Stools - Pale or Clay Colored
Alternate Names : Acholic Stools
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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.
Medical history questions documenting pale or clay colored stools in detail may include:
- Time pattern
- When did this first occur?
- Is every stool this way?
- Medications
- What medications are being taken?
- Have you changed medication in any way?
- Associated symptoms
- Any abdominal pain?
- Any jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the skin)?
- Has there been darkening of the urine?
- Is there diarrhea?
- Any fever, chills, or night sweats?
The physical examination will include emphasis on the abdominal region.
Your doctor may perform: - A full history, including any medications or habits, such as heavy drinking or intravenous drug use.
- Blood work, including liver function tests and tests for viruses
- Imaging studies, such as an abdominal ultrasound
- Possibly, endoscopy studies with a long, flexible scope passed through the mouth to the small intestine (ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography)
- In rare situations, surgery may be indicated.
After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider related to pale or clay colored stools, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.
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