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Are Black Stool, Constipation And Radiating Lower Back Pain Serious Concerns While Having A History Of Anemia?
Question: With somwone always experience digestive problems. Rectal bleeding in the past none for 2 years. Tonight i experienced a black stool. Constipated. Ive also had radiating lower back pain impossible to sit but not sure if its related to my period as i have it now and its a new symptom. Always had a history on anaemia cant get my levels up and on thyroxine. Im worried.
Brief Answer:
Stool for occult blood test to be done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for asking query on this forum Dear,
Have gone through your query in details.
There are a few things to consider when a person says she has black colored stool.The first thing is to find out if it is blood.If you are bleeding or not can be confirmed by having a stool for occult blood test or a stool microscopy test done.That will confirm the presence of blood with the stools.
Generally, blood coming from higher levels (stomach and small bowel) converts into a dark coal black color due to the changes the blood has in the bowel..
Have you ever had a colonoscopy done? If not then its the time to go for it.
A CBC would be a good test to be done if you suspect bleeding to see if you are developing anemia as a complication of bleeding and need treatment for it or not.
So to conclude:
1. we need to be sure you are bleeding or not- a stool test like fecal occult blood test and or stool microscopy for blood will help in this.
2. if it is confirmed that you are bleeding then you will need a colonoscopy to find the cause of it.
3.As you have constipation so in meantime please make sure you take extra fibre with diet and drink plenty of water along with lactulose(laxative).Pain could be related to constipation as toxic bacterial colonies develop in intestines.Large amount of gas is formed which compresses the nerves.
I hope this is helpful and answers your questions but please feel free to reply in case any more clarification is needed on this.
Anemia is due to thalessemia if possible attach those reports also(whether its major or minor).
Follow up with reports.
Kind regards
Stool for occult blood test to be done.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for asking query on this forum Dear,
Have gone through your query in details.
There are a few things to consider when a person says she has black colored stool.The first thing is to find out if it is blood.If you are bleeding or not can be confirmed by having a stool for occult blood test or a stool microscopy test done.That will confirm the presence of blood with the stools.
Generally, blood coming from higher levels (stomach and small bowel) converts into a dark coal black color due to the changes the blood has in the bowel..
Have you ever had a colonoscopy done? If not then its the time to go for it.
A CBC would be a good test to be done if you suspect bleeding to see if you are developing anemia as a complication of bleeding and need treatment for it or not.
So to conclude:
1. we need to be sure you are bleeding or not- a stool test like fecal occult blood test and or stool microscopy for blood will help in this.
2. if it is confirmed that you are bleeding then you will need a colonoscopy to find the cause of it.
3.As you have constipation so in meantime please make sure you take extra fibre with diet and drink plenty of water along with lactulose(laxative).Pain could be related to constipation as toxic bacterial colonies develop in intestines.Large amount of gas is formed which compresses the nerves.
I hope this is helpful and answers your questions but please feel free to reply in case any more clarification is needed on this.
Anemia is due to thalessemia if possible attach those reports also(whether its major or minor).
Follow up with reports.
Kind regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
i dont get black stools every time just the odd times. i do have thallesemia please see att reports. im afraid to do the test. if my stool color goes back to normal is that ok? is the lower back pain related to my bowel? also ive been drinking beet juice and more chocolate than usual. can constipation itself cause stools dark stools as this is the darkest ive seen it. thankyou for helping me
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for follow up dear patient,
Stool color has minimal importance in gastroenterology cases however if stool is TARRY/TAR like black for more then 3 times then you can worry about that other wise minor variation in color consistency or texture could be due to food habits constipation etc.So unless you are over skeptical about it no need to worry as of now.
Very likely lower back pain could be related to constipation.Constipation causes incomplete fermentation of food which releases large amount of toxic gases.These gases compresses the intestines.There are number of nerves running through intestines.When the nerve is compressed it may get inflammed and causing the other minor branches to get inflammed also.Hence pain could radiate to back.
