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Noticed Black Stools And Having Abdominal Pain. Scheduled For Endoscopy. Stomach Bleeding?

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Posted on Tue, 11 Jun 2013
Question: Hello. This is concerning stomach bleeding.

About 3 weeks ago I had dark black mucus stool, it only happened ONCE (I was taking iron for about 2days) I went in to go see my GI dr and he scheduled me for a upper endoscopy on 05/28/13. My question is, my stool only looked black that time and it hasn't happen ever since, could it have been XXXXXXX bleeding, if it was wouldn't I still be having black stools? Todayive been having upper abdominal pain and it feels hot inside of my abd, could it be bleeding???? Should i go to then ER , I'm scared I'm bleeding XXXXXXX and that's why it having this pain!!! FYI I'm starting on my menstrual days could the pain be from that? Even though its in the upper abd, left&right¢er abd???? I'm also concer about some blood work that had a slight difference in RBC and HEMOGLOBIN within a few days. Could this indicate that I'm loosing blood or that my stomach is bleeding?!

04/22/2013 RBC 3.84 HEMOGLOBIN 12.1
04/25/2013 RBC 3.70 HEMOGLOBIN 11.6

Another question
My urea nitrogen (BUN) came out to 5L is this bad???


I JUST HAD A BABY 04/01/13 and a d&c 4 weeks ago 04/17/13
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (5 days later)
Hello,

Thank you for the query.

Iron supplementation very often gives black stool. This is a side effect of an iron. And usually it does not indicate blood presence in the stool.

When bleeding has its source in the stomach, stool looks like a tar. Its really black and has strange smell (like digested iron). But such bleeding needs to be really ample to be noticed as a black tarry stool. And for sure your hemoglobin would be much lower.
So most likely your black stools was caused by iron supplementation.

You need to know that bleeding usually does not hurt at all. Its rather a silent thing which can be noticed when pale skin, weakness or black stool appears. So your upper abdominal pain does not indicate that you are bleeding.

Upper abdominal pain can be caused by stomach diseases like peptic ulcer (which in some cases is a bleeding source), stomach inflammation. Stress can also cause stomach or intestines spasm and result with pain.

So gastroscopy is a good idea and should be done as scheduled to rule out stomach diseases.

Your blood work results are almost the same. You need to know that blood cells are floating in the water. If you drink more water, blood work will show less hemoglobin in milliliter. So your results can be different as body hydration were different. For sure such difference does not indicate bleeding.

I assume that your BUN is 5 mmol/L and the ref. ranges are 8-20 mmol/L.
Urea nitrogen is a waste product of proteins. More you eat proteins, higher result you have. So such slightly decreased BUN most does not indicate any disease. It can give an information about your recent protein intake.
If the BUN gets really high, it indicates kidneys disease. But at your case nothing like that is present.

So please do not worry so much. If there is no black stool, weakness, pale skin, vomiting with blood, most likely you are not bleeding. Get your gastroscopy done as it is scheduled. In a meanwhile please avoid coffee, alcohol, fatty foods, spicy foods.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (2 hours later)
I have another question. I've been having problem for over a year now and I feel like I'm going crazy!!! :((

I've been having so horrible symptoms. I have them 24/7, always, from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed! I get this feeling of dizziness, faintness, lightheaded, weakness and shakiness, short of breath head fullness!! I'm scared to go out bcuz I feel like I'm going to pass out, I get them no matter what I am doing, stepping, sitting, standing, walking!!!! It's always here!!! I want to feel normal and enjoy my life!!! I feel fuzzy or head fullness all the time!!! I've had many exams! Lungs, heart, blood, mri of brain and all normal!!! My blood pressure is usually 100/60 and I've checked my blood sugar and its always normal!!! What can this be?!?! I feel as if my brain and body don't connect, like all of a sudden my body is just going to shutdown!!! I'm a mommy of 3 and I can't take care of them bcuz I feel this way!! It's all day but worse in the morning!!! I'm always just thinking waiting to faint or for my body to shutdown, like I said its a 24/7 feeling and even if I'm asleep, and wake up to feed my baby I have it!!! On a side note I just had a baby 4/1/13. They said my thyroid THS is .25 but that it shouldn't be causing this symptoms! What could it dr? :(( I want to feel normal!!

I feel as if the dizziness/lightheaded is coming from my head or eyes I feel like I'm living in a dream!!! My body feel weak. Nothing makes it better!!

There's times I feel as if my body is vibrating!! Also if I go to a second floor I feel vibrations under me!! Sorry but I'm posting as aim remembering my symptoms! Also my head feel wired, full, shaky!!

There's times I feel as if my body is vibrating!! Also if I go to a second floor I feel vibrations under me!! Sorry but I'm posting as aim remembering my symptoms! Also my head feel wired, full, shaky!!
I find it soon hard to believe that anxiety/depressio or panic could cause me to feel all this 24/7. Is it possible?!?!

