Any ideas on what having fatty stools is indicative of?

Posted by nobm56 @nobm56, Mar 7, 2023

I am unable to have a bowel movement on my own, have a rectocele, had stool in my vagina, and an inability to digest food. What other type of specialist should I see, what other tests can be done, and any ideas on other possible medical causes for my condition besides SIBO and chronic constipation? How can I better advocate for myself when no one has been able to help me regarding this condition? Any Diet or treatment suggestions, and how to manage this pain would be appreciated.

Here is my story:

Diagnosed with sibo & chronic constipation 3 years ago
Suffering from:
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Exhaustion and fatigue
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Rib pain
• Cold all the time
• Foul-smelling gas
• Muscle spasms
• 30 lb. weight loss
• No appetite
• Bloating
• Rectocele
• Stool in the vagina
• Fatty stools
• Malnutrition
• Inability to have a bm on my own
Present day:
• No regular bm since Jan 19 after MR enterography & drinking barium
• Diagnosed with fecal impaction
• Have tried:
• Magnesium citrate
• Miriax 3x daily
• 2 colon prep
• enema
• went to Er with no help
• As no one was able to help me decided to do colon hydrotherapy on my own
• did 8 colonics in 3 weeks, felt better
• Went off all supplements and motility meds for 2 weeks in preparation for another breath test
• no bm in 5 days after the last colonic
• Had one small bm on Sunday covered in fat and floating
• I restarted all my constipation meds that night.
• The following morning had diarrhea 4 x which had a layer of grease floating and bubbles on top and felt better
• Have not had a bm since even with meds.
• Can’t eat, sick stomach, can’t do anything, hopeless, no one can help me

Have had:
• 29 tests and procedures
• 3 gastroenterologists
• 2 functional medicine doctors
• 2 nutritionists
• 5 diets
• 5 physical therapists
• Acupuncturist
• Colon hydrotherapy
• Meditation
• Colon massage

Prescriptions tried:
• Linzess
• Motegrity
• Amitiza
• Sutab colonoscopy prep (2 X)
• 8 rounds of antibiotics (xifaxin 3 rounds, doxycycline, ciproflaxin, neomycin, Bactrim, tried augmentin but too strong)

every supplement imaginable including herbal antibiotics

• Mirilax
• Stool softener
• Magnesium citrate
• Digestive enzymes
• Probiotics
• Prebiotics
• Cod liver oil
• electrolytes

I've researched other probable causes and found that issues regarding your pancreas, liver and other organs involved in digestion could be compromised.

Please help with any path to wellness that I haven't tried for my condition and how to better advocate for myself.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Linda winter2023 | @winter2023 | Mar 7, 2023

My heart breaks for what you're going through. Lots of stories (including myself, family members, on this site and others) about going to numerous doctors for help and getting no help at all.

I was diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) this past January based on a fecal elastase test. It confirmed my pancreas isn't producing the enzymes to digest food and was put on pancreatic enzymes to help digest food and absorb nutrients. I was suffering from the fatty stools, major weight loss (I lost 42.5 lbs. since mid-November), malabsorption and the inability to eat much food because I got full so quickly.

Have you had a fecal elastase test?

kell4042 | @kell4042 | Mar 8, 2023

My experience has been due to malabsorption

susanh824 | @susanh824 | Mar 8, 2023

There definitely could be an issue with your pancreas. You mood two tests: a stool fat test and a fecal elastase. What you are describing sounds like E.P.I. (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency). At least one of your gastroenterologists should have ordered these.

nobm56 | @nobm56 | Mar 8, 2023

In reply to @kell4042 "My experience has been due to malabsorption" + (show)

I'm sure that's what I have. I just need my doctor to look at my diagnosis from a new perspective.

nobm56 | @nobm56 | Mar 8, 2023

In reply to @winter2023 "My heart breaks for what you're going through. Lots of stories (including myself, family members, on..." + (show)

grannydee | @grannydee | Mar 8, 2023

I suffered for 30+ years misdiagnosed with IBS-D,
finally diagnosed with EPI at age 67 and my entire life has changed for the better!
Please get tested for EPI as soon as possible!!!
There is hope!

greff | @greff | Mar 9, 2023

I'm just shooting from the hip from my own testing with gastro and bowel issues. They probably tested for these things but maybe not.
1. Elius
2. Diverticulitis
3. Twisted colon
4. Ulcerative colitis
5. Polyps
6. Celiacs ( although my celiacs doesn't cause any constipation). I hope you can find some answers. God bless.

nobm56 | @nobm56 | Mar 9, 2023

In reply to @greff "I'm just shooting from the hip from my own testing with gastro and bowel issues. They..." + (show)

no except for celiac.

I am beyond frustrated! I started Amitiza 4 days ago and have had diarrhea, foul gas, excruciating abdominal pain and the worst nausea I have ever experienced. I have only been able to tolerate dry toast. If I try to eat anything else I feel like I am going to die. I stopped taking the mirilax and motegrity last night. I do not go out of the house unless it's a doctor appointment.

I tried calling my U of M GI's office and the nurse barely let me speak. She asks me her questions and says she has to wait to hear from the doctor which in the past has been up to 21 days! I told her this was urgent, and how much pain I am in. Her solution was for me to go to the ER.

I have been to the ER 5 times this year with no help, and they always send me home to follow up with my PCP. It appears that no one can help me. I am not taking the Amitiza and I feel certain that I will not have any more BMs. I have had 8 colonics this month to treat my fecal impaction and my body is spent. No one takes me seriously and I feel like I am an annoyance.

Any ideas on how to approach this and try to get the necessary tests for something other than SIBO or chronic constipation?

nobm56 | @nobm56 | Mar 9, 2023

By the way, I tried to apply to Mayo Clinic and they rejected me due to the volume of inquiries.

greff | @greff | Mar 9, 2023

In reply to @nobm56 "no except for celiac. I am beyond frustrated! I started Amitiza 4 days ago and have..." + (show)

Wow, I feel bad for you. Doesn't sound like a caring bunch of people. I encourage you to find another GI doc if you can. I'm perplexed that they don't test for other things. My Gastro team are more than willing to test for things. I sure hope find answers. I don't have any suggestions for you if they aren't willing to continue eliminating possible conditions.