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Black tarry stools
Black stool is a symptom in which a person's stool (poop) has a black color, or sometimes a very dark red color. Black stools are usually due to old blood (fresh bleeding is red in color).
Dr. Keegan Duchicela reviewed this
16 year experience in family medicine
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Related questions
A 48-year old asked:
What do black tarry stools look like?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old asked:
What do I do if I have black tarry stools?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 48-year old asked:
I have black tarry stools after a night of partying?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
A 51-year old male asked:
I read on webmd about black tarry stools, I have one maybe 2 to 3 times a month, what does that mean?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A member asked:
What causes black tarry stools, i always heard it was cancer?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 47-year old asked:
Do iron supplements cause black tarry stools?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old asked:
Can drinking red wine cause you to have black tarry stools?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 27-year old female asked about a 32-year old male:
Black tarry stools and feeling of stomach not emptying... since 2-3 weeks... age is 32 and hard tummy?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 40-year old female asked:
My four month old baby has smelly black tarry stools. She has recently started formula fully. Very fussy and crying. Any ideas?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 26-year old female asked:
Been stressed. No food for 7 days, and very minimal water sometimes none at all for the day Loss of10lbs. Today black tarry stool with a fowl smell.
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 56-year old female asked:
I have pan diverticulosis and recently had black, tarry stools. I just had a colonoscopy. It was clear. My diet and Meds haven't changed. Any ideas?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 37-year old asked:
What can cause black tarry stool with occasional sharp stomach cramps?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A female asked:
Have black tarry stools that comes and goes, sometimes bright red but do not have hemorrhoids. Since the stools are not constant should I see GI doc?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 40-year old female asked:
I had an EGD three months ago and it was nonremarkable. Now I have black tarry stool and Hemoglobin of 10.2 Can you develop an ulcer in three months?
1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
A 32-year old female asked:
I was diagnosed with gastritis and hiatal hernia on february 2012. During that time I had black, tarry stools and was placed on omezaprole than changed to nexium. My upper abdomen area pains or becoming more severe and comes and goes. It wakes me up at
3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old female asked:
I took indomethocin for IVF and had 2 glasses of wine. Then bright red blood in my stool last night (just blood came out). Blood taken at hospital - all normal. Now I have black tarry stool. Hospital?
3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 21-year old male asked:
Is this esophageal cancer? 21 years old. Black tarry stools, bad acid reflux, discomfort in chest and throat area
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 23-year old male asked:
Can colitis show black, tarry stools? Also, is it possible for colitis to initially show watery diarrhea and then progress to black, tarry stools?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 64-year old female asked:
I am having mild abdominal discomfort, frequent diarrhea and as of today black tarry stools?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
A 19-year old male asked:
I have had a pain in the left side of my stomach since last night. No black tarry stools, no signs of GI bleeding. What could be the cause? Is it gas?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A member asked:
Hello, I have had watery diarrhea for 2 days today is going on my 3rd day, should I be concerned about this? I'm trying to stay hydrated but the more water I drink the more I have to use the bathroom, there's no blood, or black tarry stool, just watery an
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 16-year old female asked:
I am experiencing black tarry stools, blood on toilet tissue, dizziness (better by: with fluids, rest) , abdominal pain (worsened by: after meal) (quality: stinging or burning sensation) (severity: mild) and bloody stool. The following also describe me:
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 19-year old female asked:
I am experiencing lower abdominal pain (side: left) , sudden abdominal pain, nausea (severity: mild) , diarrhea, constipation, appetite changes (quality: reduced appetite) , fatigue, pelvic pain, black tarry stools, painful bowel movements, abdomina?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
What is meant by a black or tarry stool?
3 doctor answers • 11 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old male asked:
I had a colonoscopy and a gastroscopy yesterday. A biopsy was taken during the colonoscopy. So I know its normal to see blood in your stool. Ive seen dark and bright blood now and I just passed a black tarry like stool. Is this normal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 30-year old female asked:
Is it normal to have dark brown/charcoal grey (not black or tarry) stools?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 23-year old male asked:
Is it possible to have bleeding in your colon without black or tarry stools?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 22-year old female asked:
Does bleeding in the intestines would result to a whole black and tarry stool or just a portion of the stool?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 56-year old female asked:
Iron level is currently 7.2. No rectal bleeding, no black or tarry stool. Iron keeps getting lower monthly. Any Dr. I should see other than Gastro?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old male asked:
I have a black and tarry stool. at the same time i have a constipation; but after endoscopy i don't have an ulcer. what is the main reason to have a black stool and constipation if not an ulcer?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
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