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What Causes Black Stool?
Question: hi, my bowel is black in the morning every time i drink wine the night before. no pain at all. it always gets normal in a day. i read online that it could be blood and i should see a doctor. but i don't want my family to get worried so want to avoid seeing a doctor. i can do some blood tests though if required without my family knowing. is it something can better with time and if i completely avoid alcohol in future?
Brief Answer:
Stool occult blood test is helpful initial investigation
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I apologize for late reply.
1) Black colored stool, episode of bleeding which occurred in small intestine 2-3 days before.
2) Bleeding from large intestine would be maroon colored
3) To differentiate blood in stool from colored-agent in stool, simple test is to check stool specimen for occult blood test. If this test comes positive means there was an episode of bleeding inside intestine. But this test doesn't reveal amount of bleeding
4) To confirm amount of bleeding there are various investigations based on suspected location of bleeding in intestine, i.e. if bleeding is suspected from small intestine then contrast-enhanced CT scan abdomen is helpful and if bleeding is suspected from large intestine then colonoscopy will be effective to detect bleeding lesion
5) If you have symptom of black stool + vomiting then upper GI is also recommended to exclude possibility of lesion in stomach
Stool occult blood test is helpful initial investigation
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I apologize for late reply.
1) Black colored stool, episode of bleeding which occurred in small intestine 2-3 days before.
2) Bleeding from large intestine would be maroon colored
3) To differentiate blood in stool from colored-agent in stool, simple test is to check stool specimen for occult blood test. If this test comes positive means there was an episode of bleeding inside intestine. But this test doesn't reveal amount of bleeding
4) To confirm amount of bleeding there are various investigations based on suspected location of bleeding in intestine, i.e. if bleeding is suspected from small intestine then contrast-enhanced CT scan abdomen is helpful and if bleeding is suspected from large intestine then colonoscopy will be effective to detect bleeding lesion
5) If you have symptom of black stool + vomiting then upper GI is also recommended to exclude possibility of lesion in stomach
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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