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Black/Dark purple bits in stool??

Posted , 4 users are following.

jack11045
jack11045

So it all started roughly 4 weeks ago where suddenly one day I was getting really bad stomach cramps, bloating, a lot of gas especially after eating (my stomach would literally rumble all the time, eating or not eating), had very little appetite. Went to the doctors a few days later and they said I had a stomach infection, I wasn't having diarrhea or vomiting at the time.

I started to worry a lot during the next week or so as I suffer from pretty bad anxiety and the symptoms weren't changing at all. I lost about a stone of weight in a week and a half which I assume was down to not eating  (I could only manage a few bananas a day) 

About a week later my stomach cramps seemed to stop and a pain developed just under my right set of ribs, which seemed to get worse and worse as the days went by. I started to get really loose BMs of a weird greeny dark orange colour which seemed to reduce the pain and would find myself going 3+ times a day and not feel empty after the first. I find myself needing to urinate a lot more frequently too, maybe cause I'm drinking a load of water? 

In my stools are these weird black dry bits of varying length (they were purple today but I'm not sure if that was kidney beans I ate last night) They are dry and kinda look like the bits of popcorn shell that come off the corns before you put them in the microwave,  but not as hard if that makes sense? 

I went to the doctors a few more times and got shrugged off saying it was all down to my anxiety which was causing the issues?

Finally I got to see a good doctor who gave me a blood test which came back with nothing and said I had IBS which was developed as a post-infection mixed with my anxiety levels. I kept asking if any other tests were required and he kept saying there is no point. 

Now I usually have a constant pain under my right ribcage, which comes and goes through the day, usually worse after eating, sometimes under my left ribcage is a feint pain too and sometimes it'll rise into upper abdomen. 

So what the hell is going on here? Sorry for the massive essay.  I'm just really worried about these black bits in my stool, are they blood?! sad

0 likes, 38 replies

38 Replies

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  • donclaudio
    donclaudio jack11045

    Posted

    Your water intake should not be taken 30 minutes before meals and some 2 to 3 hours post meal..you don't want to "dilute" your needed benefical gastric juices....all of them have a job to do, and they do it better than any man made machine. Your water will most likely be a PH of 6.5 to 7.5...hcl (stomach acid) is most active at 1 to 1.5 PH)

    There are only a handful of scientists and me that disagree with the majority that prescribe antiacids without a diagnosis of excess acid.

    The first choice of every GP in the world once a patient complains of

    acid reflux or heartburn"..they prescribe a PPI (Proton Pump Inhibitor)...shuts down the stomach wall's production of acid...acid not only catabolizes foods but destroys toxins.This nonsense will be debated over the years and hopefully in short time a better alternative will become available..but now the PPI's make billlions and billiions of dollars for the medical community.(PPI use to rid HPylori is acceptable practice IMO) Claudio

    • eilostnyc
      eilostnyc donclaudio

      Posted

      Wow never thought of that.  I was on PPI for over a year.  doc did endoscopy and said i have a hiatul hernia and need to be on pantaprazole, and now I wonder if that is the cause of this IBS.  I did stop taking that pill for about 2 weeks now but I don't notice any changes except my heartburn has returned a bit.  Not too bad because the food I eat is so bland.  Now you got me thinking.  Keep in touch.  
    • donclaudio
      donclaudio eilostnyc

      Posted

      sorry about hearburn/stomach pain...I'll repeat..I'm not fond of PPI's or anything that disturbs ones natural defenses...the exception is when treating "over secretion of HCL" but that must be diagnosed correctly no upper endoscopy can ID excess..the other exception is during the eradication of the bacteria HPylori.

      In Jacks case, he doesn't have "severe" anything except anxiety..the loose stools doesn't call for a colonoscopy...must be more than once upon a time he had purple bits in his stools..after eating kidney beans?

      In your case, long term PPI use can cause havoc with "some" people...do a google scholar search on long term use of ppi's or pubmed...use only the us national institutes of health studies. This is whats called "primary" source vs..web md and other terciary web sites which are "commercial" or for profit. You might consider boosting your magnesium since ppi's block absorption big time..(do not over do mag..it "can" relax the LES....also Vit D3/K2...the two supplements I suggested to jack were 1/4 teaspoon of psyllium husk powder..inexpensive..x 2 daily along with a quality probiotic like vsl#3 or jarrow has enteric coated as well, there are many probiotics but not are all enteric coated..they need to get by the stomach acid, only a few have a chance...and you want as many as possible. Water is very helpful. Heartburn with an HH is difficult...I personally have HH but I control it a few ways. Diet..what I eat...when I eat..and How much...I mess up from time to time and use bismuth tabs not liquid...1/2 tab usually pre bedtime..if during the day, a lozenge of either DGL or Slippery Elm...probably take a total of 3 in a years time. Either DGL and/or Slippery elm (lozenges) may help your stomach pain/s.... It may take you a 3 to 6 months to rebuild your system back to "normal" but if your already on a good diet, and you know what triggers your heartburn..should be a piece of cake...although many slip back to behavior's that got them into trouble in the first place. Digestive health is KEY to your entire well being...Hypocrates stated "all evil centers in the gut" or somthing similar.I suppose you've checked your blood sugar? Any supplement I suggest you "validate" ...via the sources I've mentioned...and also ask your pharmacist after you do some homework...they respond in a much more favorable way if you have some basic knowledge. my best..Claudio

    • jack11045
      jack11045 donclaudio

      Posted

      I forgot to mention.. During the first week of my initial 'virus'-(as said so by doctor). I lost a stone in weight. I admit I wasn't eating much at all during that first week, (just like 4 or 5 bananas a day..) but does that seem normal? Just keep worrying about having 'unexpected weight-loss'. Seeing as I lost another 2kgs so recently.. It's worrying
    • donclaudio
      donclaudio jack11045

      Posted

      You are not the "exception"...

      Everyone loses weight during digestive issues...

      Everone looses weight when they eat less than 1/2 of the daily calories needed for mere "maintenance".

      if it takes 10 liters of fuel to get you to your destination and you have only 5? or even if you have 10 but the engine's fuel filters are damaged thus mpl is reduced?.. A PHD not required.

      As long as you worry..you can lose weight...

      worry causes inflammation..Intestinal mucosa inflammation leads to "MAL ABSORPTION"...loose stools also a symptom of inlammation.

      Any invasive testing is extremely dangerous during inflammation...either upper or lower endoscopy tools can

      damage the lining each and every time the wire touches the lining..ulcers develop....then a whole series of major issues plus the meds to combat them follow.

      Researchers have illustrated that the mind can either heal or cause a major disease.

      Claudio

    • jack11045
      jack11045 donclaudio

      Posted

      I understand that but 1 stone in a week is a hell of a lot to lose isn't it? Just seems a bit extreme to me!

      I have a CBT session tomorrow so hopefully can get this anxiety treatment onto the positive path started smile 

    • donclaudio
      donclaudio jack11045

      Posted

      Lets see..first it was colored bits in your stool...now its once upon a time 1 stone in a week weigtht loss...while it can be a matter of concern..it hasn't continued at a loss of 1 stone per week has it? And If I'm not mistaken was associated with digestive and food intake?

      I'm not a shrink....don't want to delve into this area again..have lost 2 younger brothers both with similar "thinkings"...I didn't help them..and cannot help you...just hope you can find the right path and wish you nothing but the best...Claudio

    • eilostnyc
      eilostnyc donclaudio

      Posted

      You are so knowledgeable.  I don't know what some of the terms you use means, such as What is LES and VitD3/K2, and psyllium husk powder.  Is that a supplement to buy at a health food store?  I didn't realize that the PPI usage can hurt the stomach.  I thought it was going to make my stomach better.  I guess I was a victim of the pharmaceutical industry.  I need to find a new gastroenterologist next year and get another opinion.  I take a probiotic called Digestive Advantage, they are capsules so you mean the stomach acid will kill that good bacteria off?  I just get all confused with all this stomach stuff.  This all happened to me suddenly.  I never had any stomach problems until May and it suddenly got horrible overnight.  Just weird. Thanks for your info. 
    • eilostnyc
      eilostnyc jack11045

      Posted

      Hi Jack,

      Can you tell me what a CBT session is and where I would go to find this?

    • donclaudio
      donclaudio eilostnyc

      Posted

      Hi eilostnyc,

      so sorry about "terms"...LES referers to your lower esophageal sphincter

      the valve that opens and closes..opens to allow food you swallow, to enter the stomach, then closes ...its job is to allow only a one way transit..sometimes there are causes for it not to close "tight"...thus allows stuff from you stomach to "reflux" up into your throat. This area overlaps from Gastroentrology to ENT (ear nose and throat) or Otolaryngology.

      Use wiki to get visuals of the throat and LES...

      btw if your stomach suddenly errupted overnight...what was your last two meals? and are/were you taking any medications?..

