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Is It Normal To Experience Brown Colored Stool?

Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2015

Question: I have brown stool and occasion i get yellow wipe. I've had my stool tested with no blood. My appetite has not been good lately.i have had a ulcer in the past. Please advise

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
wait for the endoscopy results first...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I understand your concerns.

1. The normal color of stool is brown. But, recently you have found that on occasion you get yellow wipe. At this point, I want to know if you are also having changes in bowel movements (bm): increase for example?

2. It is good that there is no presence of blood in stool; in fact , the brown/yellow wipe appearance of stool is not suggestive for blood.

3. Having problems with appetite might be caused by acute or chronic illness.

I advise to wait for the the upper endoscopy tomorrow to evaluate your upper GI tract. I hope you are also going to run colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy for a more complete evaluation.

Hope it was of help! Good luck in the tomorrow's endoscopic examinations!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (19 minutes later)

I should note that i had colonoscopy less than a year ago. All clear. I swallow a huge amount of mucus all day. Could that affect bm. It seems like my bm is softer but solid. I've only seen yellow wipe if I have a bout of diarrhea

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please explain more on "swallowing mucus";what are you referring to?

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

1. If the colonoscopy you did a year ago was all clear, then, nothing worrisome regarding any organic problem to your bowels.

2. You say to have swallowed a huge amount of mucus all the day. Can you please explain it further: are you also having flu problems (runny nose? fever?) too?
Is the mucus referred to respiratory phlegm?
If yes, then, it can explain the changes in your bm.

3. Changes in bowel consistency will depend on foods/drinks you consume, and any acute bowel disease (e.g. viral gastroenteritis).

Softer but solid stool are within normal range.

4. When having diarrhea, there is an increased frequency of bm, which is also associated with changes in stool color and consistency too.

This explains why you see yellow wipe when having a bout of diarrhea.

Hope it answered to your queries!
Dr.Albana

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (13 minutes later)

I use a cpap machine with water. My nose runs a lot. Sometimes I cough and i spit up as opposed to vomit. When I do i feel relief in the middle of my chest not my stomach. Bile nor food comes up only phelm/ mucus. And my stomach is not empty.

Answered by Dr. Dr.Albana Sejdini (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Swallowed phlegm a possible cause to your actual GI problems.....

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for your clarifications.

Based on what you are describing, the swallowing of the phlegm might be a possible cause to changes in bm.

Otherwise, I do not see any serious health problem from what you are describing.

All the best!
Dr.Albana
P.s. if no more queries, please close this discussion and give your feedback.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar