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colors of Stool ... anyone else

Posted , 8 users are following.

patricia61469
patricia61469

I will try not to be grafic here. I have read online that different stool colors mean different things. Mine has been a kinda golden color..I am off for my Hida scan (finally on Tuesday) and it cannot come soon enough. The pain under my right rib is driving me nuts. 

Have any of you also had the different colored stool. I am so afraid this test will come back normal and then where will I be. This has been going on for months.. Will I have to fight to get this pain gone. I would like to know from some of you what your experience was.. I mean I must be fairly healthy as my blood, ultrasounds and scope all came back with no apparent worry. ( some inflamation in my pancreas and stomach and some extra bile or something..)

I really cannot eat as I just get too sick, am off work since Sept with this feeling so sick and weak. Took all this time for these tests as I live in Alberta, and I am so worried they will just sweep me under the table if this Hida scan shows nothing. I am in terrible pain every day, even more when I eat. Have lost 25 pounds in the past 6 weeks and am at my witts end. I did need the weight loss as I am still at 190 pounds and overweight I know. I am 60 years old and would not like to live the rest of my life in pain and sickness. Thanks for being supportive as I am sure many, many of you have been in my place before. My husband is so sick of hearing bout it!!!

2 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • lorrie40794
    lorrie40794 patricia61469

    Posted

    Same  here but not all the time. Usually when stressed or not eating enough 

  • Scottie13
    Scottie13 patricia61469

    Posted

    Yep my poo used to go really light/yellow when I was having attacks which is how I knew it was the gallbladder. My first ultrasound showed small stones but when I was admitted to hospital with suspected cholecystitis they did another ultrasound and although the gallbladder was very distended and painful when being scanned, they couldn’t see the stones on that ultrasound. So the surgeon was convinced it wasn’t gallbladder! Sent me for a gastroscopy (endoscopy) which funnily enough came back ok. A different consultant still thought it may be gallbladder so got sent for the HIDA scan. That showed ejection fraction of 31% (with 35% or more being normal). Ended up with the gallbladder out about 3 weeks later after emergency admission for cholecystitis again. 

    I wouldn’t wish the pain I was in from June until August on anyone! The nausea was so horrendous as well.

    Really think the ejection fraction on your HIDA scan will be low and you’ll finally have some answers. 

    What’s the timescale like for gallbladder removal over there? xx 

    • patricia61469
      patricia61469 Scottie13

      Posted

      Thanks Scottie, it is not fun for sure..I will let ya know how things go..
    • Scottie13
      Scottie13 Beenthruit

      Posted

      Go through phases of feeling not too bad but still keep getting fevers. Surgeon requested more bloods then said if they were ok then he doesn’t think it’s anything to do with the surgery. He’s always been focused on bloods though! He was like that with another lady in the ward who was seriously ill as well. 

      So I’m off for a ct scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis to see if they can figure out what’s causing the fevers. And to see a general medicine doctor at hospital as it’s gone past what GP can do. Don’t want to be proven right again that there’s something not quite right! 

      How you feeling now? xx

    • Beenthruit
      Beenthruit Scottie13

      Posted

      Think you’re right to find out what’s causing these fevers, Scottie. Clearly something isnt right. CT should at least put your mind at rest. Did you have them before surgery?

  • Beenthruit
    Beenthruit patricia61469

    Posted

    The colour bowel motion you describe Is common with gallbladder issues and due to the presence of bile. You can be as graphic as you like here. Should your stools become pale and chalky and your urine dark, you may have jaundice. This is often accompanied by itching, feeling shivery and generally unwell. You need to see a doctor at once if this happens as it has the potential to be life threatening.

    You have my sympathy regarding the pain. It sounds like you’re really struggling with food, but you do need to eat something. Keep food plain and meals small: bananas, rice, plain toast, baked or mashed potatoes, pears, coffee are all supposed to be good for gallbladder problems.

    I’m sure the HIDA will show that your gallbladder isn’t functioning as it should. Gallstones don’t always show up on ultrasound, especially if small or there is sludge present.

    Try to stay positive.

    • patricia61469
      patricia61469 Beenthruit

      Posted

      Thanks,  I will try what you mentioned about the food. I am hungry but so afraid of the pain. I have a high pain tolerance but maybe not as good as I used too. I am so hoping that they figure it all out which I know takes time. Just can't come soon enough for me.

  • hope4cure
    hope4cure patricia61469

    Posted

    Patricia sorry you have been thru so much pain and I get it. I went theu many months of tests and pain. I had all the symptoms  and it turned out to be gallbladder stones blocked my bile duct. I was happy to finally get the thing out! 

    Hope you can get this sorted out soon.

