Update... Still getting yellow balls in stools [with images]

Posted , 212 users are following.

Hello everyone,

If you've seen my previous discussion from last year, you will know I was having problems with undigested food, strands of fibre and these yellow balls in my stool.

After eliminating dairy and going vegan once again, the symptoms cleared up for a bit. However, after a couple months, the strands of fibre and yellow balls have come back!

I'm once again worried about these yellow balls - they're a bit hard to touch, but squidgy and semi-solid in the middle (it's not sweetcorn - the balls are bigger, plus I haven't eaten any in the past week to rule this out anyhow). They appear more so when my stools are harder but can also appear in soft stools.

Is anybody experiencing similar symptoms or does anyone have any ideas about what these could be?

Pictures are below.

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3 likes, 280 replies

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  • Posted

    Yes, I have been wondering what this chickpea like thing was as I haven't been consuming any food which resembles it.

    But from many forums, I have found this a common thing for people who take Pristiq tab at bedtime. Do you?

  • Edited

    Ive also got similar. Ive had IBS for over 20 years. Not a clue what these are but know i have fatty liver and an enlarged spleen. Currently waiting on my tests

    Mine are yellow on the outside and white inside. Not powdery, more solid with a creamy texture when you squish it.

  • Posted

    Hi! not sure if i am two years too late to reply to this:

    are you taking medication with "slow release?"

    slow release meds are known to do this occasionally...and in some patients, it can happen very often. The shell of the slow release meds can sometimes be hard, and at times, not break down.

    Ask your doc for a list of your meds and to advise you if any are slow release - if yes, you have found your answer to all this.

    Good luck! 😃

  • Posted

    I also take bupropion and just had a colonoscopy. Today I passed one of these yellow balls with my bowel movement. This is the first and so far only time it has happened but haven't had another bm yet. Sounds like a pattern. I was told I had polyps removed and have diverticulosis.

  • Posted

    alright totally sucks that I am here relating with you on this. But this has been happening to me too this past year. I was super concerned about these perfectly circle things coming out of my butt. Today I was able to cleanly sift one out as well and put it in a sandwich bag. When I was observing it, it was hard but squishy and then popped. It was still hard and was actually covering something. When I uncovered it, to my surprise it was a perfectly formed pill.

    I read somewhere else someone took buproprion and had the same issues. I'm unsure what pill it was that I pooped, my bupropion or lexapro but it was absolutely a pill.

    Can't tell you exactly why this is happening. I'm a Veteran so I might die before I actually get a call back from the V.A . But if you're on medications I would definitely look into seeing if its the same issue for you and if youre having a malabsortion issue in which case your body maybe struggling to also break down nutrients from food.

  • Posted

    It's just Ghost pills. Are you taking a long acting medication? Basically those go through the digestive system and come out looking like grape shape potatoes or something... depending on the shape of your pills.Since yours don't still look like pills, I would not worry about it at all.

  • Edited

    Hello all! These are most definitely "ghost tablets" in the stool. They come from any sort of medication that is "extended release." The body absorbs the active ingredients that are inside the pill, and excretes the insoluble outside membrane.

    Many pills of this kind are round and white to start. Then, they swell slightly and take on a yellow color along the digestive tract. You'll notice that they are either empty, have a bit of powdered/chalky remnants inside, or have gotten filled with fecal matter. All of this is normal and not to be worried about!

  • Edited

    I am a retired registered nurse, and have seen a lot of poop in my day, but I’ve never seen anything like these before. Believe me nurses have to look at a bunch of poop. I recently found one of these in my stool for the first time. It is not corn, not a pill or pill shell and it's nothing I have eaten. Every since i found it, i usually see one about every day. They are about the size of a corn nut, sometimes a little smaller and the outer shell is very hard. Sometimes the inside is very yellow and has a thick "pus" consistancy.(pictures attached:) imageimage

    Sorry to be so graphic but that's the nurse in me. I'm at a loss! I am due to get blood drawn soon and I will have them check my cholesterol. Other than that, I have no idea! It's weird! If any one finds the answer, let us know.

  • Edited

    Did anyone get any answers on this. i see the exact same yellow squishy type things in my stool same as original poster. I dont have a gallbladder either these are yellow and seem squishy. Does not seem like a tablet shell or seems not to be stones as i have no gall bladder. Could this be globs of fat we are not digesting most who post here seem to have no gallbladder. Is it a malabsorption issue? Did anyone get any definitive answers

    • Posted

      I have been wondering if these are like a pancreas cyst or something that can be passed into stool, I had my gallbladder out in 2006, this began after my second son was born in 2014, these don't show up on imaging, and nothing takes them away. I have been told I have extra pancreas on the outside of my pancreas, born that way... but no one(doctors) believe me I think. life is less lived because of this.

  • Edited

    ok, this is remarkable, I have been getting this since 2014. I have had a nightmare of a time trying to figure them out too.

    they are solid white, mine are more redish in color, they float, are not hard as a rock, a tad soft. they can be pyramid shaped, cube like, and reverently round or oval shaped.

    I have much stomach pain before I am gonna pass one. but I have had times where I pass a couple in one sitting. I have had it happen where I poop like 50 tiny round ones, they float on top of the water in the toilet.

    I passed two today. almost 3/4 of an inch long, 1/2 inch diameter.

    very ill feeling, I have had all the above, from swollen and tight bloating, piercing tearing pain, deep dull ache. in abdominal.

    in the last month or more, I am gluten free, but get full fast and not a big appetite. I am losing weight and inches, not really working at it though, I am honestly concerned.

    I have had multiple mri of abdomen with and without contrast, ct scans, ultrasounds, mrcp, barium study, x ray, nothing shows anything. even scopes upper and colonoscopy multiple times. I have had stool studies, and fecal fatty count, all normal. I assure though this is not normal.

    my spleen will be mildly enlarged generally, and I had gastric sleeve in november 2021 before these started. I got really sick the weekend this condition began. high fever, vomiting uncontrollably. and I ended up in the hospital 4 days long, pumped up with antibiotics for at least 3 days straight. and it was never determined what was the cause. I was discharged, before I left to go out to my car, I had a tummy ache and passed my first "stone" or whatever they are. I told a nurse there, they said it was probably something I ate and never looked at it.

    long story short, this condition only worsens with pain, and other symptoms. and doctors refuse to examine these, or even look at a photo. I am also very frustrated and discouraged. 1,000 of dollars later in medical bills, we have no idea, I have gotten worse, and have upset many doctors, life is very limited. I live in constant pain, I have irritable bowel symptoms with constipation, much upper abdominal pain, and lower. I hurt after I eat.

    the covid vaccine made me very sick with gi issues, even white stools. I really think I will die of this someday and no one will very understand until they do a biopsy on me. such a sad truth.

    let me know how you are.

    • Posted

      You are not alone! ive experienced the exact same infuriating dismissive attitude from health care professionals and i literally was about to give up bc neg tests apparently where they think the job ends! doesn't end for us until there's an answer or solution to our pain and miserableness. im still going dr to dr bc on top of these same exact issues (minus the quantities uve experienced at 1 time) i have multiple other health issues (no diagnosis yet despite getting worse). dont give up. literally had to keep getting new dr til someone listened. Please keep trying!

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