Stool always floats (but fecal fat stool test was negative)

Thank you so much!

I’m sorry. How do they diagnose it?

Stool fat testing an fecal elastase.

Hi,

Has anyone had issues with floating stools? I have noticed recently, about twice a week, that some of my stools have been floating. They are fully formed, brown, and otherwise appear normal. I have had my liver enzymes tested recently, as well as lipase, and all has been normal. Should this be something I look into further or could it be triggered as a result of having a higher fat meal/diet? I have also recently had my gallbladder removed within the last two months, so not sure if that would make a difference.

Thanks!

Have noticed that and don’t know what the cause is other than ÉPI.

I join you in curiosity about the floaters. I think it is my inability to regulate fat in my diet; however, I need an official comment. I await further posts.

Floating stools can be a result of two conditions-steatorrhea which is the inability to digest fat as a result of a deficiency in the digestive enzymes known as Exocrine Pancreas Insufficiency (EPI). EPI can have overt symptoms indicating the need for Pancreatic Enzymes Replacement Therapy. When more subtle such as just floating stool, the fecal elastase test is performed to determine if the output of digestive enzymes from the pancreas is sufficient. A value over 200 indicates normal. A value of 100-200 is moderate impairment and under 100 indicates significant impairment. In the latter two situations, a pancrealipase will provide supplemental lipase enzyme.

Another cause is a decrease in bile salts which are stored in the gall bladder. When a fatty meal is consumed, a hormones for the intestine are involved with signaling the pancreas to produce and secrete more enzyme and the gall bladder undergoes contractions to inject bile through a sphincter where the common bile duct connects to the intestine. Bile is needed to emulsifynfats to make them easier to digest.

The third cause is eating a diet of high fiber vegetables and fruits that are difficult to digest and result in the production of excess gas that is mixed with the stool making it less dense and therefore floats. Hard to digest vegetables such as corn, peas, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts to name a few are composed of complex carbohydrates called oligosaccharides. The human pancreas does not produce the enzyme alpha-d-galactosidase which is specific to digesting oligosaccharides. These vegetables remain largely undigested as they move through the intestine mixing with intestinal bacteria, fermenting, and producing excessive gas. To digest these vegetables, the OTC product Beano is the enzyme alpha-d-galactosidase. It will digest the oligosaccharides of the vegetables and prevent the gas from forming. Pancrealipase does not contain alpha-d-galactosidase in the blend of enzymes, so taking a product like Creon or Zenpep will not digest foods comprised of oligosaccharides.

Products like Gas-X and Phazyme contain simethicone. While Beano works proactively on the source material of the gas, simethicone is more of a reactive measure for gas already produced. The objective is being proactive in preventing the gas formation which is what Beano does. Either of the simethicone containing products can be taken with Beano. There is no known interactions.

Flatulence
https://flatulencecures.com/vegetables-that-cause-gas/
https://www.beanogas.com/
https://www.gas-x.com/
https://www.phazyme.com/

Stageivsurvivor1977: your thorough explanation is much appreciated! I will check out the cause of this condition with my doc. Thank you for your reply!

Sounds like you’re having problems digesting fats in your diet. Since you have had your gallbladder removed, you may need to add in some ox bile. The OTC product I use is Cholacol and I order it off of Amazon. It may help you digest fats better. Please check with your doctor first though.

I finally had EUS and it was stomach cancer, stage 4. My original EGD was nit with ultrasound and it didn’t find the cancer.