What does sticky stool indicate? | Bowel movement

What does sticky stool indicate?

A sticky stool indicates that there is a problem in the digestion of fats. Bile acid and pancreatic fluid are needed for the digestion of fats. If there are problems here, the so-called fatty stool or medically steatorrhea occurs.

Besides the sticky consistency, there are other characteristics that stand out. The color is lighter than normal. The stool is clay or ochre in color.

In addition, an unpleasant smell is noticeable. It smells sourish to hot. Besides the sticky consistency, the stool can also be foamy.

A greasy film can form in the toilet water. Other symptoms are flatulence, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea. Fatty stools are caused by various digestive disorders.

One example is chronic inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease (gluten intolerance). Fatty stools can also occur in diseases of the pancreas due to its lack of digestive juices. There are also other causes.

These are stool softeners

Before using drugs to soften the bowel movement, other methods can be used. A well-tried household remedy for hard stools is flea or flaxseed. These must be taken with plenty of liquid.

However, there are also numerous drugs that have a laxative effect and soften the bowel movement. On the one hand, there are osmotic (water-absorbing) laxatives, such as lactulose, milk sugar or macrogel, which is the active ingredient of the frequently used Movicol. There are also salt-like laxatives.

These include magnesium sulfate and sodium sulfate. However, these laxatives cannot be taken for some diseases. With stimulatory laxatives, there is an increased transfer of water and salts into the bowel, as they stimulate bowel activity.

This group includes bisacodyl, sennosides and sodium picosulfate, which is contained in laxoberal drops. Laxatives should not be used for habitual use, but only if gentle methods are not sufficient. In case of recurring constipation problems, a change and adjustment of diet and lifestyle should be made or a doctor should be consulted for further clarification.