Anyone had child with very pale poo - what explanations are there?

[LteMadrid]

DS is almost 4 and was lactose intolerant until we finally managed to introduce cows milk in January.
For quite some time he has had very pale poo but with the lactose intolerance gastroenterologist said may be that. We are now 5 months after introducing cows milk without issues and poo remains very pale most of the time, sometimes more 'normal' colour.

Has anyone had this? Got any suggestions for me as almost all searches are leading me to bile duct issues and am going to be most upset if he's had a serious issue not for quite some time as specialist couldnt be bothered to investigate. GP has asked me to show her a sample so she can determine where to send us now as apparently must be a digestive problem.

Feel like crying - younger DS got milk allergy worsening, issues for untreated anaemia and other things. I have lupus and other health problems that are causing me to be having lots of treatment and now older DS. None of it too serious but think am about to hit my capacity of health issues, drs and hospitals!

[yama]

Have you taken a sample to GP?

I'm sorry you are going through this. My dd has pale foamy poo at the moment but that is because of S&D bug.

While lactose intolerance is crap, it will result in a healthier diet (you probably already know this).

I'd just keep going back to the doctor.

Sorry, I wasn't much help, was I?

[LteMadrid]

Hi Yama

Thanks for that. We are actually past the lactose intolerance now - though younger DS has milk protein allergy so we still get to stick with quite a healthy diet.

GP wants to have another look at a sample this week to verify where to send us and how rapidly. She is quite good at reacting now after messing up very badly with my little DS - ie they actually believe me immediately nowadays and refer us.

[yama]

That's good to hear LteMadrid.

Milk protein can be hidden in the most unlikeliest of foods and by different names, e.g. whey powder.

Hope they determine the cause of the pale poo.

[loulou33]

I understood that pale poo was as a result of too litle billirubin being produced from the liver - has your gp runs any test such as LFT??

[sockmonster]

as loulou33 said, pale poo is a warning sign of liver problems, could be a blockage in the bile duct or some degree of liver damage. Not usually much to panic about unless other symptoms present- darker urine, some jaundice, but these don't happen until the liver condition is much worse.
I'd get it ruled out as a possibility.

I have heard of pale stools in other circumstances that aren't at all serious, but get LFTs done.

[LteMadrid]

Thanks - was really, really, really hoping someone could come up with something that means we dont have to face more tests and drs. I know, totally unrealistic but feel like burying head in sand for a moment or two.

[Pennies]

LteMadrid - hold your horses on the liver theory just a second. My DD had exactly this at the same age. It turned out that it was due to too much milk which is ironic considering your own experience with your DS' previous lactose intolerance.

How much milk is your DS having? My DD was having 3 cups a day (in total about a pint), and I reduced it to two and the problem corrected itself. She had just started at a pre-school and they were giving her milk mid-morning which I wasn't really aware of and that extra amount had this effect on her system.

Try reducing the amount he has before taking it much further with the whole liver issue. I put DD through several very painful and upsetting sets of blood test to test liver function etc and it was all totally unnecessary.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

[sockmonster]

Yes as long as there are no other symptoms as I mentioned above, then pennies is right you should try reducing the milk first. Hopefully given the lactose intolerance and the fact he has had it for a long period of time, it is just related to the milk. If anything else bothers you though, lethargy, fever, off food, jaundice, pain- go and get him checked asap.
let us know if less milk helps xx

[LteMadrid]

Now THAT was what I was hoping to hear

Thought had read somewhere that too much milk could cause it and DS really does love his milk. Have cut down his quantity but have no idea how much he gets at pre-school. He'll scream and everything when I take his milk away from him again but we'll see what effect it has over the next week (will take GP atleast that long to get anything sorted).

Thank you - am presuming 'bad attitude, I am just about to be 4' doesnt count as 'something else that bothers me' in this instance.... LOL

Thank you both - am going to go and enjoy my meal now. The irony is that tomorrow I myself start testing for liver problems, hence cant really face the idea of the little ones being put through the same (mine medication induced or from my lupus).

[Pennies]

My DD is a milk fiend too so what I did to avoid the tantrums was buy a new (smaller-but-altogether-more-exciting-just-coz-it's-new) milk cup and have given her milk in that. She's never noticed any reduction despite me halving her home milk (I did toy with the idea of stopping her school-time milk but thought it would be too obvious for her).

As for the tantrums in relation to being nearly 4, well there's not much I can say really except that your posts are clearly about 9 months behind mine and I got no help when I asked the same question about that either. Good luck. I find a lot of wine after bedtime (and very occasionally a glass before) helps in these situations!

Good luck with your own tests.

[Pennies]

BTW it took a little while for the milk reduction to take effect - at least a couple of weeks.

Let us know how you get on.

[Loobylou1987]

This is old but my son had stomach ache today and had sloppy poops and some of it was grey/pale colour then next poop was normal. He is lactose intolerant and he had some Mac and cheese lasntight so wondering if it’s that.