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Whitish Brown Stool After Taking Flagyl. Is This Normal?
Question: In mid-July I had swelling from an abscessed tooth and was put on clindamycin. I caught C Difficile and developed Colitis from the bacteria and put on the generic Flagyl for ten days and Vicodin for the pain after a trip to the ER. I'm done with the Flagyl, and only took two Vicodin because I didn't like the affect it had on me. For the last three and half days I have felt constipated, but today went poo a little but it was a whitish brown color and smelled mediciny as it has since I started taking the Flagyl. The color kind of scared me and I'm just wondering is this normal? My stomach muscles are also feeling slightly bruised. Any help would be appreciated.
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
First, some explanations about stool color. In every human intestine are natural bacteria, which do produce K vitamin, and are responsible for stool color. From biliary tract to intestine are produced bile used for digestion. This bile contains yellow pigment called bilirubin. This pigment is converted by intestine bacteria to brown stercobilin. As you have suffered from Clostridium Difficile Colitis, and have been taking antibiotics, your natural intestine bacteria have been eliminated as well as Clostridium Difficile. In addition, even if you have been taking Flagyl, this takes time for this good bacteria to settle intestine again.
So your stool color is caused probably by lack of these good bacteria, and so are constipations. It takes few days, or even weeks to make intestines work as it was before colitis. I suggest you to drink more water, drink some yogurts and continue Flagyl therapy. If your symptoms will still be present after a week or so, you should see then your doctor again.
Hope this will help you. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Thank you for the query.
First, some explanations about stool color. In every human intestine are natural bacteria, which do produce K vitamin, and are responsible for stool color. From biliary tract to intestine are produced bile used for digestion. This bile contains yellow pigment called bilirubin. This pigment is converted by intestine bacteria to brown stercobilin. As you have suffered from Clostridium Difficile Colitis, and have been taking antibiotics, your natural intestine bacteria have been eliminated as well as Clostridium Difficile. In addition, even if you have been taking Flagyl, this takes time for this good bacteria to settle intestine again.
So your stool color is caused probably by lack of these good bacteria, and so are constipations. It takes few days, or even weeks to make intestines work as it was before colitis. I suggest you to drink more water, drink some yogurts and continue Flagyl therapy. If your symptoms will still be present after a week or so, you should see then your doctor again.
Hope this will help you. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Hello!
Probably that`s whole treatment. However, if the situation with whitish stools will repeat, or if you find your skin or eyes yellow, you should visit your doctor and have fool blood checkup with liver enzymes and pancreas enzymes and abdomen ultrasound as whitish stools may be also caused by bile blockage (but mostly some abdomen aches are associated with it).
Hope this will help.
Regards
Probably that`s whole treatment. However, if the situation with whitish stools will repeat, or if you find your skin or eyes yellow, you should visit your doctor and have fool blood checkup with liver enzymes and pancreas enzymes and abdomen ultrasound as whitish stools may be also caused by bile blockage (but mostly some abdomen aches are associated with it).
Hope this will help.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Well I have had stomach cramping since being constipated where there is a tight puffy feeling. Through all this my stomach has hurt though. Today I did pass a stool with less white in it so I'm not sure if things are setting themselves right, or what. I go back on Flagyl this evening because I have just had two tooth extractions so I'm to the point I don't know what to do.
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Well, it looks like things are getting better as you said that last stool was less whitish. Stomach ache can be caused by constipation as well. So i suggest you to wait a couple of days, and see if it is still improving. If not, than doctor visit is necessary. It can take couple of day for the complete stool exchange in intestines. Your whitish stool probably is still there and is getting out. Start normal diet with more fluids, and we will see. And do not worry, probably it is nothing serious.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards
Thank you for the query.
Well, it looks like things are getting better as you said that last stool was less whitish. Stomach ache can be caused by constipation as well. So i suggest you to wait a couple of days, and see if it is still improving. If not, than doctor visit is necessary. It can take couple of day for the complete stool exchange in intestines. Your whitish stool probably is still there and is getting out. Start normal diet with more fluids, and we will see. And do not worry, probably it is nothing serious.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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