Your stools this morning are bright yellow? If so, be aware that stools that are lighter than usual in color may indicate a bigger health problem in your body. Fortunately, the problem of yellow stool is actually not difficult to treat. The first step that needs to be done is to see a doctor to diagnose the cause. Once you know the cause, follow your doctor's instructions and make any necessary lifestyle changes to treat the problem. With time, effort, and the right medication, your bowel movements will definitely improve in no time!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Identifying the Cause of Yellow Stool Problem
Step 1. Find the association between the food you eat and the color of your stool
Basically, if you eat too many foods that contain beta carotene, chances are your stool will turn orange or yellowish. On the other hand, eating too many foods that are yellow or orange can also have a similar effect. In addition, foods that are high in fat can also make your stools yellow, especially because your pancreas can't produce enough enzymes to break down these fats. Therefore, try to analyze your diet in detail to identify the presence or absence of trigger foods.
- For example, eating too many carrots and sweet potatoes can make your stools yellow or orange.
- Eating too many fried, oily, or high-fat foods may also make your stools yellow.
Tip: Try keeping a food journal. In it, write down the food you ate and the color of your stool during that period. Possibly, this step needs to be done to identify whether or not there is an association between the food you eat and the color of your stool.
Step 2. Identify possible celiac disease
Sometimes, the stool will appear yellowish or lighter than usual if your body is unable to tolerate gluten. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if your stomach feels uncomfortable, or if you have had diarrhea for more than 2 weeks. Your doctor may order blood tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of celiac disease. Some of the symptoms that may accompany celiac disease are:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Stomach bloating and gas
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the abdomen
- Constipation
Step 3. See a doctor to rule out or confirm the possibility of giardiasis (beaver fever) if the yellow stool problem is accompanied by diarrhea
Giardiasis is a disease caused by parasitic contamination in the body, and commonly triggers diarrhea and yellow stool problems. To diagnose giardiasis, your doctor will need to take one or more stool samples. Since giardiasis is sometimes not accompanied by any symptoms, it is still important to ask your doctor to check for this possibility even if your yellow stool problem is not accompanied by diarrhea. Some other symptoms that may also accompany giardiasis are:
- Gassy stomach
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea or stomach pain
- Dehydration
- Oily and floating stools
Step 4. Ask your doctor for help to detect the presence or absence of disorders in your liver, pancreas, and gallbladder
There are a variety of medical conditions that can affect the performance of the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder, and problems with one or more of these organs can affect the amount of bile salts that break down food in the body. As a result, your stool will be yellow when removed. However, understand that to detect disorders of the liver, pancreas, or liver, doctors generally need to do blood tests.
- Call your doctor right away if the problem with yellow stool is accompanied by other symptoms, such as dizziness or abdominal pain.
- Some medical conditions that can interfere with the performance of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are jaundice, hepatitis C, cirrhosis, gallstones, pancreasitis, and pancreatic cancer.
Method 2 of 3: Doing Medical Treatment
Step 1. Take medications prescribed by your doctor to treat giardiasis
If the problem with yellow stools is caused by a giardiasis infection, you should take medication prescribed by your doctor to treat it. Do not forget to follow the instructions for use and the recommended dosage given by the doctor to maximize the healing process. Some types of drugs commonly prescribed to treat giardiasis are:
- Metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Tinidazole (Tindamax)
- Nitazoxanide (Alinia)
Tip: Giardiasis can occur after you consume a drink or food that has been contaminated with the parasite, or if your genitals accidentally come into contact with feces during sexual intercourse. Therefore, always maintain personal hygiene and avoid food and drink contaminated with parasites to prevent infection.
Step 2. Consult treatment options for liver, pancreas, or gallbladder disorders
Basically, there are several medical conditions that can interfere with the performance of the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. If you experience one of these and according to the doctor, that condition is what triggers the yellow color of the stool, please consult the appropriate treatment option to the doctor.
For example, if your doctor says you have a stone in your gallbladder, you will most likely be asked to have an operation to remove the stone
Step 3. Discuss pancreatic cancer treatment methods with your doctor, if you accept the diagnosis
Although yellow stool problems are rarely caused by pancreatic cancer, it never hurts to see a doctor to rule out or confirm the diagnosis. If you have received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, work with your doctor to arrange an appropriate treatment plan. At the same time, don't forget to ask for support from those closest to you when making decisions, even when undergoing various forms of therapy that are needed. Don't face the whole process alone!
- Some forms of cancer treatment are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and palliative care.
- If you wish, please join a support group that accommodates cancer patients in your city. By doing so, you can meet many other people who are undergoing similar treatment.
- Always remember that cancer treatment methods are always evolving from time to time. Therefore, do not hesitate to ask your doctor for recommendations for new treatment options whose results have proven promising.
Method 3 of 3: Changing Your Lifestyle
Step 1. Eat a healthy and balanced diet
Do not eat only one type of food if you feel that this behavior is what makes your stool yellow. Please eat as many fruits and vegetables as possible, but vary the types. For example, eat vegetables with a variety of colors, such as red, yellow, orange, purple, and green, instead of just eating green leafy vegetables.
For example, you can eat oatmeal with a cup of blueberries and nonfat milk for breakfast. For the lunch menu, you can eat bread made of rye (rye) filled with chicken breast with pieces of baby carrots as a side dish. Meanwhile, for the dinner menu, you can eat a bowl of pasta with the addition of broccoli. In between heavy meals, please snack on fresh fruit, yogurt, and/or pretzels
Step 2. Stop eating gluten if you have celiac disease
Following a gluten-free diet may be able to overcome the problem of yellow stool experienced by people with celiac disease. Don't worry, because most staple foods don't actually contain gluten, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products. However, if you like to eat carbohydrates, try to find alternatives to bread, pasta, cereals, biscuits, and cookies that do not contain gluten. If necessary, always read the product packaging to make sure there is no gluten in the food you buy.
- Generally, gluten-free foods will include a label stating the claim.
- If you want, you can also go through the individual ingredients in the food, and avoid products that contain wheat, wheat gluten, durum (wheat pasta), semolina, barley, bulgur, farina, rye (rye), graham flour., malt, spelled, and triticale.
Tip: Identify whether or not there is a special shelf for gluten-free foods at the supermarket you frequent. If so, it's a good idea to keep checking the product content to make sure the food you buy is really gluten-free.
Step 3. Drink as much water as possible to stay hydrated
If you are diagnosed with giardiasis, you will most likely be dehydrated. Therefore, make sure you always drink water when you are thirsty or sweaty, such as after exercising.
- Carry a water bottle with you wherever you go. If the water in the bottle runs out, don't forget to refill it again.
- Try adding a slice of fresh lemon or lime if you don't like the taste of plain water.
Step 4. Apply relaxation techniques to control stress
In fact, stress levels that are too high can affect the quality of bowel movements. Therefore, to regulate bowel movements, try to spend at least 15 minutes per day to relax. In particular, try applying some of the following relaxation techniques that have proven to be effective for controlling stress:
- Applying progressive muscle relaxation techniques
- Practice yoga
- meditate
- Apply deep breathing techniques
