Can someone help please? Are pale stools considered compensated or decompensated liver ciirhosis? I’m confused and very stressed. Thanks

[Efky]

Possible liver ciirhosis

[Jaygee87]

Have you being diagnosed with cirrhosis ? If not, nobody can say yes or no to this answer. Pale stools can be a symptom of many things. It would be best to go to the doctors and explain you're having pale stools and for how long. I have borderline cirrhosis and NAFLD and had pale stools for a while but it turned out it was due to diet. Now I eat much healthier and I dont have the issue any more. Also if you have IBS it would be related to that.

[Efky in reply to Jaygee87]

I’ve done some tests but have to do some others also. I know it can be a number of things. I’ve had pale stools for 6 months. They don’t occur every time but often. Thanks so much for you advice.

[Roy1955]

Neither!Pale stools do NOT mean you have cirrhosis.

[Efky in reply to Roy1955]

Ok thanks

[Hidden]

Hi,

There can be many reasons why people get pale stools. It can sometime mean an issue in the the biliary system which comprises gallbladder, liver and pancreas.

We would suggest you consider informing your doctor about this so they can order the tests needed to investigate the cause.

[Efky in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your advice. Yes I will wait until I have done all the tests and see what the specialist says. Thanks again

[SteelOwl]

Hi Efky, wait until youve been properly diagnosed and then start asking questions. When will you be getting your hospital scans?

[Efky in reply to SteelOwl]

Hi, and thank you for your advice. I’ve received my hospital scans. Mri and us which show hepatic steatosis just within the limits. But having pale stools for six months after taking some medication has worried me. I just hope that more damage has not been done to the liver. Also because I have had excessive gas which has caused stomach bloating during this time also. I’m a bit worried because the specialist wants me to have a fibroscan and has written a letter to my family doctor but my family doctor doesn’t want to. I appreciate your advice and support. Thank you

[SteelOwl]

Hi Efky. Are you sure that your stomach bloating isn't due to having ascites? You'd really need to have an abdomen ultrasound scan at the hospital to find out properly. Are you from Italy then and if so whereabouts? Michael.

[Efky in reply to SteelOwl]

Hi Michael, I had an ultrasound a while back and the person who did the ultrasound told me it was gas. The gastroenterologist also told me it is gas so I didn’t go any further. I’m from Australia but have been working and living in Prato, Tuscany. Can I trust that the first US I did was correct?

[Efky in reply to SteelOwl]

I really hope that it’s not ascites

[AyrshireK in reply to Efky]

An ultrasound can tell the difference between fluid and gas - it's one of the reasons patients with cirrhosis get a regular ultrasound to check for fluid build up - so I doubt your 'gas' would have been confused.

[Efky in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks so much. Also in my scans they did find some fluid in the duodenum and near where my gallbladder used to be but the doctor said that that had nothing to do with ascites. So that’s another reason why I didn’t go any further.

[AyrshireK in reply to Efky]

If you had the fibroscan it would clear up once and for all whether you were dealing with just 'fatty liver' - you would get a score to indicate whether or not you had any fibrosis. If your specialist has suggested you have one then I would go ahead and push to have it.

Your other issue of having pale stools is probably as a result of your gall bladder having been removed - "Floating, pale coloured stools are a strong sign of undigested fats. It's not uncommon in people who removed their gallbladder. It simply means the fats you're eating aren't being absorbed by your body and go straight through you."

Katie

[Efky in reply to AyrshireK]

Hello and thank you. Yes I will push to have the fibroscan done. Also my stools are pale but without any mucous. I have read that generally when there is malabsorption their is usually mucous in the stool. I could be wrong though. I also read that pigmented stones often occur within the gallbladder in patients with ciirhosis so that’s why I’m a bit worried also. I will get the fibroscan though. I will push for it. Thank you Katie

[Efky in reply to AyrshireK]

Also the stools are not floating stools. They have a normal form and don’t float. The only thing abnormal is the colour.

[SteelOwl in reply to Efky]

If it is then you'll need to start taking diuretics and watch your daily salt intake more. The worse case scenario would be that you'd need any fluid retention draining off in hospital.