A 27-year-old member asked:
what can cause my stool to be black and stinky?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Helleranswered
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
Bleed. Call MD NOW: Black, tarry stools can be seen with bleeding in the gut- usually upper GI tract (stomach, duodenum), but not always; even without pain, nausea, etc. Risks include aspirin, nsaids, alcohol, ulcer history, steroids.
Black stools also from pepto-bismol, iron pills, arsenic (not prescribed anymore), charcoal.
Black is black, dark is dark.
Call doc now. If lightheaded, chest discomfort, palps: er now.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Similar questions
A 21-year-old member asked:
Is the stool test "positive" when there is only a small speck of blue-green color on the test area?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Helleranswered
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
Yes, minimally so: Yes, but may be equivocal. Depends on the circumstance, diet, etc. Worth repeating. If patient is at risk for colon polyps or cancer, by age, family history, or symptoms/physical exam, then the stool test is not the make or break issue in deciding to do further evaluation. If there are other GI symptoms, the decision for evaluation depends on histroy and physical.
6.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
My stools are very hard and cause a lot of inconvenience during expulsion. Should I be worried?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Arthur Helleranswered
Gastroenterology 43 years experience
Constipation: Hard stools that are difficult to pass are classic constipation. Can be multiple causes; may be as simple as not enough fluid intake, fiber intake.
Constipation can be seen as part of thyroid, bowel, anal, gyn, neurologic, metabolic disease, even depression.
Change in bowel pattern may be of more concern. Causes can vary with age. Some aren't serious, others can be, including cancer.
See ur doc.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 27-year-old member asked:
What is the normal average pH value of stool?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. John Edmisonanswered
Gastroenterology 19 years experience
7 - 7.5: The normal stool pH for children and adults is 7 - 7.5. A pH less than 5.5 is considered to be acidic; common causes include poor absorption of carbohydrates or fat. A high pH may be seen with antibiotic use, inflammation / colitis, certain colon polyps, and sometimes colon cancer.
6.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Is it bad to hold a stool until a convenient time?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 46 years experience
Hard, bulky stool: Children who avoid a stool for whatever reason can later forget to empty. This may result in a hard or bulky stool that is painful to pass. To avoid pain, younger children may try to avoid having stools & older kids may just want to avoid going at school. Over time, this can weaken the emptying function & cause a recurrent problem with slow transit/poor emptying & require specific program to fix.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Can benefiber chewables cause a different color in stools?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Crystal Twynhamanswered
General Surgery 33 years experience
Sometimes: Benefiber can sometimes trap bile acids. A variation in the amount of bile acids in your stool can cause a change in the color. It is not dangerous, and the benefits of fiber far outweigh any psychological concerns about what color your stools are!
** good luck!
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more. Get help now:
Last updated Jun 10, 2014
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