And if it was due to epilepsy, what would be the prognosis? How is it treated?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (3 hours later)
Hi,

Yes, mental state can cause such symptom. Present medicine still does not know much about such diseases. What is certain, brain can control whole body. Nerve fibers are present in every single part of our body.
For example, when you are stressed, stomach acid secretion increases, muscles can shake, sweating appears, nausea can be present, stomach ache etc. It seems that this symptoms are completely needless and its presence has no sense at all. But our brain, for some reason causes such symptoms.
As every person is different, every brain can have different reaction and cause different symptoms. Depression or anxiety can be very serious diseases when not treated. Persons with this diseases very often can not live theirs lives, as it paralyses theirs bodies and minds.

The very extreme example how mind can affect body is catatonia (can be caused by depression). Person with catatonia can have rigid poses (usually very uncomfortable) for many many hours and not react for any external stimuli. Its like muscles spasm for many hours without tiredness, without any control.

So in conclusion, anxiety and depression can do everything with your body.
Its hard to predict about the epilepsy as every person has different reaction to medicines. Some has great response, some do not react for medicines.
And epilepsy is treated with medicines.

I do not assume that you have any mental disorder. Just trying to give you some possible solution.

Hope you will find it helpful.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)
I've also been dealing with shortness of breath and chest tightness. I do suffer from anxiety/panic/depression. But I just can't believe that it causes all of my symptoms! What could be the cause of the shortness of breath and chest tightness. Also I have low blood pressure can my other symptoms be from this? Lately it's been worse 96/60
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (13 hours later)
Shortness of breath and chest tightness very often appear with panic attack or anxiety. More often than other mentioned by you symptoms. Of course there is many others reasons of shortness of breath like asthma, COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), heart issues or even pregnancy. But I assume that all this conditions were ruled out with many tests you have had. Spirometry (blow test), chest X-ray, heart stress test should be done when shortness of breath appears.
So maybe if all other diseases were ruled out, you should try to believe that anxiety/depression is causing your symptoms. It is really possible.

Low blood pressure like yours is not a disease if you have such blood pressure all your life. Some people have higher blood pressure, some have lower. You are young person and its really hard to find any other reason of your symptoms. To increase blood pressure you may try drink more sodium XXXXXXX mineral water. Coffee can help with low blood pressure as well.

Hope this will give you some answers.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)
Thanks Dr! I've had a spirometer test, chest X-ray, ct of chest, heart holster 24 hr, heart echo and EKG. All normal thank god! If all my heart test were normal, should I still worry about heart attacks when I experience chest pain or I shouldn't since the teste were good?! I called my neuro to make an appt. to discuss my dizziness and inner body trembling. What could it be? What do you think? Also could heart burn cause chest pain in between my breast?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)
Hi,

So all possible lung and heart condition were ruled out. This means you have no reason to worry about chest issues and breathing issues. You are a very young person and heart or lungs problems are very rare at your age. So no reason to worry at all.

Yes, heartburn (acid reflux disease) can cause chest pain between breasts. It can be a symptom of your stomach issue (same issue can cause your upper middle abdominal pain). That is why gastroscopy which you are scheduled for is a good idea.

Like I have mentioned before, stress causes increased stomach acid secretion. So it all (your anxiety problem and abdominal pain) seems to be connected together.

Your dizziness and inner body trembling are really hard to diagnose symptoms and from my point it seems impossible. So neurologist consult is the best advice I can give you in that matter.

Hope this will help.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)
Thanks DR
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (7 hours later)
You are welcome. Get well soon.

Regards.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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Noticed Black Stools And Having Abdominal Pain. Scheduled For Endoscopy. Stomach Bleeding?

Hello,

Thank you for the query.

Iron supplementation very often gives black stool. This is a side effect of an iron. And usually it does not indicate blood presence in the stool.

When bleeding has its source in the stomach, stool looks like a tar. Its really black and has strange smell (like digested iron). But such bleeding needs to be really ample to be noticed as a black tarry stool. And for sure your hemoglobin would be much lower.
So most likely your black stools was caused by iron supplementation.

You need to know that bleeding usually does not hurt at all. Its rather a silent thing which can be noticed when pale skin, weakness or black stool appears. So your upper abdominal pain does not indicate that you are bleeding.

Upper abdominal pain can be caused by stomach diseases like peptic ulcer (which in some cases is a bleeding source), stomach inflammation. Stress can also cause stomach or intestines spasm and result with pain.

So gastroscopy is a good idea and should be done as scheduled to rule out stomach diseases.

Your blood work results are almost the same. You need to know that blood cells are floating in the water. If you drink more water, blood work will show less hemoglobin in milliliter. So your results can be different as body hydration were different. For sure such difference does not indicate bleeding.

I assume that your BUN is 5 mmol/L and the ref. ranges are 8-20 mmol/L.
Urea nitrogen is a waste product of proteins. More you eat proteins, higher result you have. So such slightly decreased BUN most does not indicate any disease. It can give an information about your recent protein intake.
If the BUN gets really high, it indicates kidneys disease. But at your case nothing like that is present.

So please do not worry so much. If there is no black stool, weakness, pale skin, vomiting with blood, most likely you are not bleeding. Get your gastroscopy done as it is scheduled. In a meanwhile please avoid coffee, alcohol, fatty foods, spicy foods.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.