I want to start by saying this may be TMI but i have to know if anyone else has experienced this..I cant find any info online about it, so here it goes....Ok since ive been losing weight I have been having bowel movements that have a white oily substance that floats on the water- what is this and is it normal?

I have no idea...sorry! what type of diet are you doing? have you drastically changed what you have been eating? cut things out of your usual diet or added new foods? any new vitamins or supplements? If it persists I'd ask your dr.

Kelli, you may not want to hear this...... And it is pretty gross...

Mine started in 2006... I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis..... but Monday I have to have another colonoscopy Monday b/c it is getting worse.... I have been told maybe I have a bleeing ulcer.... on top of the UC.... but let me ask a few ?

Do you have gas (and the bowel movement) that are really foul smelling? Also, do you go many times a day.... but cannot empty?

I have been told that UC develops later in life (mid 30s) or so.... and it can be hereditary. Some people say that it is not food related, some people say it is.... mine seems to worsen with beef.

Hope this is all useless for you and you just have something in your diet causing this....

IM if you want

Oh no Ladyrider that sounds about right...i do have IBS and diverticuli already but aside from one serious diverticultis attack that left me with a preforated colon, I havent had any other issues. I do have the gas and I go several times a day and I have stomach cramping. I was recomended to have a colonoscopy awhile ago and keep putting it off. The film on the water is almost like a soap residue or looks like when you put cold water on a greasy pan- if that makes sense...

If you have been chewing sugar free gum or eating anything with sorbitol or other sugar alcohols then the sorbitol could be doing it. It messed my tummy up a bit for about a week, and I was starting to get freaked out because I knew I wasn't sick but I was having serious tummy/poo issues.

Get checked out for celiac disease. I had the same problem before I went to the doctor and found out I had it.

Sounds like the fat in your food is not digesting, but coming out with BM. You don't take any meds to block fat, do you??

How are you losing weight? What kind of diet are you on?

I only take Metformin for PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). I have been doing a reduced calorie diet (around 1300-1800). I am going to have it checked out for sure.

kellie I suspect there is some extra mucous in the stool, and undigested fats. The metformin may also be making it worse, as it is associated with looser bowels. I would still encourage you to have your doctor check things out, especially with your history of IBS and diverticulitis.

I would definitely get it checked out, not sure if it's UC though - I've had UC since I was 16 [28 now] and I don't recognize the oily film but that's just me. Regardless - it would definitely help to see a gastroenterologist & get a colonoscopy...