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What Causes Bright Yellow Foamy Stools After Gallbladder Removal?

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Posted on Tue, 5 Sep 2017
Question: I had a colonoscopy 3 years ago and a neuroendocrine tumor was removed.
I've had a couple of sygmoiscopies since.
Going to have another colonoscopy in late May this year.
My bowel movements vary between normal and soft serve.
My question is : I sometime have small amount of mucus (not much) and it's yellow. Every time I see yellow mucus I worry about blood. Is yellow looking mucus related to blood? I should also add that maybe 4 times a year or so I'll have normal stools followed by watery bright yellow foamy diarrhea. My gallbladder was removed over 10 years ago.
My bowels are very sensitive to antibiotics now, it takes several weeks for them to return to normal after I take antibiotics.
Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Removal of gall bladder causing improper fat digestion.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query,

As per your query mucous is not related to blood. Some amount of mucus in the stool is normal; however, significant amounts of mucus is indicator of some underlying pathology.

In your case, improper digestion and emulsification of fat is the main cause.

- Although the color of stool can be affected by different foods and medications, it is typically brownish due to digestion of bile salts, digestive agents made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. A reduction or absence of bile salts can cause the stool to become yellow or pale. So, we can see gallbladder has a big role when it comes to color. Also to mention that bile stored in it digests and emulsifies fat, which is responsible for proper fat digestion and absorption in intestine leading to non mucoid sools.

Likely possibilities in your cases are-

1) Irritable bowel syndrome may cause changes in bowel habits. It may also cause mucous which can gives stool a stringy appearance. Some intestinal infections such as salmonella, gastroenteritis, and shigella may cause increased mucous production.. Mucous is a protective mechanism of our body.When body is attacked by a outside irritant it secrets large amount of mucous to trap it.You are possibly having irritable bowel syndrome.Your intestines are secreting mucous as a result of irritation.

2) After removal of gall bladder, bile gets secreted by liver enters into intestines directly. As there are no bile reserves available the digestion of fat becomes difficult. This undigested fat can be seen floating in form of yellow mucous.

Answer 1- No yellow looking mucous is not related to blood. As gall bladder has been removed digestion fats are not proper causing mucous in stools.

Due to repeated colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy your intestinal flora has been destroyed over years. Poly ethylene glycol electrolyte solution given every time kills most of the good bacteria in your intestine hence causing indigestion soft stool and constipation.

Though not asked, please start taking a probiotic three times a day.They help restoring the already destroyed flora. As the flora is replenished again overall digestion would improve apart from that add 15-gram Metamucil in your diet every day.They are natural and increases bulk of your stools.

As bowel is antibiotic sensitive take a large amount of Probiotic, B-complex and Metamucil every day. It will help you in long term and would make digestion god.

Hope I answered your query, follow-ups are welcome.

Regards,

Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1986

Answered : 2906 Questions

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What Causes Bright Yellow Foamy Stools After Gallbladder Removal?

Brief Answer: Removal of gall bladder causing improper fat digestion. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query, As per your query mucous is not related to blood. Some amount of mucus in the stool is normal; however, significant amounts of mucus is indicator of some underlying pathology. In your case, improper digestion and emulsification of fat is the main cause. - Although the color of stool can be affected by different foods and medications, it is typically brownish due to digestion of bile salts, digestive agents made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. A reduction or absence of bile salts can cause the stool to become yellow or pale. So, we can see gallbladder has a big role when it comes to color. Also to mention that bile stored in it digests and emulsifies fat, which is responsible for proper fat digestion and absorption in intestine leading to non mucoid sools. Likely possibilities in your cases are- 1) Irritable bowel syndrome may cause changes in bowel habits. It may also cause mucous which can gives stool a stringy appearance. Some intestinal infections such as salmonella, gastroenteritis, and shigella may cause increased mucous production.. Mucous is a protective mechanism of our body.When body is attacked by a outside irritant it secrets large amount of mucous to trap it.You are possibly having irritable bowel syndrome.Your intestines are secreting mucous as a result of irritation. 2) After removal of gall bladder, bile gets secreted by liver enters into intestines directly. As there are no bile reserves available the digestion of fat becomes difficult. This undigested fat can be seen floating in form of yellow mucous. Answer 1- No yellow looking mucous is not related to blood. As gall bladder has been removed digestion fats are not proper causing mucous in stools. Due to repeated colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy your intestinal flora has been destroyed over years. Poly ethylene glycol electrolyte solution given every time kills most of the good bacteria in your intestine hence causing indigestion soft stool and constipation. Though not asked, please start taking a probiotic three times a day.They help restoring the already destroyed flora. As the flora is replenished again overall digestion would improve apart from that add 15-gram Metamucil in your diet every day.They are natural and increases bulk of your stools. As bowel is antibiotic sensitive take a large amount of Probiotic, B-complex and Metamucil every day. It will help you in long term and would make digestion god. Hope I answered your query, follow-ups are welcome. Regards,