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Why Am I Getting Clay Colored Stool?

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Posted on Tue, 18 Dec 2012
Question: This is the third time in a few months that I've had very pale(chalk) colored stool. It only lasted one to two days each time. Should I be worried?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Charles S Narasi (56 minutes later)
Hello, XXXXXXX,
Clay colored stool means that ther is a
blockage of the channel that brings the bile to the
intestine. Bile is produced by the liver and stored
in the gallbladder that releases it after we eat to
help with digestion. If you have gallstones and
one of them plugs the channel, called the bile duct,
no bile is released into the intestine and hence the
clay colored stool. You may have other symptoms
such as abdominal pain, bloating and gas, nausea
or vomiting with or without fever, chills or yellow
jaundice with this problem.
I recommend that you have a sonogram of the
gallbladder to look for gallstones and get blood
tests for liver enzymes to see if they are abnormal.
If you have gallstones and abnormal liver tests,
you need surgery to have your gallbladder removed.
Good news is , this is done through laporoscopic
surgery which is an out-patient procedure now
a days.
Wish you luck and wish you well.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Charles S Narasi

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1962

Answered : 693 Questions

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Why Am I Getting Clay Colored Stool?

Hello, XXXXXXX,
Clay colored stool means that ther is a
blockage of the channel that brings the bile to the
intestine. Bile is produced by the liver and stored
in the gallbladder that releases it after we eat to
help with digestion. If you have gallstones and
one of them plugs the channel, called the bile duct,
no bile is released into the intestine and hence the
clay colored stool. You may have other symptoms
such as abdominal pain, bloating and gas, nausea
or vomiting with or without fever, chills or yellow
jaundice with this problem.
I recommend that you have a sonogram of the
gallbladder to look for gallstones and get blood
tests for liver enzymes to see if they are abnormal.
If you have gallstones and abnormal liver tests,
you need surgery to have your gallbladder removed.
Good news is , this is done through laporoscopic
surgery which is an out-patient procedure now
a days.
Wish you luck and wish you well.