      If you had a colonoscopy, a biopsy was most likely taken...it would have or should have shown a bacterial implication..and I'm also sure a blood panel was taken during the same time period...probably normal? Claudio

      Vitamin D3...and Vitamin K2...these two vitamins work together best. The K2 which may be "new" to you is a vitamin that functions like a cop..directs calcium to your bones and not to your organs..I prefer the gel type vs the hard pills. VsL#3 is a new probiotic...do a pub med search. Your probiotics may be OK...some probiotics are destroyed by your stomach acid..if your are "entric" coated, they have a good chance of getting beyond the stomach acid (HCL). Psyllium Husk Powder is prebiotic in a powder form, readily available ...usually comes in a 16oz container....again, check what it does via pub med.

      Me and a hand full of scientfic researches disagree with the majority that favor the Proton Pump Inhibitors. As a troubleshooter vs an MD..I studied the functions of the mouth, throat, stomach, small and large bowels..in very small steps along with chemical, electrical, and physical components. Very few Gastroentrologists refuse to prescribe PPI's. So we and millions are stuck with this nonsense but I have hope that at some time, things will change...I do see a crack in their armour..now see references "they should not be taken long term"...

      What caused your distress in the first place goes a very long way with the healing/cure/treatment. There are so many many causes so if one is unaware of what might have caused it..its a program of trial and error but its a farily narrow program road...DGL is  Deglycyrrhizinated licorice...it has many benefits in our digestive system..since its a plant, I start with wiki...then to a primary info source like pubmed or science direct...You would benefit  by learning some of the basic digestive workings..There are many members you have a good understanding and a few who :"think they know". So, it behoves you to "validate" any suggested supplement or medication...primary is what professionals use vs a for profit web site..these are  "terciary" info sources...they are ok but one must go to their references as editors make mistakes.

      I hope to have covered your questions...claudio

  • eilostnyc
    eilostnyc jack11045

    Posted

    Did you have a colonoscopy?  You really should.  I didn't want one but I ended up in the hospital after 10 straight days of severe diahrea and they made me do the test.  It came back normal no polyps, nothing.  I still have stomach cramping.  I am eating very very little and have lost 15 lbs which is good cause I am overweight but I miss eating normally. Now I just have bare minimums and its depressing.  I have to go for a sonogram but I think the doc is just shutting me up, He told me to take antidepressant meds, Celexa but it made me more anxious, tired, mood swings and ringing in my ears so I stopped.  Its just so confusing.  Its hard not to stress over a condition when you really don't know why its happening.  Feel better Jack.  Keep in touch.
    • jack11045
      jack11045 eilostnyc

      Posted

      How long did you lose the 15lbs over? What were you eating at the time? I've lost about the same amount and am pretty worried it. Granted I haven't been eating much but surely you can't lose that much weight in so little time? 
    • eilostnyc
      eilostnyc jack11045

      Posted

      I lost 15 lbs in 6 weeks.  When I started the diahrea I was afraid to eat and the doc told me I had to eat so I had broth and jello and rice for awhile but the cramps come no matter what I eat, so I just cut back and eat bare minimum cause I am afraid the diahrea will start again and it does when I eat a little tasty food, so right now its oatmeal or boiled egg and toast for breakfast.  Yogurt and fruit for lunch and chicken with a green vegetable and maybe a little pasta or potato, but just a little an then some jello or applesauce or a cookie for desert.  I just don't enjoy eating anymore cause I keep getting cramps.  One minute I am flying into the bathroom with an explosive movement and then I don't go for 4 days its crazy.  Then I worry I have a blockage and its just getting me nuts.  Talk to you soon
  • bobcrachet
    bobcrachet jack11045

    Posted

    jack,

    I feel sorry for the discomfort and worry you are going through but at the end of the day we have to listen to what our GP says unless you want to go for a second opinion. I have done this with GP's and with a hospital consultant, it is difficult and it takes time but you do have this option.

    Doctors are not always right but they do get a lot of practice in diagnosing what is wrong with us.

    We are all different and there are many forms of IBS.

    I have type 2 diabetes and when I had a colonoscopy at the hospital and everything seemed to be OK the consultant said "This could be down to your diabetes" It is only now that I think he may be right. I have pain down my decending colon and sometimes in my right side as well. I have tried Buscopan and Mebeverine which are anti spasmotic drugs. They work but not to the level you would expect. The best results I have got are eating the low FODMAP diet, drinking plenty of water and taking exercise three times per day, walking the dog.

    I avoid wheat milk, cheese, citrus fruit, coffee and alcohol. I also find probiotics in the form of natural yogurt.

    Try not to get too stressed up because seems to make the IBS condition worse.

    Hope you get something out of this and wish you an enjoyable Christmas

    Best regards

    Robert

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