How does pancreatic cancer affect stool color and consistency. What are the key early warning signs of pancreatic cancer to be aware of. When should you see a doctor about potential pancreatic cancer symptoms.

Understanding Pancreatic Cancer and Its Impact

Pancreatic cancer is a serious condition that starts in the tissues of the pancreas, an organ located behind the lower part of the stomach. This type of cancer has one of the lowest survival rates among common cancers, making early detection crucial.

The pancreas plays a vital role in digestion and blood sugar regulation by:

• Releasing enzymes that aid in digestion
• Producing hormones that help manage blood sugar levels

The most common form of pancreatic cancer typically begins in the cells lining the ducts that carry digestive enzymes out of the pancreas. Given its location and function, pancreatic cancer can significantly impact various bodily processes, particularly digestion.

Stool Changes: A Key Indicator of Pancreatic Issues

One of the earliest and most noticeable signs of pancreatic cancer involves changes in stool color and consistency. These changes occur due to the cancer’s effect on the pancreas and surrounding organs.

How Does Pancreatic Cancer Affect Stool?

In the initial stages of pancreatic cancer, particularly when it develops in the head of the pancreas, it can press on the common bile duct. This pressure prevents the normal release of bile into the intestines, leading to a condition known as obstructive jaundice.

The obstruction of bile flow can cause several noticeable changes:

• Yellowing of the skin and eyes
• Darker urine
• Pale-colored stools
• Itchy skin

Characteristics of Pancreatic Cancer-Related Stool Changes

A key red flag for pancreatic cancer is the appearance of acholic stools. These stools have distinct characteristics:

• Clay-colored appearance due to lack of bile pigment
• Pale, fatty, and greasy texture
• Often foul-smelling
• Difficulty flushing away in the toilet
• Varying colors: light green, pale brown, orange, yellowish, or even white
• Frequent, loose, sloppy, and large in volume

These changes in stool are primarily caused by pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, a common consequence of pancreatic cancer.

Other Early Warning Signs of Pancreatic Cancer

While stool changes are a significant indicator, there are several other symptoms that could signal pancreatic cancer:

1. Abdominal pain
2. Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
3. New onset diabetes
4. Changes in bowel habits
5. Indigestion
6. Nausea and vomiting
7. Unexplained weight loss
8. Weakness
9. Non-cardiac chest pain
10. Shoulder pain
11. Loss of appetite

The Importance of Early Detection in Pancreatic Cancer

Early detection of pancreatic cancer can significantly impact treatment outcomes and survival rates. However, due to its location deep within the abdomen, pancreatic cancer often goes undetected until it has reached an advanced stage.

Why is Early Detection Challenging?

Several factors contribute to the difficulty in detecting pancreatic cancer early:

• Lack of specific symptoms in early stages
• Deep location of the pancreas within the body
• Rapid progression of the disease
• Absence of reliable screening tests for the general population

Given these challenges, it’s crucial to be aware of potential warning signs and seek medical attention promptly if they occur.

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, particularly changes in stool color and consistency, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis can make a significant difference in treatment options and outcomes.

What to Expect During a Medical Consultation

When you visit a doctor with concerns about potential pancreatic cancer symptoms, they may conduct several tests:

• Blood tests to check for infection and liver function
• Tests for pancreatic markers such as CEA and CA 19-9
• Imaging tests like liver ultrasound or CT scan to examine the liver and bile ducts

These tests help in diagnosing the underlying cause of your symptoms and determining the appropriate course of action.

