely that your meal moved through your gut too quickly, so the fat-digesting bile didn’t have time to turn brown.
Why is my poop yellow?
Indirectly, your diet could cause yellow poop. If you have celiac disease, your body can’t handle a protein called gluten, which is in wheat, barley, and rye. If you have the condition and eat foods that have gluten, like many breads, pastas, and cookies, your intestineswon’t work as they should.
Why is my poop white?
White Poop. When you pass a white, gray or pale stool, it might be an indication of liver or gallbladder problem. Generally, pale stools mean that the body isn’t secreting enough bile to give it the characteristic brown color. Advertisements. Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. In addition, some drugs used in treating ...
What causes orange poop?
These fruits include carrots and winter squash. Also, some medication like antacids and antibiotics like Rifampicin can make your poop orange. Advertisements.
Where is bile produced?
Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. In addition, some drugs used in treating diarrhea can cause white stools.
Can bile turn brown?
Food may pass through the intestines too quickly that there isn’t enough time for bacteria and enzymes to change the green color of bile to brown.
What does it mean when you have dark urine?
Fatty liver disease: If you notice dark urine and pale poo, seek urgent medical attention. Usually, fatty liver disease causes no noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Here are signs and symptoms that indicate the non-alcoholic liver disease has progressed to late stages and your liver is not working properly.
What are the symptoms of nonalcoholic liver disease?
Red palms. Yellowing of the skin and eyes ( jaundice) Itchy skin. Dark urine. Pale stools. A tendency to bruise easily. These signs and symptoms indicate that the non-alcoholic liver disease has progressed to late stages and your liver is not working properly. If you notice such persistent signs and symptoms, seek urgent medical attention.
Normal vs. Abnormal Stools
Causes
- The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.1 Bile, a digestive fluid, is created in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and finally released into the first section of the small intestine (the duodenum) while food passes. Some medical issues can affect the liver or biliary system and cause pale stools. These include: 1. Alcoholic hepatitis, a disease from alcoh…
Concerning Symptoms
- Clay-colored stool caused by a medical condition might also be accompanied by a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice) or darkened urine. The presence of jaundice and pale stools could indicate a buildup of chemicals in your body.2Therefore, jaundice is a serious condition you should discuss with a healthcare provider.
Diagnosing The Underlying Condition
- A healthcare provider must first identify the underlying cause to treat pale stools. In addition to a complete medical history, they may order some of the following tests: 1. Liver function tests, blood tests to help determine if a condition involves the liver2 2. Abdominal ultrasound, look at things like the gallbladder 3. Blood work to test for infection 4. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio…
Treatment
- Treatment depends on the underlying cause. For example, if medications or supplements are suspected causes, you may need to adjust or switch which drugs you take. Likewise, you may need to change your diet if a healthcare provider believes malabsorption is a contributing factor. In addition, if the liver is involved, a healthcare provider may advise that you avoid drinking alcoh…
Summary
- An occasional odd-colored stool isn't usually a concern. However, if pale stools stick around, it can indicate a problem with bile ducts or another underlying medical condition. So, it's essential to seek medical advice, especially if any other symptoms occur along with it, like jaundice or pain. Your healthcare provider may want to run some tests to see what might be causing pale-colore…
A Word from Verywell
- It's understandably uncomfortable to talk to someone about your poop. But your healthcare provider wants to know the details so that they can better help you. The earlier you have the conversation, the better treatment you can receive.