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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Had Gastric Bypass. Why Are Stools Black And Bloody? Will I Be Okay?

Hi I had a gastric bypass on Tuesday. My Stools are very black and bloody - but the blood is very dark and smelly. The surgeon thought on day one that it was old blood from the surgery. I have started passing again today which is really my first proper bowel movement since. I think im ok as its not light blood. Andrew 32
Thu, 19 Jul 2012
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Hi Andre,
Once there is a bleed in stomach/gut it can produce black tarry slools
for about a week but the density of black color fades towards the end of this duration.
If you had the surgery this tuesday then nothing is to be done and if you had it on tuesday 8days back then there might be a surgical site bleed either due to a slipped ligature on the artery or a surgical site infection resulting in bleed.
In latter case you need to get hemoglobbin measurements daily, if level is stable then it's delayed clearing of old blood, if Hemoglobbin level is dropping then you may need blood transfusion and antibiotics/re-exploration of surgical site that your surgeon will know.
I hope this advise would be helpful for you.
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Had Gastric Bypass. Why Are Stools Black And Bloody? Will I Be Okay?

Hi Andre, Once there is a bleed in stomach/gut it can produce black tarry slools for about a week but the density of black color fades towards the end of this duration. If you had the surgery this tuesday then nothing is to be done and if you had it on tuesday 8days back then there might be a surgical site bleed either due to a slipped ligature on the artery or a surgical site infection resulting in bleed. In latter case you need to get hemoglobbin measurements daily, if level is stable then it s delayed clearing of old blood, if Hemoglobbin level is dropping then you may need blood transfusion and antibiotics/re-exploration of surgical site that your surgeon will know. I hope this advise would be helpful for you.