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Q. I have suffered from frequent bellyaches, gas and fatigue for years. I chalked these symptoms up to stress, but when my poop started to float I wondered if I needed a gluten-free diet. Getting off gluten helped, but not entirely.
When I went to my doctor she tested me for everything under the sun. She found I was infected with a germ called H. pylori. After taking pricey antibiotics plus probiotics, my stools no longer float. The smelly gas is gone and I feel so much better.
A. H. pylori infection doesn’t always cause symptoms, but it can result in abdominal pain, bloating, nausea or vomiting and burping. This bacterial infection can also cause stomach ulcers.
Antibiotic treatment can sometimes upset the microbial ecology of the intestines and may cause symptoms on its own. That’s why the probiotics were a smart addition to your regimen. A review in the Journal of Nutrition (March, 2007) showed that probiotic treatment may help suppress H. pylori infections. It might also have an effect on whether or not the stool floats.
For more information about overcoming gas, celiac disease and H. pylori, we offer our Guide to Digestive Disorders. You may also want to read more about other people’s experience. Compounds from broccoli sprouts can overcome H. pylori, and some readers have found that eating broccoli can help heartburn symptoms.
Angelo
Haiku, Maui, Hawaii 96780
Well I would have to admit that I had floaters as far back as I can remember as an adult. THEN just recently I had a jaw/ear infection beyond bad and started to take Climdamycin and …what…where……whtf?….wheres all that poopy doopy? There it lie already down the toilet cruk only showing a partial of the discharge. I was like WHTF? Hmm so I attributed it to the antibiotic confirmed here in this article. I have taken antibiotics once before in my life of 62 years ; for another tooth infection and that time I used Amaxicillin. So it seams I might have had this disease in my tummy for some time, H pylori. I have had those symptoms for quite some time now…decreasing my appetite to not wanting to eat fearing acid that would follow. I am now also taking tsp.s of steeped Golden Seal tea. I wonder what else would have gotten rid of all that pain in the jaw w/out antibiotic/ibuprofen. Must be natural cure w/clove and oregano.
Monica
MO
Angelo, did your poop ever start floating again? I’ve had floaters my entire life and after taking a short dose of antibiotics for a sinus/ear infection I couldn’t shake, my poop has been sinking for the first time in 30 years. I’ve taken an antibiotic for mastitis in the last decade but that’s the last time. Now I’m worried I messed my guts up. I want my floaters back!
Chuck Lawing
Downers Grove, IL
My problem was occasional smeely gas. Will try the no sugars and see what happens. Will advise. Chuck
Cherry
My poop always sinks to the bottom, is that good/normal? It rarely floats unless I have diarrhea. I definitely don’t want that!
Nancy B
What if half of your poop floats and the rest does not? Answeres anyone?
Barbara Z.
Dr. Oz says floating feces is normal, not other way around,.
alxzba
comments please.
JP
I didn’t know there was anything wrong with having floating stools. Is it something to be worried about?
People’s Pharmacy response: Most of the time, you need to worry about this only if it is a sudden change from your previous experience.
ns
It’s my understanding the floating stool is because of too much fat in the diet. It doesn’t seem reasonable it would be too much fiber since fiber is encouraged and floating poop is supposedly “bad.”
BC
Floating poop could be the sign of something more serious. In my husband’s case, it was one of the first signs of pancreatic cancer. So always mention it to the doc, especially if paired with fatigue and pale-looking skin (which turned out to be jaundice).
AJW
No comment. Just want to see others.
JHH
I have the same question as CAL-M. I’ve heard references to floating poop, but have never read an explanation.
Donnie
My problems actually were caused by Celiac disease, and I had to go on a totally gluten free diet. That eliminated a lot of symptoms I had suffered with for many years.
Wayne
To eliminate gas, simply do not eat sugars of any kind and that includes processed foods such as bread and crackers or cereals, etc. Eat real veggies (no potatoes or rice) and protein, and all gas will be eliminated in two or three days. The gas will return, however, in only a few hours after consuming your first slice of bread or spoonful of sugar. It is not life threatening to try. One really, really nice benefit besides losing gas: you will lose weight. I promise.
LD
What makes poop float is usually if you have much fiber in the diet. Especially nonsoluble fiber in bread or musli.
CAL-M
What makes poop float, and why is it bad?