Black oily stools?

@frouke
Earlier this year, I had a GI bleed due to ulcers. Doctors asked many questions about my bowel movements. I did not have black stools. The combination of low iron and changes in stool definitely needs to be investigated.

This article from Mayo discusses the reasons why bowel movements have different colors:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diarrhea/expert-answers/stool-color/faq-20058080
Black could be due to diet or indicate upper GI bleeding. Did your doctor recommend iron supplements due to low iron?

Have you contacted your primary about this change in bowel movements?

@roch Yes he mentioned that my iron was low and prescribed iron but I can’t take the side effects so I didn’t use it. The dark stools just occurred the week so I went back to the doctor and he wants another blood test to check hemoglobin levels and see if they dropped since previous test. I do realize that it’s upper GI because the blood is dark, I’m just worried because I fear it’s cancer and I always have a habit of putting myself through hell. Thanks for your response, it’s really appreciated, Frouke.

I am seeing a pulmonologist for a "concerning nodule" in my upper right lung. I'm also having GI problems. HH and changes in bowel habits. I'm thinking maybe it's the sucralfate I've been taking for a while. It's scary, isn't it? Getting answers is like pulling teeth, but maybe I don't really want to know. I am praying for you right now. I'm trusting my Lord. He is the Great Physician and is the definition of love, grace and mercy. God bless you.

@connilou, It’s truly scary to go through medical issues and not worry about the outcome, I have medical anxiety and struggle to cope with the situation, prayer is a powerful thing and I depend on it greatly, I ask for strength and comfort and most of all faith, God hears all our prayers, blessings to you and your health, thank you, 🙏

Frouke,
I'm so sorry to hear of this situation that you have. I take iron tablets and that does give one black stools. Have you been taking any iron tablets? It also could be caused by something you ate. Think about what you ate when this started and do some research online to see if what you ate could affect your stools that way.

The other thing that will help is prayer. Just give everything up to God. After all, he made you and he can fix you! I'll say a prayer for you also. I wish you the best!
PML

@roch Id think if your iron's fine your Dr might be wanting a colonoscopy.

I mentioned a few months back that I had one occasion where my stool was black, also a previous blood test indicated low iron levels. I saw the doctor who said at the time I should go to the hospital if this happened but I didn’t, anyway it never happened again and along with another blood test that showed my hemoglobin levels increased , the doctor felt that I was fine. Anyway moving forward I started having trouble with emptying my bowels fully along with bloating and discomfort on my left side below my ribs, I went back to the doctor who told me to take laxatives for a few weeks and he ordered me a FITT test, I finally got called back to see the doctor and he said that there was blood in the results. Of course I’m worried because the discomfort in my left side is still there and getting more uncomfortable. I’m just trying to book a colonoscopy to look into the problem but that’s going slow, the doctor even marked urgent on the requisition. I feel rather anxious about the whole thing, know how it is when you’re a cancer survivor you fear that it could happen again in another part of the body, I’m hoping anyone reading this who has had similar experience with this can give me some insight on what is happening, thanks.🙏

Are you taking other supplements or medications that could cause this? I know that Iron made my stools very dark, as do certain foods.

@creondave, I don’t believe that I was, it happened once and I went over everything that I ingested, my medication is Ativan and Symbicort, neither one is likely to do this. The doctor redid my blood work and was pleased with the hemoglobin levels going up so that was good, I’m troubled by the discomfort below my ribs on the left side and constantly unable to empty my bowels properly or being constipated a lot. He ordered a colonoscopy after the FITT test came back positive.

If you take ibuprofen or aspirin it can cause a stomach bleed. A upper endoscopy will see this. I had my small intestine cauterized from internal bleeding from too much ibuprofen. Now I never take that or aspirin.