Canada
A 42-year-old female asked:
Hi i have had black stools like tar for like 5 years or more. i thought this was due to me drinking 3 or 4 glasses of red wine a night. stool sample shows very small amount of blood doctor wants to do a colonoscopy. i hear you can die from this ?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
GI bleeding: Occult gastrointestinal bleeding (i.e. unknonwn source) is potentially serious, either because the actual cause of bleeding can be dangerous (e.g. cancer) or because slow bleeding can become sudden and even life threatening. The risk of dying from whatever is the cause of this problem is far higher than from the colonoscopy. Follow your doctor's advice!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
331 viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Mar 26, 2021
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
$44 video appointments with $19/month membership*
*Billed $57 every 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.