Risk Factors and Prevention of Pancreatic Cancer

While the exact causes of pancreatic cancer are not fully understood, certain risk factors have been identified:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Diabetes
• Family history of pancreatic cancer
• Age (risk increases with age)
• Exposure to certain chemicals

While some risk factors like age and family history can’t be changed, others can be modified to reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Preventive Measures

To lower your risk of pancreatic cancer, consider the following lifestyle changes:

1. Quit smoking or don’t start
2. Maintain a healthy weight
3. Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
4. Exercise regularly
5. Limit alcohol consumption
6. Manage diabetes effectively if you have it

Treatment Options for Pancreatic Cancer

The treatment approach for pancreatic cancer depends on various factors, including the stage of the cancer, the patient’s overall health, and personal preferences. Common treatment options include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Palliative care

Often, a combination of these treatments is used to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Emerging Treatments and Research

Researchers are continually working on developing new and more effective treatments for pancreatic cancer. Some promising areas of research include:

• Personalized medicine approaches
• Novel immunotherapy techniques
• Targeted therapies that exploit specific genetic mutations
• Improved early detection methods

These advancements offer hope for improved outcomes in pancreatic cancer treatment in the future.

Living with Pancreatic Cancer: Coping Strategies and Support

A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be overwhelming, but there are various ways to cope and find support:

1. Educate yourself about the disease and treatment options
2. Communicate openly with your healthcare team
3. Seek emotional support from family, friends, or support groups
4. Consider counseling or therapy to manage emotional stress
5. Maintain a healthy lifestyle to support your overall well-being
6. Explore palliative care options to manage symptoms and improve quality of life

Remember, everyone’s experience with pancreatic cancer is unique, and it’s important to find coping strategies that work best for you.

Resources for Pancreatic Cancer Patients and Caregivers

Numerous organizations provide valuable resources and support for those affected by pancreatic cancer:

• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)
• American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute
• Cancer Support Community
• Local hospital support groups

These organizations offer information, support services, and sometimes financial assistance to help patients and caregivers navigate the challenges of pancreatic cancer.

Change in stool colour and type is one of the most common early sign to spot

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01/6Spotting early signs of cancer is important

According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers. This makes it all the more important to spot the early warning signs of this serious health condition.

Health experts believe paying attention to the changes in your bowel habits and stool type could help in noticing the warning signs even in the initial stages. Being able to detect cancer early can create the difference between life and death.

readmore

02/6​What is pancreatic cancer?

Pancreatic cancer starts in the tissues of the pancreas, which lies behind the lower part of the stomach. Pancreas releases enzymes that help in aiding digestion and produces hormones which help in managing blood sugar.

The most common type of cancer that can form in your pancreas usually begins in the cells that line the ducts which carry digestive enzymes out of your pancreas.

Read more: Coronavirus: Do’s and Don’ts to protect yourself against top 5 COVID symptoms this Diwali

readmore

03/6​What causes changes in the poo

Changes in the stool is a common feature of pancreatic cancer. In the initial stages, cancer in the head of the pancreas can press on the common bile duct. This prevents the normal release of bile into the intestines, which can result in obstructive jaundice.

The patient notices yellowing of their skin and eyes, darker urine, and pale-coloured stools. Their skin can also become very itchy.

readmore

04/6​Note this change in stool colour and type

Acholic stools are an important and one of the most common red flags of pancreatic cancer.

According to the US National Library of Medicine, it is characterised by a clay-coloured appearance due to lack of the bile pigment.

Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency causes pale, fatty, greasy, often foul-smelling stools, which don’t easily flush away in the toilet. In terms of colour, the stool could be light green, pale brown, orange, yellowish, or even white. They tend to be frequent, loose, sloppy, and large in volume.

Read more: THESE foods and cooking styles are secretly raising your cholesterol levels

readmore

05/6​Other key signs of pancreatic cancer

Apart from changes in stool there are several other symptoms which could be associated with cancer in your pancreas. These include:

-Abdominal pain

-Jaundice

-New onset diabetes

-Change in bowel habit

-Indigestion

-Nausea and vomiting

-Weight loss

-Weakness

-Non-cardiac chest pain

-Shoulder pain

-Loss of appetite

readmore

06/6​When to see a doctor

If you notice any of these above mentioned symptoms, including pale and greasy stools, then you should consult your doctor. It is best to get a clear diagnosis from your doctor instead of dismissing or taking your symptoms for granted.

