Are white stools normal for us?

I feel like I should know the answer to this, but, I don't.  Ha. 

When I was earlier out from my surgery, I would occasionally have darker brown stools just like pre-op.  This has pretty much ceased.  Occasionally I'll have a funky marble effect stool, but my poops are pretty much white almost 100% of the time now.

I know white stool is related to lack of bile--but does this indicate a problem for DSers?  I do not have a gall bladder.  I figured occasional white stools would be normal, I just wasn't sure if 24/7 white stools were ok.  Sometimes they are more of an orange color...I think from eating lots of tomatoes. :)

My pre-op and post-op stool look nothing alike whatsoever.  Now, it's a super light tan color. Always the same color, and shape. Definitely strange. I've wondered about this, too. I'm hoping that's normal, lol!!  I don't have a gallbladder either.

I don't know if it's normal or not. I have a range from light brown to tan and I have noticed that the color can change if I switch up my probiotics which I tend to do. I have never had a white stool though.

You may not have a gall bladder, but you still produce and use bile for digestion. When I had surgery I was told to contact the surgeon immediately if the stools turned white as it could indicate a blockage in the bilio-pancreatic limb. This can be very serious, so I would advise that you call your surgeon's office to see what they say.

ETA: I believe that blockage also causes pain. If you are not having pain, I'm not sure what is going on, but I would still suggest that you talk to your surgeon about it.

Kayla,

Well, I was gonna try to find the link, but when I plug "ghost poop" into the advanced search, I get blocked.  It thinks it's adult content.

Anyway, "Jupiter" was the member name, (I think her name's Sherri?), and if memory serves, there was an interesting thread.  I do remember that white poop IS NOT a good thing, particularly as far out as you are (early on, just about anything goes, as I remember).  And, yeah, it's about bile, somehow.

Sorry I can't remember more specific info, hopefully you can find something that is of use to you.

Take care,

Jupiter6 - Shari:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/jupiter6/

Maybe there's something in her blog?

Don't know.  What I remembered was a thread, and I'm pretty sure that the phrase "ghost poop" was in the title.
Thanks for finding that, though.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/3638928/A-MUST-READ-Mor e-about-Small-Bowel-Obstruction-IMPORTANT/

Is this it Caprice?

I don't think so, although I'm glad you linked that one, it was a good read.

My memory of it was that Shari started the thread, and was describing the ghost poop, and a whole lotta other people ended up having the same thing, occasionally (or variations thereof).

But, thanks, Eileen, for looking that one up.  Reminders about bowel obstructions are always good to review, particularly because of the orphaned limb.

Thanks guys.  I'm going to leave a message with my GI's nurse and see what they say. 

As some know, I suffer from chronic constipation, likely due to a colon motility problem.  I generally take motility meds but I will be undergoing a screening test soon and had to go off the meds...so in general I am just in discomfort right now due to pretty bad constipation.  My stools are generally very light in color but this morning I passed some that was probably the whitest I'd ever seen and it got me thinking.

I also usually take flagyl and stopped for the motility test so I guess it could be related to bacterial overgrowth in the bilio limb as well.

So...poop.  (or in my case...no poop. hehe)