Stools - floating

Alternative names:

floating stools

Home care:

Home care depends on the specific diagnosis. Strictly adhere to your health care provider's instructions, including prescribed diets.

Call your health care provider if:

• floating stools develop.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Floating stools are a single symptom of a disease complex. Other symptoms and signs are generally present. Your health care provider will normally take a family history and disease history, then complete a physical examination.

Medical history questions documenting floating stools in detail may include:

• family history (general information about the health of family members)
• time pattern
  • When did you first notice that the stools were floating?
  • Does it happen all the time or off and on?
  • Have you noticed any pattern?

• dietary history
  • What has the diet been?
  • Does a change in the diet change the stools?

• other
  • Are other symptoms present?
  • Are there foul-smelling stools?
  • Are the stools an abnormal color (especially pale or clay-colored stools)?

Diagnostic tests:
A stool sample will be obtained for laboratory analysis. Other laboratory studies may be indicated.

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to floating stools to your personal medical record.