Your doctor will arrange blood tests to check for infection and liver function. They may also check for pancreatic markers such as CEA and CA 19-9 (most common tumor associated antigens used in the staging of patients with rectal cancer and other parts of the colon). Other tests such as a liver ultrasound or CT scan may be needed to check your liver and bile ducts.

readmore

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7 Signs Your Pancreas is in Trouble

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1

Pancreas Problem #1: Your poop looks funny.

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If you notice your stool is light colored and floating, that’s a sign of poor nutrient absorption, which could mean your pancreas is being hampered from doing its job.

“The enzymes your pancreas produces help you digest fats in your diet,” explains Andrew Hendifar, M.D., medical director, pancreatic cancer medicine, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The pancreas also helps your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, E, and K, he says.

When pancreatic disease messes with the organ’s ability to properly manufacture those enzymes, your stool looks paler and becomes less dense.

You may also notice your poop is oily or greasy.“The toilet water will have a film that looks like oil,” Dr. Hendifar says. That’s the dietary fat your body failed to break down, he explains.

If you notice your poop looks funky now and then, that’s no reason to freak out. But if all or most of your poops have these characteristics, let your doctor know.

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2

Pancreas Problem #2: Your insides ache.

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Abdominal pain is one of the most common symptoms of both pancreatic cancer and acute pancreatitis, which is a type of deadly inflammation, Dr. Hendifar says.

But that pain manifests in different ways depending on the underlying condition.

• If the pain seems to start in your middle before “radiating” into your middle or lower back—and if it lingers for weeks—that may be a sign of pancreatic cancer, Dr. Epperly says.

• If you’ve been on a proton-pump inhibitor for reflux or other GI issues and your symptoms don’t improve, let your doctor know. It’s common for doctors to mistake pain triggered by pancreatic cancer for reflux or other GI issues, many of which a proton-pump inhibitor should help resolve, Dr. Hendifar says.

• If pain comes on suddenly, is intense, and is focused in the middle of your abdomen, Dr. Epperly says, the issue could be acute pancreatitis.

In any case, stay calm. A lot of health issues—some serious, but many mild—can cause stomachaches or pain, Dr. Hendifar adds. Just get yourself to a doctor.

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3

Pancreas Problem #3: Diabetes rears its head.

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Your pancreas produces hormones that help control your body’s production of insulin, as well as your blood sugar levels. So a new diagnosis of diabetes could indicate pancreas problems. Same with people who have diabetes but suddenly find their disease hard to manage.

“Those sudden changes in diabetes status without an obvious explanation, those are things we see associated with pancreatic cancer,” Dr. Hendifar says.

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4

Pancreas Problem #4: You’re nauseated after burgers.

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Nausea and vomiting are symptoms to watch out for—particularly if you’ve been eating fatty foods, Dr. Hendifar says.

Again, because your pancreas produces enzymes that help your digestive system break down fat, diseases that affect your pancreas tend to mess with your body’s fat-digesting capabilities, which leads to nausea.

“Hamburgers are often nausea triggers, and so are avocados and nuts, which are all high in fat,” he says. “Pizza is another one that’s really tough for patients with a compromised pancreas.”

Ted Epperly, MD, president of Family Medicine Residency of Idaho, says pancreatitis is more likely than pancreatic cancer to lead to sudden vomiting and nausea.

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5

Pancreas Problem #5: You’re Losing Weight

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If you’re shedding weight without trying—and especially if you’re experiencing that pain that radiates from your middle to your back—that weight loss could be due to the digestive issues associated with pancreatic cancer or disease, Dr. Hendifar says.

Thyroid issues and some other health conditions can also explain rapid weight loss. In any case, you need to see someone.

