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What Causes Black Sticky Stool?
Question: I am female age 65.
I had three days of black sticky stools (which I had assumed was due to some new greens drink that was
"detoxing". ) Then, last night once and 3 times today I have had in addition to black stools, blood in the toilet water.(like the amount of the 1st or 2nd day of a normal menstrual cycle) I have a number of other physical issues (described below) Going to the emergency room is exceedingly difficult for me as sitting for more than a few minutes is very painful. Here, an ER visit usually means 12 to 15 hours of waiting. My spring visit was over 15 hours. I started before that at urgent care- they are very limited as to what they can do and they just sent me to start over at the ER. I am trying to determine if there is anything I can do to stop or reduce the bleeding and see my doctor on Monday, and how I will know if things are getting dangerously worse. Although, I am not currently having indigestion or reflux, I have tagamet just in case.
Ongoing, but changing gastro-intestinal issues:
Since my back surgery last spring,(a double fusion L-4/5 and L-5/S1I have had many digestive issues (week long nausea and vomiting spells about 1 per month
until 4 months past surgery - a visit to the ER with dehydration as I did not respond to oral or suppository
anti-nausea meds. They did a CT scan from under breasts to my pelvis and found nothing) I have since that time had a variety gastro-intestinal issues. The last 3 months has been a gut ache during the night mostly, from 9 pm until 4 am ish. Some times high, sometimes low abs, sometimes mid-abs and sometimes the entire gut. I see a pain management
specialist for trigger points, a physical therapist, a low force chiropractor and I respond to all their treatments but only briefly a day or 2 and often the gut ache just moves up or down. Our assumption has been that the gut pain and previous nausea
had a structural cause. I have suffered with nerve pain for over 15 years and have genetic issues with my spine, in part, due to foramina in the entire spine being genetically quite narrow and with age and arthritis there is less and less room. I have had nerve pain that changed location with treatment for years but was low back (leg nerve pain) to neck twisting and severe headaches. My practitioners had thought that the squeezing
of the vagas nerve and phrenic nerve was explaining my symptoms. The last week the gut ache was less severe and varied in location and time of day and I assumed things were improving -Then, the bloody stools!
I had three days of black sticky stools (which I had assumed was due to some new greens drink that was
"detoxing". ) Then, last night once and 3 times today I have had in addition to black stools, blood in the toilet water.(like the amount of the 1st or 2nd day of a normal menstrual cycle) I have a number of other physical issues (described below) Going to the emergency room is exceedingly difficult for me as sitting for more than a few minutes is very painful. Here, an ER visit usually means 12 to 15 hours of waiting. My spring visit was over 15 hours. I started before that at urgent care- they are very limited as to what they can do and they just sent me to start over at the ER. I am trying to determine if there is anything I can do to stop or reduce the bleeding and see my doctor on Monday, and how I will know if things are getting dangerously worse. Although, I am not currently having indigestion or reflux, I have tagamet just in case.
Ongoing, but changing gastro-intestinal issues:
Since my back surgery last spring,(a double fusion L-4/5 and L-5/S1I have had many digestive issues (week long nausea and vomiting spells about 1 per month
until 4 months past surgery - a visit to the ER with dehydration as I did not respond to oral or suppository
anti-nausea meds. They did a CT scan from under breasts to my pelvis and found nothing) I have since that time had a variety gastro-intestinal issues. The last 3 months has been a gut ache during the night mostly, from 9 pm until 4 am ish. Some times high, sometimes low abs, sometimes mid-abs and sometimes the entire gut. I see a pain management
specialist for trigger points, a physical therapist, a low force chiropractor and I respond to all their treatments but only briefly a day or 2 and often the gut ache just moves up or down. Our assumption has been that the gut pain and previous nausea
had a structural cause. I have suffered with nerve pain for over 15 years and have genetic issues with my spine, in part, due to foramina in the entire spine being genetically quite narrow and with age and arthritis there is less and less room. I have had nerve pain that changed location with treatment for years but was low back (leg nerve pain) to neck twisting and severe headaches. My practitioners had thought that the squeezing
of the vagas nerve and phrenic nerve was explaining my symptoms. The last week the gut ache was less severe and varied in location and time of day and I assumed things were improving -Then, the bloody stools!
Brief Answer:
Consulting emergency room is almost unavoidable
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all, it is sad to know what you had gone through.
Based on the history you have shared, and extensive work up and consultations you have had it is almost certain that you are fighting with these issues with outstanding courage and determination.
The latest twist in your symptoms are likely due to internal bleeding from Gi tract and black stool indicate that this bleeding is even from upper GI tract that is from stomach and small bowel even. It can be due to your previous pathology which can even be due to chronic infections inside gut or inflammatory bowel disease or syndrome. But latest worsening can be due to that detox agent that you have used. With such critical history and prone gut, you shouldn't be trying such unauthenticated products as most of these are either not approved by the FDA or have not enough studies or research to support their safety profile.
As far now, you need to visit an ER, no matter how much trouble you have experienced in past while visiting one, but that is the right resort you should be looking for. With such much intent and determination that you have put up so far in fighting with the troubles you have mentioned, it's far less compared to those.
I am sure with the issue of fresh bleeding from bowel and black stools they will get mug less time to look into your case. It may need upper and lower GI endoscopes after an initial per rectal examination or sigmoidoscopy to look for origin of bleed.
A stool analysis to look for infective causes and a complete blood picture for any evidence of severe blood loss needing transfusions would be sorted out. An injectable antacid infusion may be needed. Meanwhile avoid taking heavy greasy meals or fizzy drinks and consult an ER immediately as it needs to be evaluated in detail.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
Consulting emergency room is almost unavoidable
Detailed Answer:
Hi! Welcome to health care magic! Thanks for sharing your concerns with us. We will try to help you in best way possible. First of all, it is sad to know what you had gone through.
Based on the history you have shared, and extensive work up and consultations you have had it is almost certain that you are fighting with these issues with outstanding courage and determination.
The latest twist in your symptoms are likely due to internal bleeding from Gi tract and black stool indicate that this bleeding is even from upper GI tract that is from stomach and small bowel even. It can be due to your previous pathology which can even be due to chronic infections inside gut or inflammatory bowel disease or syndrome. But latest worsening can be due to that detox agent that you have used. With such critical history and prone gut, you shouldn't be trying such unauthenticated products as most of these are either not approved by the FDA or have not enough studies or research to support their safety profile.
As far now, you need to visit an ER, no matter how much trouble you have experienced in past while visiting one, but that is the right resort you should be looking for. With such much intent and determination that you have put up so far in fighting with the troubles you have mentioned, it's far less compared to those.
I am sure with the issue of fresh bleeding from bowel and black stools they will get mug less time to look into your case. It may need upper and lower GI endoscopes after an initial per rectal examination or sigmoidoscopy to look for origin of bleed.
A stool analysis to look for infective causes and a complete blood picture for any evidence of severe blood loss needing transfusions would be sorted out. An injectable antacid infusion may be needed. Meanwhile avoid taking heavy greasy meals or fizzy drinks and consult an ER immediately as it needs to be evaluated in detail.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. Regards.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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