Yellow smelly stools

Posted , 4 users are following.

For nearly 10 months my stools have a lot of the time been yellow, bulky or really smelly. Sometimes a combination of all three. My Gastro Doctor has ruled out IBS but thought I may have a Pancrease problem. He ordered a Faecal Elastase Test but it was normal. I still think I have a Pancrease problem but I can not get anyone to take me seriously. I have Epigastric pain about 15 minutes after I eat and sometimes it travels to my back. The nausea is now constant. The last two weeks have seen me lose 4lbs because I can barely eat and I have lost my appetite. I now weigh 98lbs. My Gastro Doctor arranged a Small Bowel mri the last time I saw him but I have not had it done yet. Can anyone tell me if this would show a Pancreas problem? 

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    Have they checked if it’s your gallbladder playing up? 

    They have similar symptoms and pain after eating certain food groups would come on with gallstones 

    Worth having a scan just to rule that out. 

    They usually do a mrcp scan for the pancreas with bloods abdominal scan and stool sample 

    The bloods would show up a rise I amalyse and lipase levels 

    • Posted

      They checked the Gallbladder last year and the scan was clear. Recently had bloods done and I think they checked Amylase so it was normal. I was just curios if the Bowel mri would show the pancreas as it’s near it.
  • Posted

    Have you had a 'Fecal elastase test' because it sounds as though you have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) which would indicate an issue with your pancreas?

    There is a possibility that you may have Chronic Pancreatitis.

    • Posted

      Just had one done in February and they said it was normal but they keep saying or hinting it may be Chronic Pancreatitis 
  • Posted

    I don't know where you live but try and get a referral to a Tertiary hospital that has a specialist pancreas unit.

    • Posted

      I live in Scotland so basically have to see who they send me to. If I go somewhere else I would need to pay and my Doctor would need to refer me.

       

  • Posted

    Type 'hepatobiliary in glasgow' into Google.

    Glasgow has a research centre for pancreas diseases. 

  • Posted

    Thanks will look into that.
  • Posted

    I have just looked but the only centre I could find was one for Pancreatic Cancer. There was a couple of private consultants but I couldn’t find the centre you were talking about. 
  • Posted

    You mentioned private, the specialists shown have private clinics but also work for the NHS at the pancreas centre in Glasgow. The best thing if you want private is to contact their secretaries by phone.

    Pancreatic disease and pancreas cancer are dealt with by the pancreas specialist.

    • Posted

      Thanks for the info. I can’t really afford to go private but when I searched it seemed to be private doctors who came up and the only centres I could find dealt with cancer. 
  • Posted

    Request an appointment through your GP with Mark Duxbury, Consultant Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic & General Surgeon at The Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

    There are pancreas specialist units also at Edinburgh and at Dundee but I don't know anything about them.

       

    • Posted

      Ok. Will look into this but don’t know if my GP will be keen as I am already seeing a Gastro Consultant from Gartnavel. I had trouble getting my GP to switch me from last Consulant to another one. 

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.