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What Causes Clay Coloured Stool In A 50 Year Old Woman?
Question: I have mostly clay colored stool that I noticed about 2 weeks ago. I am a 50 year old female who takes no medications. My mother has beta thalassemia anemia, me not that I know of. Two days ago I stated eating molasses and had some liver, the stool color changed to light brown. My concerns, do I have biliary problems, hepatitis, pancreatitis. I don't have any abdominal pains but sometimes I feel fatigued. I am considering an appointment to gastroenterologist to check my blood and stool.
Brief Answer:
Most likely hepatobiliary obstruction.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Clay colored stool is usually caused by a blockage in the biliary system, which you mentioned. I don't know how long it takes to get in to see an gastroenterologist in your area, but if it takes a while, then go in to see your primary care doctor who will (or should) order an ultrasound of the gall bladder, liver, and pancreas. That will help start to sort things out and can be diagnostic if there are "silent" gall stones. If gall stones block the outflow of bilirubin, that can cause the clay colored stools. It sometimes causes the urine to be dark, too.
About the Beta Thalassemia, it can cause an increased rate of gall stones. So this is something that would be worth looking into. Your primary doctor or gastroenterologist can order a Peripheral Smear. This is like a CBC, but not run through an automated machine - the lab staff actually look at the blood for abnormalities.
So that will give you something to get you started and may show the answer. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Most likely hepatobiliary obstruction.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Clay colored stool is usually caused by a blockage in the biliary system, which you mentioned. I don't know how long it takes to get in to see an gastroenterologist in your area, but if it takes a while, then go in to see your primary care doctor who will (or should) order an ultrasound of the gall bladder, liver, and pancreas. That will help start to sort things out and can be diagnostic if there are "silent" gall stones. If gall stones block the outflow of bilirubin, that can cause the clay colored stools. It sometimes causes the urine to be dark, too.
About the Beta Thalassemia, it can cause an increased rate of gall stones. So this is something that would be worth looking into. Your primary doctor or gastroenterologist can order a Peripheral Smear. This is like a CBC, but not run through an automated machine - the lab staff actually look at the blood for abnormalities.
So that will give you something to get you started and may show the answer. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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