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What Causes Dark Stool Along With The Urge To Defecate?

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Posted on Fri, 10 Jun 2016
Question: Hello Doctor, I've been polluting and it smells a lot. I'm also feeling my stomach running like as if I should go to toilet. I don't know why am going through this, please advice.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
diarrhea?

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

I suppose you mean diarrhea? Smelly diarrhea is usually caused by gastroenteritis but other causes may also apply like gastrointestinal bleeding for example. If your stool is normal in color without blood then it's probably gastroenteritis. If it's black and tarry then bleeding would be suspected.

Fever is another useful sign to discriminate between infectious and other causes.

If you're talking about smelly gas then it could be something you ate. Various types of food like garlic, onions, etc may cause it.

I'll be glad to comment more on this, if you'd like to provide more details.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (34 minutes later)
Hello doctor, thanks for the respond. I can;t say if this is diarrhea but my stool is black but not that deep black. And sometimes I feel as if my intestine just around my abdomen moving. I don't know how I can explain more of this feeling. Please advice me more.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (7 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
black stool requires investigation

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the additional info!

Important information would be the color of the stool (black), their consistency (solid, liquid, something between them?), other symptoms (like abdominal pain), other medical conditions (having taken painkillers for example), hypotension and tachycardia, etc.

Since you had black stool, you should visit the ER for urgent assessment. Gastrointestinal bleeding is possible and should be excluded or confirmed right away. Serious bleeding causes the stool to be black and shiny (like tar). Less serious bleeding or other causes may make the stool dark (even black) but not shiny. The doctor may evaluate the stool during clinical examination.

So in conclusion, urgent action is required. Gastrointestinal bleeding has to be excluded as soon as possible.

I hope you find my comments helpful!

Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3810 Questions

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What Causes Dark Stool Along With The Urge To Defecate?

Brief Answer: diarrhea? Detailed Answer: Hello, I suppose you mean diarrhea? Smelly diarrhea is usually caused by gastroenteritis but other causes may also apply like gastrointestinal bleeding for example. If your stool is normal in color without blood then it's probably gastroenteritis. If it's black and tarry then bleeding would be suspected. Fever is another useful sign to discriminate between infectious and other causes. If you're talking about smelly gas then it could be something you ate. Various types of food like garlic, onions, etc may cause it. I'll be glad to comment more on this, if you'd like to provide more details. Kind Regards!