New here - undigested pills in stool? Anyone with experience?

[Emmajane1626]

Hi everyone, I am new here - I'm 41 and live in NZ. Sorry if this is long.A little background - I had my gallbladder out in 2012 and ever since have had digestive issues - and have been diagnosed with IBS. Recently I have noticed what look like baked beans in my stool on occasion (when I haven't eaten them). They have an orangey Reddy outer colour and on the inside are white and almost crumbly.

I have major anxiety and a big part of it is health anxiety. A headache means I have a brain tumour, forgetting a word means I have Alzheimer's 🙄

My ex had rectal cancer twice so I am especially sensitive about rectal/bowel cancer and when these bean looking things started showing up I naturally went there in my head. I finally went to the doctor today and she has organised blood tests and a stool sample (stool sample to pick up inflammation in the bowel as I understand).

For some reason tonight I came across the idea of ghost pills - undigested pills, and I am wondering if this is the explanation to my 'bean' issue.

I take Metformin and venlafaxine - the venlafaxine has a red capsule shell and I wonder if that is what is giving the 'beans' the colour?

I know no one can tell me if this is what it is, but I was curious if other people have experience with this? I would really like someone to chat with. I'm also a single mum so for the most part this anxiety is all internalised...

Thank you for reading

Emma

[Salcombe27Green]

Hi, it sounds as if it could be undigested pills. I can identify with the health anxiety and I do sympathise and hope you get some results soon which put your mind at rest. Take care.

[Emmajane1626 in reply to Salcombe27Green]

Thank you. Health anxiety is such an ugly beast.

[Orchard33]

I'm not sure if you're talking about pulls or capsules or both. I now only take capsules as I've had incomplete pills pass through unprocessed. Capsules come as powder in a easy to dissolve shell. It seems to me that loose powder is easier to digest than ultra-compressed pills.

[Emmajane1626 in reply to Orchard33]

I take Metformin as pills and venlafaxine as capsules (along with a few other pills)

[Snowcat18]

Hi Emma I know exactly where you’re coming from! I’m really happy to be able to put your mind at rest! It’s the metformin. It’s known for passing through semi digested - in fact it should say so in the leaflet that comes in the box with the tablets. It’s totally normal to see parts of the tablet in your stools - in fact that’s to be expected - it’s just most of us don’t look! I’m like you though - driven by anxiety and an over active imagination- it’s all fine though - have a good day!

[Emmajane1626 in reply to Snowcat18]

Thank you xx I am still a bit anxious about my test results, but the more I read, the more it makes sense that it is undigested medication I am seeing.

[Snowcat18]

hi Emmajane. This is fro the metformin info site

The tablet shell for some brands of this medication does not dissolve. This is normal. The tablet shell may appear whole in the stool. This is not a cause for concern.

Your doctor will reassure you but I hated to think of you worrying - I get the same - have done for ages - the baked bean colour is just discolouration from your stool - it’s not really going to stay white if you know what I mean!

Hope this helps a bit more.