Stool changes

Hello @jadillow,

I am glad to hear that you are back to normal. @contentandwell made a good point about the foods you have been eating. Certain foods (like beets, blueberries, spinach, etc.) can turn your stools very dark. Iron supplements can have the same effect. Here is an article that I found on this topic. It lists digestive tract conditions as well as foods that can cause dark stools. Just click on the link,
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-can-cause-red-stool-or-black-stool-1941726
It would be good to talk with your doctor about it because it could indicate a digestive issue that needs to be treated.

I have an appointment with a specialist at the end of the month. I am at work now and had a sharp stabbing pain in one spot in my upper stomach for a few seconds. Possibly an ulcer but I’ve never had anything like this so I don’t know

@jadillow I'm glad to hear you will be seeing a specialist. If something is wrong you can find out then, and if not it will set your mind at ease. I hope you will let us know what you hear when you go.
JK

I have slow transit constipation and ibs. Lately ive had extra trouble with both. I know usually you shouldnt worry about green stool, but mine has been green lately and also my mucus from ibs has turned green. Im not eating much, nothing green that i remember. I will monitor it but just wondering about it. I know mucus can be green but mine has never been. Id appreciate any thoughts! Thanks

Hello @januaryjane, You will notice I changed your discussion title to better describe your question. Not that long ago I was having issues with some off color stools and did find a page with a funny title that really put it all in easy to understand layman's terms. The document from UMass says a green stool may indicate too much bile is present. Food may be moving through your body too quickly, not giving bile the time that it needs to break down.

Oh, Poop. Everything you need to know about your #2 -- https://www.umassmemorialhealthcare.org/sites/umass-memorial-hospital/files/Documents/Services/Surgery/UMass_Colorectal_Inforgraphic_0316.pdf

Have you had a chance to ask your primary care doctor about what may be the cause?

Thank you so much John. Ill look up this link. Unfortunately, Ive had trouble finding a PC, but I do work with my Gastroenterologists office. I have to talk to them soon anyway, but I dont want to make a fuss if its nothing.

Hi, there. Im Eric, 39 and overall in good health and good weight level. Ive been having abdominal issues for the past 4-5 weeks and plan to get some tests done. I just thought I would see if others have had similar issues. It seemed to have come on suddenly one day after eating a home-made ham sandwich. I had diarrhea from it and seemed fine after but then 4-5 hours later after eating again ( vegetable beef soup and a brat) I had to wake up twice in the night with diarrhea. The next day seem okay but I noticed my stool had changed to a yellowy sometimes greenish brown. Every time i would eat after-- i experienced tightness and some bloating in upper left abdominal area near ribs. Also just over all kind of sour-y stomach while digesting but no pain or nausea. I feel like I have plenty of energy--idk. At first i though i had food poisoning and then maybe a mild ulcer. Ive stoped eating red meat since it seems to give me the most trouble and I've changed diet to more plan foods and drink much less. Im not on any medications and exercise 2-3 times a week. The issue seems a bit better now after a few weeks but I still have the yellow stool. I read up on parasites and problems digesting fat but not sure.

Hello @ridgeart and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect,

I can certainly understand your concern over a change in your bowel habits. From what you posted it appears that you are planning on getting some tests. Have you seen your doctor already? You are wise to be proactive in this matter. It may be nothing serious, but it is always wise to check it out. You mentioned the change in the color of your stools. Here is an article from Mayo Clinic's website about the different reasons for a change in color and what it could indicate. Have you been taking anti-diarrheal medicine? If so, on the chart it lists this as one reason for a change in the color of the stool. Just click on the link and you can read more about this, https://www.mayoclinic.org/stool-color/expert-answers/faq-20058080.

I'm wondering if you have kept a log of the foods you are eating to see if any particular food is triggering your symptoms. Do you currently have GI tests scheduled?

Hey Teresa, thanks for the info. Yeah--I suppose I could have Celiacs or at least a strong wheat intolerance. I have not scheduled anything yet. Im checking in with my doctor next week. I let it got for a couple of weeks just thinking it was food poisoning or just to see if by changing diet it would change. It has gotten better in general but stool is the same. I have payed attention to some foods that don't agree with me. Red meat for instance seems harder to digest and really fatty oily foods. I might have a fat malabsorption. I do have some gallstones that showed on a chest X-ray in February when I had a bad Flu/cold. Not sure how long they have been there since i had not had an X-ray in a while. I don't have any shooting pains or anything though.

@ridgeart I'll look forward to hearing what your doctor has to say about your symptoms. Have you tried any over the counter products that have helped with your symptoms?