Stool situation: Benign or cause for alarm?

[AbeLinkedIn]

So today I was using the bathroom and noticed my stool was a lighter color than usual. Still brown but lighter and with a bit of yellow to it. To say I'm a little concerned is an understatement. I keep trying to tell myself I'm normal since I don't have any real pain in my midsection but what could be the cause?

 

[bin_tenn]

Doesn't matter, it's a normal variation, IMO. In order to determine the cause you'd have to have an intimate knowledge of the digestive system, chemistry, what you've eaten in the past few days, etc...

 

[Bobnnat]

I’ve been refreshing my knowledge of anxiety symptoms and notice one is yellow stool. Not sure why, but the reason doesn’t matter.

 

[Amcc82]

I was told by my doctor that happens when your stool passes through you too quickly as I have that issue when my anxiety is high (which it is right now).

 

[matisworried]

one slightly different, sorta strangely colored bowel movement is not cause for concern. if this happened repeatedly for weeks, it's something that should be investigated at some point but still unlikely to be anything serious.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Update: Everything seems to be back in order. It looked a little darker today, more what I'd consider "normal" but all the same something I'm keeping my eyes on.

 

[Hurt&Hopeful]

Stress and anxiety speed up the digestive process. It's just part of your body's natural defenses. When the digestion is fast, your body doesn't absorb as many nutrients, and you get weird, light poop. When my anxiety is high, I have loose yellow poop. It's one of the more fun symptoms (yes, that's sarcasm).

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

It started lightening up again, which is weird since I don't particularly feel anxious. My question is could what I eat be the cause? I'm trying to, as of this year, start eating better and lose some weight but I doubt things could change this fast. It's not super light but enough to catch me off guard

 

[andyderami]

I have recurring yellow-ish (think darker mustard, not dijon) stool and random stomach pains, often in the upper abdomen. My health anxiety tells me I have pancreatitis (my pains don't really match the pattern for that, though, as mine tend to be in one spot and stabbing, though not severe, rather than severe and belt-like), but my head tells me I have anxiety related IBS that leads to the yellower poops when I'm anxious or having IBS symptoms. When my stools are well formed (ie, didnt race through me) they tend to be darker. In short, I know how you feel. I mentioned it to both my GP and a gastro a few months back when I was having diarrhea issues, but neither seemed to even take the idea of pancreatitis in someone with my symptoms and health profile seriously.

 

[JustMe]

I think even getting a slight virus could cause color changes in your poop. Also adding more veggies or fruits to your diet can change things up.