Question:
Does anyone have the problem of going to the bathroom a bright orange oily substance

If anyone has had this problem do you know what it is and what causes it!    — LAURA G. (posted on February 18, 2002)

February 18, 2002
Grease... you are passing FATS you are lucky.. this means you will not absorb a portion of the FATS you intake kind of like taking Zenical.. as for the color something you are eating like ( Taco's)
   — Kathleen M.

February 18, 2002
Hi! Well, I think many of us can relate and assure you that your surgery is just working!! That oily orange stuff is GREASE!! . . just like that stuff that sits on top of the cheese on the pizza!! =) You are rewired to not absorb as much fat, so it is excreted undigested and that's what it looks like! Actually I see you had the RNY, I am a DSer (almost 9 mos postop and down 120 lbs!!)and I know we don't absorb a lot of fats (so if we eat something with a good percentage of fat, it comes out like that!) but I thought someone had posted that RNY does not necessarily malabsorb as much fats as the DS. . .correct me someone if I am wrong. . . it may also depend on the amt of bypass you had as to how much fat you will malabsorb. You must have eaten something with some fat of some form or another. Never fear and kiss it goodbye!! =) Welcome to the "other side!" Blessings,
   — ChristiMNB

February 18, 2002
My urine is orange because of the vitamins I take.
   — ZZ S.

February 18, 2002
I had that orange stuff when I was taking Xenical. Its from not absorbing the fats you take it ... kinda neat - kinda gross. LOL. And cleaning the potty... lemme tell ya (smile).
   — lilmskitty

February 18, 2002
It's always best to check with your doctor with a question like that. I for one can say that I have never had an orange stool, and I have had a RNY as well. Liver problems can cause changes in the stool color, as can other GI problems. Before taking the advice of a few, consult your doctor to make sure something more serious isn't ongoing... that's always the best bet! We all know a LOT about this surgery, but if a few of us say that we had something "like" that one time, and someone doesn't do something about a REAL problem medically because they dismiss it, we are doing them a disservice! Please call your doctor and just ask... it won't hurt to ask a real medical professional.
   — [Anonymous]

February 18, 2002
Laura, I am not sure if this is the answer, but I am a nurse who works in a GI lab. We find that when people eat foods with the fat substitute olean in it, it leaves a very sticky orange residue in our scopes and it is hell to clean them out (Dawn dish soap usually does the trick LOL). Olean is found in things like WOW chips and fat free ice cream. This might be a possibility. Keep me in your prayers my Lap RNY is Friday!!!!!!
   — Kathryn L.

February 19, 2002
I had that happen to me when I was taking Xenical. If you are ewating any fat blocking foods with olestra, that may be whats causing the oily discharge
   — Mary C.

May 22, 2002
It's called Xenical:):) actually I think it's from the fat in your diet coming out.. Just ease up on the fat content and you should be fine. Broth can have a lot of fat too so just make sure if your drinking broth get the 98%fat free ones.
   — Eileen D.