Question 1

can red soda or ketch-up cause black stools? not tarry, sticky, or worse smelling, just really dark/ almost (if not) black

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: Hi
With red soda, sometimes it can, although it really depends on the type of food coloring used and how much of it you consumed. I haven't heard of ketchup causing red stool before, but I would assume that if there was heavy food coloring used, it could be possible.

Hope this helps

Question 2

i had abd pain 1 week ago lasting 3 days. pain subsided. today i had a formed black stool.  not tarry. what could this be. dr has not called back yet.

Accepted Answer

Peptic ulcer...: A peptic ulcer commonly causes upper abdominal pain and can bleed leading to black stool(s).  Your doctor may want to start you on a acid suppressive medication like Prilosec (omeprazole) and/or order an endoscopy to  try and diagnose the ulcer (if present). Good luck!

Question 3

i have stomach pain and black stool not tarry just started today hurts occasionally how long should i wait before going to the doctors?

Accepted Answer

If melena, go NOW...: Melena, by definition, is passage of dark stools stained with denatured blood.  As we established in prior healthtap answers, all dark stool is not melena. Your doctor, or even an over-the-counter test that you can purchase, can check to see if your dark stool contains blood.  Needed is for you to provide a sample of the dark stool. False positive results can occur based on diet &amp; stool additives.

Question 4

i have been getting black stools, not tarry though, just dark in color. i also have bad strep throat. are they related in any way? or should i go in?

Accepted Answer

Black stool: Implies upper GI tract bleeding or certain meds like pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate). See your doc.

Question 5

just been diagnosed with crohns disease, i have had black stools but they are not tarry they are quite loose as well, should i be worried?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Black stools can be caused by medications like iron or even some mesalamines. If your doctor is not concerned that it's a sign of upper GI bleeding, it may be due to the medication you're taking.

Question 6

black stool this morning. was not tarry, didnt disperse in the water. i poop an hour later,  it was dark brown, not black. had pepto on wed. & thurs.

Accepted Answer

Likely Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate): Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) can cause a change in the color of stool and turn it black. As long as you are not otherwise noticing any significant associated symptoms like abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, this is not a worrisome concern.

Question 7

can ibs sometimes cause black spots in stools, not tarry??

Accepted Answer

Sometimes is blood: Black spotting may result from iron supplements, foods you eat (like a lot of spinach), substances (like peptobismol), but most significantly suggests bleeding. When blood is denatured by acid in your stomach, as from ulcers, stools will turn tarry ("melena"). Blood may also be ingested from nose bleeds, bleeding gums. Silver-colored stool suggests bleeding from the biliary tree. Get checked pls.

Question 8

i am so confused about how bloody tarry stool looks like...compared to black stool.  aren't they the same thing?

Accepted Answer

Be cautious: If you have black stools and are not sure if these are tarry black, treat it as if it were black tarry stool and get a sample tested for blood.

Question 9

i have tarry black stools which looked like clotted blood. can celiac disease be a cause?

Accepted Answer

Unusual: Tarry stool is not a feature of celiac disease but often a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. You need to see your doctor very very soon.

Question 10

had bowel cancer 2001. have tarry black stools now
endoscopy negative what now?

Accepted Answer

Melena: What endoscopy did u have—colon? Esophagus/stomach? Do u take iron supplement? Pepto-bismol? Beets? Nsaids? Melena suggests digested blood from upper GI source, but many foods/meds/supplements can produce black stools. Doc may order ct/ MRI &/or bloodwork to check for cancer recurrence or other causes. If only sigmoid checked, need entire colon & esophagus/ stomach checked.

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Doctor answers about:

Black stool not tarry

A member asked:

Can red soda or ketch-up cause black stools? not tarry, sticky, or worse smelling, just really dark/ almost (if not) black

A member asked:

I had abd pain 1 week ago lasting 3 days. pain subsided. today i had a formed black stool. not tarry. what could this be. dr has not called back yet.

A member asked:

I have stomach pain and black stool not tarry just started today hurts occasionally how long should i wait before going to the doctors?

A member asked:

I have been getting black stools, not tarry though, just dark in color. i also have bad strep throat. are they related in any way? or should i go in?

A member asked:

Just been diagnosed with crohns disease, i have had black stools but they are not tarry they are quite loose as well, should i be worried?

A member asked:

Black stool this morning. was not tarry, didnt disperse in the water. i poop an hour later, it was dark brown, not black. had pepto on wed. & thurs.

A member asked:

Can ibs sometimes cause black spots in stools, not tarry??

A member asked:

I am so confused about how bloody tarry stool looks like...compared to black stool. aren't they the same thing?

A member asked:

I have tarry black stools which looked like clotted blood. can celiac disease be a cause?

A member asked:

Had bowel cancer 2001. have tarry black stools now endoscopy negative what now?

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