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6

Pancreas Problem #6: You’re Seeing Yellow

Gëzim Fazliu / EyeEm//Getty Images

If you’ve noticed yellowing of your skin or in the whites of your eyes, these are signs of jaundice, which can also be a symptom of pancreatic cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic. Dark-colored urine is also a common symptom of advanced cancer. In any case, seeing unusual hues of yellow should signal you to call your doctor as soon as you can.

color and consistency. How to normalize stools in pancreatitis

In the article below, we will study what feces are in pancreatitis, the characteristics of the disease, as well as recipes for dishes allowed for such an ailment.

The disease is diagnosed not only in the elderly, but also in young people. As a rule, the diagnosis is established by the results of ultrasound. In addition to the analysis of urine and blood, patients need to donate feces so that specialists can study the intestinal microflora.

The main symptom of pancreatitis (ICD code 10 K 86) is colic and pain in the hypochondrium, aggravated by eating salty, fried, spicy, sweet foods. Approximately an hour after eating, seething begins in the intestines, accumulation of gases, often there are signs of intoxication, flatulence and stool disorder in the form of diarrhea. Pancreatitis is considered a dangerous disease. Therefore, it is necessary to take tests and undergo examinations. If you start the disease, it can lead to death.

Feces with a similar pathology

When studying the analysis, 3 components are taken as the basis: fecal consistency, color and substance. With such a disease, the feces, as a rule, have a liquid, mushy consistency, the output portions are small, often with poorly processed fats and fibers. This suggests that there is a lack of enzymes for the complete digestion of food. It is unprocessed fats that lead to liquid and rather frequent, more than 3 times a day, stools with pancreatitis, as well as pain under the left rib.

The color of feces in pancreatitis is mother-of-pearl or gray-dirty, especially during exacerbations of the disease.

The substance may be:

• ribbon-like, which may indicate the development of a tumor or the presence of spasms of the sphincter;
• cylindrical – this happens with a normal dosage of plant and animal food in the intestines;
• shapeless – in case of eating a lot of fiber or vegetarian food;
• in the form of dark sheep balls – this happens with constipation, if the patient has an ulcer.

The substance must consist of dense fractions and water. Normally, the chair should be regular – up to two times a day, but at least once every two days.

After a person visits the toilet, he should feel good and pleasant. Pain during bowel movements, a feeling of discomfort after that should not occur. The norm of feces in pancreatitis is of interest to those who are faced with such a pathology.

1. The daily norm is considered to be 150-400 g. If you eat plant foods, the amount of stool may increase, and if fatty – decrease.
2. Normal feces are light, gently sinking to the bottom in water.
3. Brown when mixed diet. Breastfed babies have yellow, golden stools.
4. In an acute attack, the color of the feces will be olive, closer to the grass color. The acute phase is always accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms in the form of nausea, vomiting.
5. If pancreatitis has green stools, this is a sign of severe inflammation in the pancreas. The color change occurs due to the fact that the required volume of bile and other digestive enzymes does not enter the intestinal lumen. If there is a high fat content of feces, the shade changes in any case.
6. In the presence of black color, one can judge about serious disorders in the body. Most often, this indicates the presence of an admixture of blood in the feces. Internal bleeding is not ruled out.
7. The stool should be soft in consistency. If there are diseases of the pancreas and constipation – it becomes dense, ointment.
8. If digestion in the intestines is disturbed, loose stools.
9. If peristalsis is increased, mushy.
10. When there is strong fermentation, the stool will be frothy.
11. The shape of feces is normal – sausage-shaped, cylindrical. The withdrawal is usually continuous.
12. Normal smell should not be too strong, after drinking milk it can be sour.
13. The acidity of feces is 6.8-7.6 pH is normal.

Pancreatitis (ICD code 10 K86) is caused by digestive disorders. This necessarily leads to a change in feces and its deviation from the norm. As already noted, during the diagnosis in the stool, undigested particles of food and fat can be found. The stool may turn white if bile has accumulated in the pancreas.

