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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Exp 50 years

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Chalk Colored Stool During Flu. Have History Of Gall Bladder Removal. Is This Normal?

Hi. I have a lengthy question and was hoping for an answer. I recently sick with flu like symptoms (which has now resolved itself), but during that time I had chalky-colored stool, that looked like light colored clay. I was wondering what that could mean as it only occurred when I was ill. I had my gallbladder removed about 4 years ago due to gallstones, and have not had any issues since. Is it normal to have stool that color during the flu or a cold, or could it be something else? I had a fever, body aches, chills etc. along with that. Everything is normal now, but I am just curious. I am otherwise completely healthy with no diseases or conditions to note. Thanks.
-Angela
posted on Sat, 30 Nov 2013
Twitter Sat, 30 Nov 2013 Answered on
Twitter Sat, 30 Nov 2013 Last reviewed on
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Dear Angela,

Thanks for the query. Hypocholia, or chalked colored stools happen when only a small amount of bile gets to the intestine; bile is a product of blood breakdown, which gets uptaken by the liver and then excreted in the bowels. Some people have a benign condition in which during stress, classically a febrile illness, they are unable to uptake or excrete bile appropiately by the liver during a transient period of time, which resolves after the stressful insult is gone. Again, usually benign and transient.

Hope that helps, wish you the best,

Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Mayo Clinic MN



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Chalk Colored Stool During Flu. Have History Of Gall Bladder Removal. Is This Normal?

Dear Angela, Thanks for the query. Hypocholia, or chalked colored stools happen when only a small amount of bile gets to the intestine; bile is a product of blood breakdown, which gets uptaken by the liver and then excreted in the bowels. Some people have a benign condition in which during stress, classically a febrile illness, they are unable to uptake or excrete bile appropiately by the liver during a transient period of time, which resolves after the stressful insult is gone. Again, usually benign and transient. Hope that helps, wish you the best, Dr Brenes-Salazar MD Mayo Clinic MN