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BlackTar Stool & Blood

Posted , 6 users are following.

Jon8181
Jon8181

About 2 months ago I had a bowel movement and my stool had the consistency and color of black tar with some blood mixed in, it happened twice so I didn't give much thought to it. Last night around 11:30 PM I woke up and had a regular bowel movement and went back to bed. Just to give some background on myself, I am a 63 year old male whose been diagnosed with a history of Ischemic Thrombosis Strokes, Lacunar Strokes, Complex Partial Seizure Disorder and Simple Partial Seizure Disorder, White Brain Matter Disease, Type II Diabetes, Peripheral Neuropathy in both feet and hands, Short term memory loss. I deal with dizziness, balance issues and headaches and falling down everyday. So I got up around 2:00 AM and sat on the porch. I felt like I needed to have another bowel movement so I stood up, got my cane and it felt like I had a very small accident in my underpants. I went to the bathroom, turned on the light near the toilet and I was in shock. There was this huge trail of this thick black tar like substance with blood spots. I undressed and it looked like something inside of me exploded but I never felt it come out of me like a normal bowel movement. My wife came in, cleaned everything up, help me take a bath. We saw my doctor this morning and he's setting me up to see a G.I. specialist. I didn't have any pains but I thought with everything else I have now what. Can anyone please help

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • iqbal_45667
    iqbal_45667 Jon8181

    Posted

    It is really difficult to assess the cause. It could be simple but one in this situation needs priority to consult the specialist. It is good that you are in consultation with the Docs. I feel it may be better to get to some relevant specialist with out delay.
  • Susie100
    Susie100 Jon8181

    Posted

    Hi, I'm so sorry to hear about all your problems and my heart goes out to you. Your problems are complex and blood in your stools should always be investigated. I would imagine you are on many medications and some are blood thinners. If this was me I would have gone to emergency but I'm sure your doctor has made the right call after discussing all the facts with you.

    I can only pass on what happened to my mother in law about 20 years ago, she is now 92!

    Unknown to us she had been having black blood in her stools and abdominal gurgling noises for a while. The first we knew about it was when we received a call from the hospital to say she had been admitted. She had got up in the night to find there was black coffee grain type stool everywhere, it was in the bed and everywhere she had walked. When we went to clear up afterwards it was like the house of horrors, we had to throw out bedding and floor coverings it was so bad.

    It turned out she had a perforated duodenal ulcer and she had to have a 4 hour emergency surgery. For 10 years she had been on Naproxin (anti-inflammatorys) for her arthritis and apparently this had something to do with it.

    Also my husband had a heart attack some years ago and they gave him a clot busting drug, this caused his stool to be black and grainy for a while.

    I guess what I'm saying is that it could be a number of things. Don't  immediately think the big C, but ignoring serious symptoms like this can only make things worse. Also for your mental peace of mind it's best to face things head on.

    Good luck, I'll be hoping for the best and simplest solution for you. I hope this helps.

    • Jon8181
      Jon8181 Susie100

      Posted

      Susie, thank you. When ever you receive a warm letter like yours, it always helps. Yes, I'm on around 18 medications per day. I never worry about myself. The Lord blessed me 36 years ago with my amazing wife and best friend. When this happened a while back my stool consistency reminded me of a thick black paste or tar. When it happened again a couple nights ago, like I described in my post, it was the strangest thing I had ever experienced. If I never turned on the bathroom light I would have never known what happened because I didn't even feel anything, but after I turned on the light it looked like a bomb had exploded and the bathroom floor was covered with this thick tar stool with some blood mixed in. So, after all I've gone through till now I get upset because I know my wife worries and I tell her, this too shall pass. But thank you for sharing and for your kind words.

  • pippa58442
    pippa58442 Jon8181

    Posted

    If you are taking any medication, or eating iron rich foods such as lettuce, this may have caused tarry stools.  Some medications can cause diarrhoea too.  However, bleeding should always be investigated.  You are doing the right thing seeing a doctor.
  • sanya11314
    sanya11314 Jon8181

    Posted

    I would ask for a stool sample container at the doc to have it handy when needed (since self washed out glasses might not be accepted), so that a sample can be brought it at least for basic assessment like 'human blood'.

    Also a picture for doc.

    Hope your GI appointment is soon.

     

    • Jon8181
      Jon8181 sanya11314

      Posted

      Thank you for valuable input. Since I first posted my situation my neighbor, who has been on dialysis for the past few years heard about what happened and he began to ask me a number of specific questions. After we spoke he shared with me that the black tar stool with blood I experienced coupled with my answers to his questions, he told me that prior to his kidneys failing, all of my symptoms, including my black tar stool with blood and no appetite, he experienced all of what I've been going through and he said that he wasn't in any way saying that I was in kidney failure, but to be on the safe side, get to the hospital instead of waiting so that's what I'm going to do.

  • Susie100
    Susie100 Jon8181

    Posted

    So pleased you are taking your neighbours advice.

    "Better be safe than sorry"

    Wishing you the best.

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