Fecal disorders in pancreatitis can be recognized independently. It sticks to the walls of the toilet bowl, has a viscous consistency, does not sink in water, is poorly washed off, and has a fetid putrefactive odor. To normalize the stool, along with the main treatment, a special diet and medications (probiotics) are prescribed.

In adult patients with pancreatic necrosis, calculous pancreatitis and other complications, all symptoms of poisoning are present. Patients suffer from nausea, repeated vomiting, constant heartburn, abdominal cramps.

In the case of constant errors in nutrition, there are problems with fecal discharge in pancreatitis. During fermentation in the intestines, the absorption of nutrients is blocked, due to which the patient receives less vitamins and minerals. This leads to exhaustion of the body and weight loss.

How to normalize stool in case of pancreatitis?

To get rid of diarrhea, follow a strict diet prescribed by your doctor. Moreover, patients should always adhere to special nutrition, and not from case to case. As a rule, diet number 5 is used for pancreatitis.

A balanced diet involves the consumption of fresh vegetables, fruits, cereals, dried bread. Ideally, the menu should be developed on an individual basis, taking into account the specific clinical picture. In the presence of mucus in the feces, therapy in a hospital or even surgery may be required. The laparoscopy method is usually used.

Restoration of the intestinal microflora is necessary to avoid radical intervention. Carry out cleaning with enemas 2-3 times a day for five days. After the cleansing is completed, probiotics are prescribed – preparations containing live bifidus and lactobacilli in their composition.

Most often, to normalize feces in pancreatitis, therapeutic measures are carried out using:

• analgesics;
• antibiotics;
• hormonal agents;
• vitamins;
• pain tablets;
• calcium preparations.

Enzymatic preparations ensure the release of a sufficient amount of pancreatic juice, which improves overall well-being, normalizes the color and substance of the feces. Due to problems with the stool, stress and emotional lability often occur. In this case, the doctor prescribes sedatives.

If the color of the feces changes, this will not be considered a sufficient criterion for a correct diagnosis. With modifications of feces, the appearance of an unpleasant odor and an uncharacteristic shade, in the presence of other symptoms, it is necessary to visit a doctor and undergo an examination. Any disease at an early stage is easier to cure than in advanced cases.

Pancreatic elastase in feces what does it show?

Is a representative pancreatic enzyme. According to its content in the feces, specialists determine the functional state of the gland, the presence of structural changes in its parenchyma and the physiological state of the tissue.

This enzyme is actively involved in the process of protein breakdown into amino acids. Pancreatic elastase, in addition to participating in digestion, also performs intrasecretory functions. The carbohydrate metabolism process is corrected and insulin is produced.

About 9% is the mass fraction of elastase in pancreatic juice. After the penetration of the enzyme into the small intestine, active cleavage of proteins begins.

So, what does pancreatic elastase show in feces? If the patient has a pathology of the pancreas, the level of the enzyme will be significantly lower than normal. Therefore, its definition is a standard marker for diagnosing digestive insufficiency.

The quantitative and qualitative composition of fecal elastase in chronic pancreatitis does not change in the process of moving along the structures of the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, according to the results obtained during the study, it will be possible to identify the existing pathology.

Prescriptions

When pancreatitis develops, it is necessary to follow a diet. Nutritious and useful in the disease pumpkin porridge. You will need a medium sized vegetable. It needs to be washed, peeled and cut. Put to boil for 20 min. Pumpkin should be completely covered with water during the cooking process. Then the rice is washed and added to the first component. Boil until tender on low heat, add water or milk. When the porridge is ready, beat the mass with a blender with a piece of butter.

Buckwheat with kefir

Recipes for dishes with pancreatitis are very diverse. Dishes can be not only healthy, but also tasty. This is a fairly simple recipe that speeds up the healing process. Buckwheat with kefir is a dietary product. It contains a lot of calcium, it perfectly restores the normal intestinal microflora. You need to take half a glass of cereal and one glass of kefir.