    • patricia61469
      patricia61469 hope4cure

      Posted

      Thanks so much, I am so glad for the support on this site. It really does help. 
    • Micklemus
      Micklemus patricia61469

      Posted

      If a person has gall stones it may well be worth reading all the literature re Ursodioxycholic acid tabs. The USA are definitely more educated than UK in expertise and this may well be driven by experience and research into gall stone problems.

      My experience with gall stones was that I could feel my gall bladder as a lump under my right rib cage. The sickness and pain and bloating was with me for two years. The sickness came on just before I went to bed and would continue to the early hours. No one could stand that sort of feeling for more than a couple of nights in a row. One eminent doctor phisician said he cannot usually feel any gall bladder but he could definitely feel mine!  

      I had 5 stones that were calcium / uric acid based the biggest 17mm. After a lot of lemon and

      olive oil as per the USA peoples advice I think I passed a couple of stones but then I started the ursodioxycholic acid tabs the dose of which is based on weight. I took 650 mg in the evening as my weight is 12 st 8 lbs.  After a year my stones were 2 and the biggest about 10mm.

      I was told by one doctor registrar that removal of my gall bladder was the only option! She was wrong because the gastric surgeon who is her tutor said = yes ursodioxycholic acid will dissolve

      you particular gall stones and so he gave me the first prescription and I had my GP give me the repeat scripts. After a year I did not have any more symptoms and three years on I am the same

      but I have the odd twinge which I think is due to the small stones that are left. I must add that I stopped taking the Urso after that year of treating the stones with the acid. I was on two months antibiotics for waterworks problems so that the reasoning behind stopping the Urso. I have a good stock of Urso and will not hesitate hitting the residue of stones with another course of Urso. They most definitely avoided me having to have my gall bladder removed.

      The surgeon who gave me that first script said taking 'urso' is a horrible way of getting rid of  gallstones but I honestly did not find any problem whatsoever. He has conratulated me in what I did and also added that he was perfectly happy for me to continue the Urso treatment of my stones as they seem to suit me well.  I believe not all patients are suited to the Urso but liver function tests are carried out before the course and during as well to see that the liver is not suffering. I did not have a perfect liver to start with but my liver is still well as far as I know.

      I have spoken to a lady and a gentleman who tell me their gall bladders were on the verge of bursting when they had them out. On was rotten and the other swollen as mine was. It seems to me that doctors are capable of neglecting a persons gall bladder even when they complain about symptoms ! The seriousness of gall bladder problems seems to warrant close attention by all those dealing with those problems so lets all hope that there will be an improvement in help in that and I might add other fields such as and especially Tuberculosis  related health issues some of which are 'off the radar' in the medical profession.

    • patricia61469
      patricia61469 Micklemus

      Posted

      Thanks, that is very interesting and I have heard nothing like this before. I am so glad this worked for you and you were able to keep your galbladder. There is so many breakthru'sin modern medicine. I will do some reading on this subject. Thanks so much

       

  • anita_kuma15317
    anita_kuma15317 patricia61469

    Posted

    Hi I am in my 7mths of operation of removing my gallbladder. I do experience some pain and my stools are green in colour.

    Went back to my surgeon he did ultrasound and blood tests. All normal readings and the colour of my stools can be due to my bile. So not worry so much. It will take time for our body to adjust. Take care.

    • Beenthruit
      Beenthruit anita_kuma15317

      Posted

      Hi Anita! Try eating more fibre. NHS recommends 30 grams a day. Gradually increase it. Eat brown rice, wholemeal bread and pasta, skin on potatoes, baked beans and lots of fruit and veg to increase fibre. This reduces the amount of bile in your system by blotting it up.
  • JoannaFMc
    JoannaFMc patricia61469

    Posted

    Hello Patricia

    Although I have not had any discoloration in my bowel movements, I too have been suffering under the right rib for about a year now with that pain. It is hard to bear sometimes and you are off to a right start in getting that Hida Scan, Im currently waiting to get mine through my Drs referrel and hes already told me that although my bowel movements havnt been discolored, he feels that my Gall Bladder is going out on me because of the Acute Pancreatitus I had last July, which they have no clue what caused it because I dont drink and they found no Gall Stones when they did an MRI on me and a Sonogram, its ideopathic, thats what they call something that they cant find the cause of. Anyway, my Dr. gave me the medicine Ondansetron hcl 8mg for my Nausea and it has helped with that and helped my appetite as well it feels like so I would ask your Dr if you keep feeling nauseated and not able to eat, for that particular medicine, it is great to keep that Nausea down, has been a life saver for me. Anyway, the HIDA is the right direction and I would just stay after the Dr if they dont find anything through that. Where there is pain there is something going on and you, nor anyone should have to suffer because a Dr. brushed it off saying its all in your head...some do that I have learned through this site and that is sad. Hope you get to feeling better soon and your hubby too!

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