Beet root and chocolate itself could give brownish/black tinge to your stools.Constipation leads to severe fermentation of food which could obviously change the color of stools.
You can take iron polypeptides in 6mg doses.
As of now no need to worry.
If episode repeats itself.Click a photo and post it to me.
Hope i was helpful.
Do rate the answer any suggestion to make answer better are welcome.
Regards.
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for follow up dear patient,
Stool color has minimal importance in gastroenterology cases however if stool is TARRY/TAR like black for more then 3 times then you can worry about that other wise minor variation in color consistency or texture could be due to food habits constipation etc.So unless you are over skeptical about it no need to worry as of now.
Very likely lower back pain could be related to constipation.Constipation causes incomplete fermentation of food which releases large amount of toxic gases.These gases compresses the intestines.There are number of nerves running through intestines.When the nerve is compressed it may get inflammed and causing the other minor branches to get inflammed also.Hence pain could radiate to back.
Beet root and chocolate itself could give brownish/black tinge to your stools.Constipation leads to severe fermentation of food which could obviously change the color of stools.
You can take iron polypeptides in 6mg doses.
As of now no need to worry.
If episode repeats itself.Click a photo and post it to me.
Hope i was helpful.
Do rate the answer any suggestion to make answer better are welcome.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
its very hard to get the same dr. what about my iron results are they bad? so if i understand correctly tar like black runny stool? and no need to do testing for now only if it stool os dark 3 times in a row? mine was a normal stool not runny first being pebble like as im always constipated but just very black.
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear patient;
Increase your daily fiber intake.Pebble like stool is suggestive of less fibers intake.This would also cure constipation.
No Tar like color of the stool could be solid or runny.
If dark color continues you can go for stool test however as you had just one episode of it right now testing is not required.
Next time click 2-3 clear pics and post it to me.
Can use this link
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ramesh-kumar/72660
How are you treating your constipation?
Thanks.
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again dear patient;
Increase your daily fiber intake.Pebble like stool is suggestive of less fibers intake.This would also cure constipation.
No Tar like color of the stool could be solid or runny.
If dark color continues you can go for stool test however as you had just one episode of it right now testing is not required.
Next time click 2-3 clear pics and post it to me.
Can use this link
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ramesh-kumar/72660
How are you treating your constipation?
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
i drink prune juice celery juice and beet juice makes me go. but i dont drink enough water at times. i eat oats every morning but i feel my hypothyrodism makes.me.constipated also.
Brief Answer:
Follow up suggestions.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for follow up my dear patient,
I think that just doing these few things won't help and all your problems are some how related to constipation.
Life style changes should initially be accompanied with proper medications after that we can taper the medicines off.
As you are taking external thyroid hormones chances of your body to be in hypothyroid state are quiet less.
However few more changes are-
Not exercising enough, not drinking enough water and delaying a bowel movement can worsen constipation symptoms.The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined food such as whole grain cereals, XXXXXXX honey and lentils; green leafy vegetables, like spinach, beans, lettuce, celery, asparagus, carrot. Adding some fat to meals or increasing the size of a meal such as breakfast can help create the urge to defecate. Individuals suffering from constipation should increase the amount of plant foods they consume to get more fiber in their diet. Constipation can be treated by changing diets.
Secondly human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by 1013-14 bacteria of 400 different species and subspecies.They are responsible for proper digestion of food.Depletion of this flora can lead to severe constipation and digestive problems.Take a probiotic daily.
-Use fish oil and castor oil-Fish oil is believed to encourage healthy digestion and castor oil produces a laxative effect when ingested
-Fruits and vegetables, which contain high amounts of fiber, aid in alleviating symptoms of constipation,Whole-grain bread, XXXXXXX oatmeal, beans and lentils can also relieve the problem so use it Instead of highly processed rice, eat brown rice, millet.
-Eat 2 cups of fruit 3 cups of vegetables and about 35 grams of fiber per day
fruits: Generally all fruits, except banana and XXXXXXX fruit, are beneficial in the treatment of constipation.