Step by step recipe:

1. Buckwheat is sorted, washed.
2. Placed in a deep dish, poured with kefir.
3. Cover with a lid and put in the refrigerator for 10-12 hours.
4. Slightly heated before serving in a water bath.

Salad

A light salad can be made with carrots and beets. Root crops are thoroughly washed, salted, steamed, peeled. After cooling, rubbed on a grater.

Put everything in a bowl and season with a little vegetable oil. The dish is decorated with herbs before serving.

Veal with cheese

This is a more satisfying recipe. Boil 100 g of rice with the addition of salt. Beets, eggs, veal are cooked in a double boiler. Cheese and yogurt should be bought with a minimum fat content.

Boiled beets are chopped, cheese is grated. Veal and eggs are also crushed. All ingredients are combined, seasoned with yogurt.

What other recipes are available for pancreatitis?

Caviar from zucchini

This dish requires crushed and thermally processed zucchini, which have a beneficial effect on the digestive tract.

Needed for caviar:

• 3 kg marrow;
• 1 kg carrots;
• 1 kg onion;
• 2 st. l. tomato paste;
• salt and sugar;
• olive oil.

Carrots, zucchini and onions are peeled and cut into circles. Spread on a deep baking sheet, pour over with olive oil, mix. Placed in the oven (200 degrees). Bake 30-40 min. Grind, add salt and sugar, boil on fire for 3 minutes. Ready caviar is laid out in banks.

For long-term storage, a teaspoon of citric acid is added, the jars are sterilized.

Soup

Chicken breast required for soup. It is pre-boiled, divided into fibers. Ready meat is poured with cold water, potatoes and carrots are added. Cook until vegetables are completely cooked. Using a blender, make a puree soup.

Omelet

In the presence of inflammation of the pancreas, a steamed protein omelet will be useful. Two chicken eggs are broken into a bowl, the protein is separated from the yolk. Add half a glass of milk. Stir, do not beat, pour into a container. Cover with a lid. Pour water into the pan, put a towel on the bottom.

When the liquid boils, immerse the container with the egg mass in it, cover with a lid. The fire is reduced to a minimum. When the acute stage of pancreatitis has passed, you can make an omelette with the addition of yolks, it is convenient to cook it in the oven.

Pilaf

For this dish, the meat must be lean, eg rabbit, veal, skinless chicken, turkey. As a seasoning, you can use cumin, basil, parsley, barberry, sweet paprika.

The meat is cut into small strips along the grain. Carrots are chopped on a grater. Both components are placed in a saucepan, poured with water, salted.

A whole onion can be added to the dish, which must be removed at the end. Bring to a boil, add rice, add a little oil. When everything boils again, the fire is reduced to a minimum. As all the liquid is absorbed, the stove is turned off, the rice is left to languish for 20 minutes under the lid.

Green feces in pancreatitis, black, yellow, light or white

The pancreas performs endo- and exocrine functions in the body. It regulates blood sugar levels and is involved in the breakdown of complex compounds. Without it, the body is not able to properly absorb the beneficial components of food. Inflammation of the organ leads to a deterioration in the quality of human life.

An important indicator of a malfunction of the gland is a change in the type and color of stool. Let us consider in more detail what color the stool can be with pancreatitis and what deviations from the norm indicate.

Contents:

Color of feces in pancreatitis

The exocrine function of the pancreas consists in the secretion of pancreatic juice with enzymes for the breakdown of fats, proteins and carbohydrates . Amylase, lipase, elastase, trypsin, chymotrypsin are involved in the process.

Through the ducts, the secret enters the duodenum along with bile. If as a result of the disease there is a violation of this process, girdle pain and bloating occur, the color of the feces changes.

Green

Green stool in pancreatitis indicates inflammation. A single appearance of a chair of this color may indicate the use of products with similar dyes or indigestible cereals. Sometimes the color is determined by the use of algae in food, which contain chlorophyll in large quantities.

