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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/4/2017 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I'm trying to decode my body. We all know that the normal transit time from mouth to toilet is 24-48 hours, sometimes a little more -can somebody tell me how it's possible that, even after sitting in the colon for 24 hours, stool can still be light yellowy-brown?

Everyone says that yellowy-brown stool is indicative of fast transit time....so why would it not look like normal stool after sitting in the colon for a normal amount of time?

Post Edited (Canaveral) : 4/4/2017 11:37:21 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/4/2017 5:38 PM (GMT 0)

Canaveral said...
I'm trying to decode my body. We all know that the normal transit time from mouth to toilet is 24-48 hours, sometimes a little more -can somebody tell me how it's possible that, even after sitting in the colon for 24 hours, stool can still be light orangy-yellowy-brown? Why would it not look like normal stool after sitting in the colon for a normal amount of time?

All shades of brown and even green are considered normal in regards to the color of your stool. The orangy yellowy tint can be from foods you are eating or medications you are taking. I wouldn't worry about the color unless its white/clay colored, black or red.
Posted 4/4/2017 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
I forgot to stress that it's definitely not due to any food I'm eating, and I'm not taking any meds except Remicade. It was never like this before UC (or C Diff). Now it's like this 100% of the time.

I'm currently having one or two bowel movements in the morning, and that's it until the next morning. So my transit time is 24 hours, and it should look normal.

Post Edited (Canaveral) : 4/4/2017 4:50:06 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/5/2017 4:53 AM (GMT 0)
So light yellowish brown colour? More yellow than brown? Bile is what colours it brown.
Are you taking fibre supplements?

q
Posted 4/5/2017 10:50 AM (GMT 0)
I notice that mine is a lighter brown since having UC than it used to be, that being said I highly doubt that mine's sitting in my colon for 24-48 hours lol. I know my transit is way faster than it used to be, because if I eat something with corn in it there will be corn in my stool approx 12 hours after. That being said, if I'm sort of constipated, straining to go and I know more water has been absorbed, though not necessarily longer hours between stool passage, I notice it's darker, so it may have something to do with water content also? I notice it gets a lot lighter when I have diarrhea.
Posted 4/5/2017 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Yep, it's definitely more yellow than brown. And when I wipe, the residue is bright yellow. Should I take fiber supplements? I do have very little fiber in my diet.

Post Edited (Canaveral) : 4/5/2017 8:07:40 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/5/2017 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Bizarre - was just doing a search since my BM was more yellowish today - and of course my hypochondria is flaring now smile

Fortunately (?) I have an appointment with my GI today.
Posted 4/5/2017 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes fibre supplements can cause a lighter coloured stool when taken alone and not with food.

Go to your doctor and have a blood panel done to see if there is anything wonky regarding biliary issues.

So what do you eat daily as of late?

q
Posted 4/5/2017 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
I bet you're fretting over nothing. Stool color varies a lot due to diet and many factors. As long as your stool is predominantly a type of brown/tan/slight yellow tint/or slight green tint then you are okay. Unless you are passing bloody stool, or white then there's no cause for worry.
Posted 4/5/2017 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Probably not, but if there is change in colour that's increasing, best to have basic testing in that realm.

Colour is also subjective....interesting since bile in the colon during a scope, sans stool, is bright yellow.

Again, what are you eating during the day?

q
Posted 4/5/2017 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
This is going to sound horrendous, but I have 'safe' foods that I've found out work better for me than others, and have come to rely on. Macaroni and cheese and plain subs with nothing but grilled chicken and mozzarella. But I have experimented around before, and my stool is the same color no matter what I eat.

Based on your description, I think I must have a TON of bile in my colon. Because lately I've been having to wipe a LOT in order to get clean down there, and it's always this bright yellow residue. And I mean like, lemon yellow. I guess the stool itself is more of a brown, but I just have...profuse bright yellow residue that seems to stick to me.

Sorry for the TMI.

Post Edited (Canaveral) : 4/5/2017 3:00:07 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/6/2017 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
When I got diagnosed with UC I actually studied my poops intently. I even have posted here that I reached into the toilet on several occasions to physically examine the consistency of my poop and YES IT'S GROSS but I felt it necessary.(scrubbed with lots of soap and hand sanitizer afterward lol)
One thing I was also curious about was the exact time it takes my body to pass food starting from the time I eat it. The easiest way to tell is to eat a food that you can visually see in the toilet. I chose Corn as the body does not break it down like other foods and is easy to see visually when it comes out. You'll want to buy some whole kernal corn on the cob as it works the best. For good measure eat 2 cobs and then refrain from anymore corn until you see it come out in your bowel movement. The good thing about corn is that it stays soft and will not harm your bowel. You can easily see it embedded in your poop and some will float to the top of the water in the toilet. When you eat it, don't chew it up completely or into too tiny of pieces. It works great if you really want to know your travel time from mouth to toilet.

For me I did this experiment 3 times and all 3 times I found out that the food came out around 28-32 hours after I ate it. Might not be useful to you but for me it gave me a way to track how a food might affect my colon after I eat it. I could eat something spicy and know that it would take at least 28 hours to reach my lower colon where the irritation was. My UC went about 1.5-2 feet in and I was able to try different foods and know which one was passing in my lower colon because I knew the travel time. So if I felt more irritation or discomfort/pain I had a good idea of what I had eaten that was passing at that moment from my colon.

Now as far as color I can tell you that while on Balsalizide my poop turned yellowish. Once the Dr. switched me to Sulfazine EC my poop turned back to a dark brown within 2 days. So the color of your stool may be a product of a medicine your taking. I have taken medicines in the past that made my poop orangish and even one that turned it bright green. I don't think you have anything to worry about unless it is mixed with blood or mucus.

Post Edited (Phattwoohie) : 4/5/2017 9:18:13 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/6/2017 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Phattwooie.....that was my next question!
Canaveral....are you on Colazal?

If you're having gooey stuff, i think its excessive mucus with colazal if you're on it. If you're not on it, then it could be mixed in with a bit of stool and bile.

q
Posted 4/6/2017 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
My GI today seemed to think the yellow stool was bile related - and talked about eating more binding foods - cut back on metamucil... took some blood.
Posted 4/6/2017 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Canaveral,
I am in the same boat as you with recurrrent c. diff and my first thought could be totally wrong because this bacteria is getting me crazy/paranoid.
In my case, the more I am infected by c. Diff, the more my stools gets yellower day by day. When I went to the hospital for last c. Diff the nurse ask me about my stool color and she wasn't surprise when I told her it was bright yellw, its the answer she was looking for.
You seem to have normal transit, so i could be very wrong, stay alert and do a stool test if c diff symptoms comes back!
Posted 4/6/2017 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
As I mentioned earlier, I am not on any meds except Remicade. I am pratically overdosing on probiotics in attempt to stave off C. Diff recurrence though. However, the weird yellow residue started before I started taking so many probiotics.

I've also never had mucous before, even when I was flaring at my worst with uncontrollable watery D 10x a day. So I'm not sure why I'd be having mucous now?

I really feel like it's more bile related. I just can't grasp A. How it could stay in my colon for 24 hours and still be bright yellow, and B. Why it wouldn't be part of my regular solid normal colored poop after that length of time?
Posted 4/6/2017 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
When are you seeing your GI?

I would suggest you ask for a stool sample kit and have yhat checked.

q
Posted 4/6/2017 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Due to recurrent C. Diff, I've had more stool tests in the last two months than I can count on one hand.
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