Pale Stool. Had Tests done but nothing found

Dear MediWeb Doctors.

I have been having the following symptom for a two weeks now:

My stools have been a clay/yellow color. Sometimes they are solid and other times thin.

One week on from these test, my stool is still a pale/clay color, sometimes with a few dark bits. No blood and urine is fine.

I felt queasy in the stomach the first week but it seams better. I still feel what I can best describe as a 'hungry' feeling.

A physician prescribed the following tests; Electrolytes (ELY-0), FAECES MICRO (FM-0), Full Blood Examination (FBC-0) & Liver Function Tests (LFT-0). All tests came back indicating no problems.

I do have noticed no change in my eyes or skin colour. I am a fairly light-white-skinned caucasian male, aged 31.

I made no major diet changes in the last weeks. But since this began, I have begun to cut out high-fatty foods more.

After the text resaults, I did dine at an all-you-can eat establishment and had a bad once-off case of diarrhea that evening. Then I was unable to pass a stool for two days. However since then, clay/pale stools are continuing.

Are there any other points to discuss with my physician on this?

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  There are no doctors on this community, and currently the expert gastroenterology community is closed.  Do you take any medications?

[CalGal]

By clay color, are you saying the color is close to white? If so, please return to your doc and ask that your liver/pancreas and gallbladder be checked out further. Bile is the substance that gives the stool it's characteristic 'brown' color. It is secreted as a yellow/green, but as it passes through the digestive tract it slowly turns brown. When a stool turns white, it suggests bile is not being mixed with the 'leftover' food product. A number of conditions can cause the problem including gallbladder issues such as gallstones and spasms of the common bile duct.

[anonymousmoose]

Thanks CalGal,

Its not as bad (color wise) this week as last week. Although I'm still suffering from an unsettled stomach and the stools are very loose. I'm on 400MG Metrogyl now prescribed by my family doctor. I am finding my bowel movements are more frequent. 3 to 4 times a day.

[patient915]

Did your doctor do any testing before giving you the Metrogyl?  Did he say why he was giving you the Metrogyl?

[anonymousmoose]

He said my symptoms are consistent with a possible infection and he wants to see if the metrogyl helps.

My stool has returned to what I can say is a normal color but I'm having bowel movements 4-6 times a day. Also sometimes an upset stomach. And the stools are a bit loose.

A sign that things are clearing maybe?

[anonymousmoose]

Correction; I was meant to say the stools are a bit loose sometimes... not all the time. Also very in shape at different bowel movements.

[patient915]

I personally don't think your doctor should have perscribed antibiotics without first doing some tests (ex. giardia tests) to determine what is going on.  Antibiotics are overperscribed and this can lead to antibiotic resistent bacteria.  I would recommend starting on a probiotic so that the antibiotic doesn't damage your intestine as much.

[anonymousmoose]

three days ago I got one course (one time) of antibiotics by another doctor who sided with the view that this is likely to be a viral-infection.

Last two days I have abdominal pain yet my stools looked a lot better.

Today my stools were a mess again yet there is little to no pain.

I've been on a very healthy vegetable, rice, noodle and no-meat diet for two days now.

Do doctor ruled out the necessity for a scan and tells me it could take months to see a specialist.

[anonymousmoose]

Also want to report I had a case of greenish looking diarrhea, Should this be the digestive system cleaning itself out after all the vegetables etc I've been eating?

[patient915]

I think you need to have more testing done.  I would recommend seeing a different doctor and getting a second opinion.

[anonymousmoose]

I changed my diet a week ago to bread with apple sauce, fruit, noodles with vegetables with plenty of water. I also took 4 days, plus the weekend, off work.

This resulted in less pain and a better looking stool.

I went back to the office and didnt change my diet. It was still ok. Sometimes stomic cramps but no pain.

Yesterday I forgot my sandwiches at home and I bought apples for lunch and a Sesame Seed snack bar. I found that my symptoms started to return more-so with a yellow looking stool and the next morning, a normal with yellow stool a bit flaky.

I had an ultra-sound and a blood test but nothing was found.

I've been to 3 doctors and it will take 3 months for a colonoscopy booking

[patient915]

What were the three doctors that you went to (general practicioners, gastroenterologists, etc.)?  I would also recommend you start on a probiotic because you took an antibiotic which kills off the good bacteria in your intestines.

[anonymousmoose]

Forgot to say, I have been taking pro-botics for the last 3 weeks now.