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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Abdominal Pain,loose And Dark Brown Stools?

I am 62, female and have had some problems with my abdomen, [ bloating.], discomfort after eating, and my bowels are usually loose. The color is very light brown, no dark stool or visual blood. I have no health insurance as we can not afford it, but I am considering a free colorectal cancer screening. This has been going on for several months.
Wed, 21 Sep 2016
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hello,
1) Symptoms of bloating, light colored stool, indigestion, light stool all suggest possibility of irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea type)
2) DO you experience abdominal pain in center part? Do you have habit of alcohol consumption? If answers to both these are yes, then you might have possibility of indigestion secondary to chronic pancreatitis, in which lack of pancreatic enzymes not allow fat to digest and therefore produce these symptoms. However this is chronic condition since long duration.
3) Generally, colo-rectal cancer has wide range of presentation depending on site of cancer which range from abdominal pain, weight loss, decreased appetite, blood in stool (very minute to large quantity). For screening purpose blood test of CEA is very sensitive method for colo-rectal cancers and then can be proceed to colonoscopy based on result of CEA.
4) Since you have symptoms bloating and loose stool, I suggest to proceed with USG abdomen (for pancreatitis), CEA (for screening of colorectal cancer), if CEA value is high or USG abdomen can not find any cause then proceed for colonoscopy.
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What Causes Abdominal Pain,loose And Dark Brown Stools?

Hello, 1) Symptoms of bloating, light colored stool, indigestion, light stool all suggest possibility of irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea type) 2) DO you experience abdominal pain in center part? Do you have habit of alcohol consumption? If answers to both these are yes, then you might have possibility of indigestion secondary to chronic pancreatitis, in which lack of pancreatic enzymes not allow fat to digest and therefore produce these symptoms. However this is chronic condition since long duration. 3) Generally, colo-rectal cancer has wide range of presentation depending on site of cancer which range from abdominal pain, weight loss, decreased appetite, blood in stool (very minute to large quantity). For screening purpose blood test of CEA is very sensitive method for colo-rectal cancers and then can be proceed to colonoscopy based on result of CEA. 4) Since you have symptoms bloating and loose stool, I suggest to proceed with USG abdomen (for pancreatitis), CEA (for screening of colorectal cancer), if CEA value is high or USG abdomen can not find any cause then proceed for colonoscopy.