What does EPI poop look like?

Foul-smelling, greasy stools (steatorrhea)

People with EPI cannot absorb all of the fat that they eat. The undigested fat that passes through the digestive system may cause oily or greasy-looking stools. These stools may also smell really bad, float, and be difficult to flush.

What do EPI stools look like?

People with EPI are not able to absorb all the fat that they eat, so undigested fat is excreted, resulting in stools that look oily or greasy. Not all people experience this symptom.

What does stool look like with pancreatic insufficiency?

Symptoms of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

The stools tend to be oily, large, pale, very foul-smelling, and often float in toilet water and stay in the toilet bowl, even after flushing. Individuals with steatorrhea sometimes experience fecal incontinence or oily leakage.

Do you have diarrhea with EPI?

Diarrhea

Diarrhea from EPI results from undigested food sitting in the small intestine. “When the pancreas fails to produce the necessary digestive enzymes, fats and other nutrients can't be absorbed,” Agrawal explains. “Instead, they remain in the small bowel, drawing in water and causing diarrhea.”

How do you know if you have EPI?

The classic symptoms of EPI -- weight loss, greasy and foul-smelling stools that float or are tough to flush, stomach cramps, and diarrhea -- mimic the telltale signs of many other digestive diseases. You might even have one of those diseases along with EPI, like Crohn's or celiac disease.

12 Things Your Stool Says About Your Health

What are the first signs of pancreatic insufficiency?

Can a stool sample detect pancreatitis?

Acute pancreatitis, another form of the disease, is a short-term condition. It is usually diagnosed with blood and/or imaging tests, rather than a stool elastase test.

Can you have EPI with constipation?

One of the telltale signs of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) — a condition in which the pancreas fails to produce enough digestive enzymes — are loose, oily stools. But some people with EPI can also experience a very different symptom: intermittent constipation.

How does steatorrhea look like?

Patients with steatorrhea present with bulky, pale, foul-smelling oily stools. These fatty stools tend to float in the toilet bowl and often challenging to flush as well. In the early stages, steatorrhea may be asymptomatic and go unnoticed.

What foods make EPI worse?

Avoidfried, creamy, or cheesy foods, such as pastries. You'll also want to avoid trans fat, a hydrogenated oil and particularly unhealthy type of fat that's often found in packaged food, says Massey, and steer clear of alcohol. While it may take some planning, it's possible to eat a healthy, satisfying diet.

Can your pancreas affect your bowels?

Bowel Movement Issues

Chronic pancreatitis can cause bowel movements to change or become abnormal. It may cause diarrhea, greasy stools, or foul-smelling stools.

Can EPI cause chronic diarrhea?

Chronic gas, bloating, and diarrhea that occur without a clear cause may be a sign that you have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Here's how to get the diagnosis you need. If you're plagued by mysterious gas, bloating, and diarrhea, you might have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).

Does EPI show up in blood test?

Blood tests

A complete blood count (CBC) may reveal microcytic anemia due to iron deficiency or macrocytic anemia due to vitamin B-12 or folate malabsorption. Serum iron, vitamin B-12, and folate concentrations may help establish the diagnosis of EPI.

What is the difference between EPI and pancreatitis?

EPI and pancreatitis have some similar symptoms, such as abdominal discomfort, bloating, and gas. But EPI tends to be a complication of pancreatitis. The characteristic sign of EPI is pale, foul-smelling stools that can be difficult to flush.

What is the difference between EPI and IBS?

People with IBS will see mucus in their stool, says Dr. Anderson, rather than fat. (Fatty stools, or steatorrhea, are a telltale sign of EPI.) Like those of EPI, IBS symptoms tend to occur after eating, but IBS may also be triggered by stress, infection, and other factors.

Can IBS mimic pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis and IBS are often mistaken for one another, or they can occur concurrently, so talk to a GI specialist to get to the bottom of your digestive issues.

How do I know if I have steatorrhea?

What are yellow pea sized balls in stool?

There may be several reasons that something like that could occur. The first being certain types of food that contain indigestible fibers. Those include popcorn, peas, corn etc. When they pass through they are not digested and are expelled in the feces.

Can you gain weight with EPI?

Few people with EPI are likely to gain too much weight, even after they find a combination of foods they can tolerate. Should you gain more weight than you need to, though, focus on portion control, Lupu says. Portion sizes are good to keep in mind if you're trying to gain weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Why does EPI cause diarrhea?

In EPI, the pancreas does not produce enough of the enzymes needed to digest food. Without this breakdown, an individual cannot absorb the necessary nutrients and vitamins. This leads to diarrhea, vitamin deficiency, and weight loss.

Can pancreatic insufficiency cause diarrhea?

The major symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) include steatorrhea and weight loss. The most common symptomatic complaint is diarrhea, which is frequently watery, reflecting the osmotic load received by the intestine.

What is EPI stomach condition?

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a condition that happens when there's a problem with your pancreas, mainly with how well it helps you digest food. Your pancreas makes enzymes that break down the fats, proteins, and starches you eat so your body can use them.

How much stool is needed for pancreatic elastase?

PANCREATIC ELASTASE-1. Specimen required: 1 g random formed stool; minimum 0.3 gm.

How long does it take to get fecal elastase results?

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET THE RESULTS? Results typically take 7 working day once the sample has been received by the laboratory.