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What Does Passing Of Yellow Brown Stool That Floats Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 2 Mar 2015

Question: Hi,
I am 55 year old female and have had a lot of reflux and under rib pain, which I am on omeprazole for. It has cured the reflux. However I am having yellowy/ brown stools that sometimes float. They are not solid neither runny just mushy. I did a home test for blood in stools and it was positive. I do however have a stingy little tear on the entrance/ pile? So could it have picked this up. I'm so worried.

Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Steatorrhea

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.

Yellow brown stool that floats indicates excessive undigested fat which can be measured by determining the fecal fat level. Possible causes can be defects in pancreatic enzymes, defective mucosal cells, certain medicines that block fat absorption, or indigestible or excess oil/fat in diet.

Blood may appear in the stool because of hemorrhoids/piles (swollen blood vessels near the anus and lower rectum that can rupture, causing bleeding) and also anal fissures (splits or cracks in the lining of the anal opening) and fecal occult blood test may come positive.

Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (32 minutes later)

They do not always float, just sometimes. Can you explain to me what defective mucosal cells are please? My gp said I may have a hernia or GORD, would any of these affect stools? I am on co codamol too which maybe upsetting my tummy? And I also suffer with IBS.

Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Steatorrhea-floating stool

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.

GORD or hiatus hernia will not cause floating stool or steatorrhea but can cause minor upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to esophagitis and render occult blood test positive.
Celiac disease is associated with defective mucosal cells and mucosal dysfunction
can cause defects in lipid digestion and absorption .
Codeine/Paracetamol (Co-codamol 15mg/500mg tablets) will also not produce any change in fecal stool fat content neither any upper gastro-intestinal bleeding causing occult blood in stool positive.
Bleeding is not a feature of IBS unless hemorrhoids are present, and malabsorption of fat or weight loss does not occur.

Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T