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Suggest Treatment For Foul Smelling Bowel Incontinence
Question: Dear Dr. Narasi: I get a very fowl smelling, yellowish/orange, oily bowel discharge after eating Orange Roughy, Catfish - most all fish that isn't "encrusted" in some manner. What bothers me is that the discharge usually happens without ANY warning and I soil my undergarments. I am 68 years old, female and this only began happening about 2 years ago. I hate the thought of giving up almost all fish. I do not have this same issue after eating shellfish. Can you advise? Sincerely, Mrs. XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Evaluation of anal sphincter&inflammatory/infection to rule out first...
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mrs XXXXXXX
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
1. You are saying to have a very fowl smelling, yellowish, oily bowel discharge especially after eating fish which is involuntarily. Can you please refer if you are also having other stomach problems: pain? gas? changes in bowel movements? or any other GI problem so far?
2. If such discharge is present even after you eat anything else (other than fish), then, further tests are advised to exclude local (bowel/rectal) issues first:
- colonoscopy to exclude inflammatory bowel disease or anal fistula/fissure
- abdominal ultrasoun
- fecal examination and culture
- anoscopy and/or anal manometry to evaluate the status of the anal sphincter
If nothing organic is found, then, I advise to stop eating fish for a while and see changes.
Can discuss this further with your GI specialist. Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
Evaluation of anal sphincter&inflammatory/infection to rule out first...
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mrs XXXXXXX
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
1. You are saying to have a very fowl smelling, yellowish, oily bowel discharge especially after eating fish which is involuntarily. Can you please refer if you are also having other stomach problems: pain? gas? changes in bowel movements? or any other GI problem so far?
2. If such discharge is present even after you eat anything else (other than fish), then, further tests are advised to exclude local (bowel/rectal) issues first:
- colonoscopy to exclude inflammatory bowel disease or anal fistula/fissure
- abdominal ultrasoun
- fecal examination and culture
- anoscopy and/or anal manometry to evaluate the status of the anal sphincter
If nothing organic is found, then, I advise to stop eating fish for a while and see changes.
Can discuss this further with your GI specialist. Hope it was of help!
Dr.Albana
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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