Oily Stools?

[whittie]

This is a question I am way to embarrassed to ask my own physician about face to face.  On occasion, I have bouts of Oily Stools.  It leaves oil slicks around the water in the bowl.  Does it always mean that you have pancreatitis?  Couldn’t it be some other benign reason?  It occurs about once a month I guess and only started in April.  I have absolutely no other symptoms really.  I feel perfectly fine.  I suspect it has something to do with me eating a higher than usual fatty diet the day before as this is always the case.  I did tell my doctor about it once but he did not seem concerned because the stools are always formed.  Any insight?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Possible causes can include chronic pancreatitis as well as malabsorption.  Tests to evaluate this would be sending the stool off for fecal fat tests.  Another test for malabsorption would be a blood test looking for celiac disease.

Pancreatitis can be evaluated via blood pancreatic enzymes - such as amylase and lipase.  Imaging studies can also be used to evaluate for pancreatic calcifications (suggestive of chronic pancreatitis).  

If negative, I would consider a colonoscopy for further evaluation.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[whittie]

I did have an ultrasound of the liver/pancreas region that came out fine.  

Do you think this could possibly be from the high doses of Fish Oil I have been taking.  I mean, the oil has to come out somehow right?