Yellow

Normally, yellow feces can appear in a person in the following situations:

• use of a large amount of dairy products;
• the use of pumpkin, persimmon, carrots, apples and pears of a yellow tint.

Important! In pancreatitis, this symptom can be observed in case of pressure of the pancreas on the gallbladder and its ducts or a violation of the outflow of their contents as a result of the appearance of an obstruction (stone or tumor).

Black

Black feces are not always observed in pathological conditions. Its color changes when used:

• activated charcoal;
• certain anti-inflammatory drugs;
• preparations containing iron;
• blackcurrant and grapes;
• beets;
• blood sausage.

Dark stool occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed and bleeds due to an ulcer in the stomach or intestines. The causes of this symptom are Crohn’s disease, cancer, lymphoblastic leukemia.

Does the color change when taking Pancreatin?

Light stool (or grayish) is often observed in pancreatitis, impaired liver function as a result of hepatitis, cholecystitis. The absence of color in the stools accompanies fermentative dyspepsia. At the same time, there is a strong stench.

Important! It is normal to have white stools when taking pancreatin or certain antibiotics. In this case, there is no need to worry. After the cancellation or revision of treatment, the stool acquires its usual color.

Light-colored feces are observed in infants and infants, as their diet consists mainly of milk. The same reason occurs in an adult if he eats a lot of fatty cottage cheese, cream and sour cream.

In fact, only green feces indicate problems with the pancreas, being a sign of obvious inflammation, sometimes it has a pearly or olive tint. Coloring the stool in other colors often indicates other diseases of the organs.

If stools take on an unusual color, it is best to see a doctor. This is especially important in cases where this symptom is accompanied by other negative symptoms.

Other properties

In addition to changing color, the stool may differ from the usual one in its structure, appearance, presence of inclusions. The following features indicate the pathology of the internal organs:

1. Ribbon-like flattened stool is observed with sigmoiditis. In some cases, it accompanies a cancerous tumor or spasm of the rectal sphincter.
2. The so-called sheep feces in the form of numerous hard balls of a dark shade most often indicates chronic constipation on the background of colitis or ulcerative processes.
3. Lack of shaped feces characterizes people who prefer to eat only plants. A vegetarian diet includes a lot of dietary fiber that is not digestible.
4. A sharp and putrid smell indicates a long stay of food in the intestinal cavity, when strong fermentation and putrefaction begin.
5. Frequent and loose stools (diarrhea) may be one of the symptoms of acute pancreatitis or exacerbation of a chronic disease. In this case, immediately after eating, bloating and spastic pains appear, after a short time, emptying is observed.
6. With inflammation of the pancreas feces have a shiny surface due to the presence of fat in it and a viscous consistency (sticks to the toilet bowl). When viewed with the naked eye, particles of undigested food (muscle and connective tissue fibers, starch grains) are visible in it.

In the absence of pathology of the gastrointestinal tract and a balanced menu, the feces are cylindrical in shape, dark in color and of medium consistency. It contains 20% solids and 80% water. The frequency of bowel movements should not exceed two times a day. In a healthy person, after emptying, there is a feeling of relief.

Important! If typical signs of pancreatitis are noted along with a change in stool, you should consult a doctor, pass the necessary tests and begin treatment.

Inflammation of the pancreas is usually accompanied by:

• girdle pain;
• increased symptoms after overeating and eating fatty or spicy foods;
• bloating, tenesmus.

In the absence of professional help, an acute process can turn into chronic pancreatitis. A sharp release of active enzymes, if they are not neutralized by special preparations, leads to self-digestion of the organ and necrosis.

Conclusion

If signs of inflammation of the pancreas appear, attention should be paid to the characteristics of the patient’s stools. They have a characteristic color, smell and texture.

Most often, gray or green stools are observed during exacerbation of pancreatitis.