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What Causes Pain In Left Side Of Abdomen And Black Stools?
Question: I am a 60 year old female with history of acid reflux disease. I take a daily dose of dexilant. The results of a recent endoscopy were good. In the past few days, I have experienced pain originating from the left side of my abdomen and throughout my upper abdomen and back and bowel movement with half-brown and half-black stool. What could be the cause of this?
Brief Answer:
Detailed below!
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
It is important to clarify if you took Pepto Bismol before or after having black stools.
This because black tarry stools are a serious finding indicating upper gastointestinal bleeding but pepto bismol is known to cause black stools so it is important to know this.
Also is important to know the consistency of your stools.
If your stools were black before using pepto bismol and they were black black (like tar ) not only darker then usually ,then it is a clear sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
If your stool got black after using pepto bismol then it might due to this,but you need to do a stool test to exclude the presence of blood in it.
A stool examination is necessary (fecal occult blood test ) to determine the presence of blood in stool.If this test result positive for the presence of blood in stool you may need to run an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy to determine the cause.
I would suggest to consult your physician and get examined.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have any other question or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.
Regards!
Dr.Rovena Murati
Detailed below!
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
It is important to clarify if you took Pepto Bismol before or after having black stools.
This because black tarry stools are a serious finding indicating upper gastointestinal bleeding but pepto bismol is known to cause black stools so it is important to know this.
Also is important to know the consistency of your stools.
If your stools were black before using pepto bismol and they were black black (like tar ) not only darker then usually ,then it is a clear sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
If your stool got black after using pepto bismol then it might due to this,but you need to do a stool test to exclude the presence of blood in it.
A stool examination is necessary (fecal occult blood test ) to determine the presence of blood in stool.If this test result positive for the presence of blood in stool you may need to run an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy to determine the cause.
I would suggest to consult your physician and get examined.
Hope my answer has helped.
Let me know if you have any other question or doubt to clarify.I will be happy to assist you further.
Regards!
Dr.Rovena Murati
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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