Bloating, floating stool, abnormal liver enzymes

[Nordenfeldt]

I am at a loss. I have had floating stool for over a year and didnt really think anything of it. But in the last few weeks I have started to feel extremely bloated and uncomfortable after some meals (centred just above my belly button), which lasts for hours, even when I have not eaten much. Then, in a blood test I found two of my liver enzymes are slightly elevated (AST 86, ALT 70). I dont really have any other symptoms. I am male, 42. Any thoughts?

[lindabird22]

Celiac

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Agree that as suggested above, floating stools indicate a fat rich diet. The other causes could be Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), malabsorbtion, inflammatory bowel diseases and various infections of the colon. Blood tests will help detect infections, besides stool examination which will reveal fat malabsorbtion.  Colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy are procedures which are used to study the whole colon for infections and inflammations. Bacterial overgrowth is tested with a breath test. Please discuss these issues with your primary care physician when you happen to meet him.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[rpooo]

Your doctor should have concerns about the elevated enzymes. An ultrasound is need to check to condition of your liver. Something is irritating your liver such as alcohol, poor diet or medication. If left untreated and the irritation continues it could lead to advanced liver disease.

Judging from the information you gave poor diet could be the problem. This could lead to a fatty liver and advance from there. Whether or not your feces float is an indicator of a healthy diet. A good diet would result in the stool sinking to the bottom. A floating stool may be a symptom of a more serious problem but more than likely it is because you are eating too many fatty foods in your diet. Increased levels of nutrients in the stool are supplied to the normal bacteria that live in the gut, which in turn produce more gas. This results in more gas-rich stools that float. Lower the fat content of your food and should result in stool that sinks.

I recommend the ultrasound right away. Alcohol will quickly irritate the liver further so  absoloutly no alcohol, work on eating heathier foods and try to refrain from using pain medications. You should follow up with your doctor in two months for lab testing to check your livers condition.

Randy