Pears are beneficial in the treatment of constipation.
Guava fruit when eaten with seeds, gives roughage to the diet and helps in the normal evacuation of the bowels.
Grapes: have also proved highly beneficial in overcoming constipation. The grapes have the cellulose; natural sugar and organic acid make them a natural laxative fruit. Not only they clean the bowel, but also tones up the stomach and intestines to relieve the chronic constipation
All these things will increase the bulk of your stool,Will soften it and will clear your ileum of the compacted faecal material.
-While sitting on the toilet, support the feet on a small stool in order to achieve a normal position that aids in bowel movement.
Take laxative,initially start following all these advices then gradually taper the doses of laxatives .
Take Fybogel husk-Fybogel sachets and Fybogel Hi-Fibre sachets both contain the active ingredient ispaghula husk, which is a type of medicine called a bulk-forming laxative. Ispaghula is a type of fibre. It swells when it comes into contact with fluid in the gut and thus increases the volume of the faeces.It increases the bulk in your stool, an effect that helps to cause movement of the intestines. It also works by increasing the amount of water in the stool, making the stool softer and easier to pass. Psyllium, one type of bulk-forming laxative.
feel free to follow up.
With proper medication and life style changes things would be much better in a month time.
Do rate the answer any suggestion to make answer better are welcome.
Regards.
Follow up suggestions.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for follow up my dear patient,
I think that just doing these few things won't help and all your problems are some how related to constipation.
Life style changes should initially be accompanied with proper medications after that we can taper the medicines off.
As you are taking external thyroid hormones chances of your body to be in hypothyroid state are quiet less.
However few more changes are-
Not exercising enough, not drinking enough water and delaying a bowel movement can worsen constipation symptoms.The most important factor in curing constipation is a natural and simple diet. This should consist of unrefined food such as whole grain cereals, XXXXXXX honey and lentils; green leafy vegetables, like spinach, beans, lettuce, celery, asparagus, carrot. Adding some fat to meals or increasing the size of a meal such as breakfast can help create the urge to defecate. Individuals suffering from constipation should increase the amount of plant foods they consume to get more fiber in their diet. Constipation can be treated by changing diets.
Secondly human gastrointestinal tract is colonized by 1013-14 bacteria of 400 different species and subspecies.They are responsible for proper digestion of food.Depletion of this flora can lead to severe constipation and digestive problems.Take a probiotic daily.
-Use fish oil and castor oil-Fish oil is believed to encourage healthy digestion and castor oil produces a laxative effect when ingested
-Fruits and vegetables, which contain high amounts of fiber, aid in alleviating symptoms of constipation,Whole-grain bread, XXXXXXX oatmeal, beans and lentils can also relieve the problem so use it Instead of highly processed rice, eat brown rice, millet.
-Eat 2 cups of fruit 3 cups of vegetables and about 35 grams of fiber per day
fruits: Generally all fruits, except banana and XXXXXXX fruit, are beneficial in the treatment of constipation.
Pears are beneficial in the treatment of constipation.
Guava fruit when eaten with seeds, gives roughage to the diet and helps in the normal evacuation of the bowels.
Grapes: have also proved highly beneficial in overcoming constipation. The grapes have the cellulose; natural sugar and organic acid make them a natural laxative fruit. Not only they clean the bowel, but also tones up the stomach and intestines to relieve the chronic constipation
All these things will increase the bulk of your stool,Will soften it and will clear your ileum of the compacted faecal material.
-While sitting on the toilet, support the feet on a small stool in order to achieve a normal position that aids in bowel movement.
Take laxative,initially start following all these advices then gradually taper the doses of laxatives .
Take Fybogel husk-Fybogel sachets and Fybogel Hi-Fibre sachets both contain the active ingredient ispaghula husk, which is a type of medicine called a bulk-forming laxative. Ispaghula is a type of fibre. It swells when it comes into contact with fluid in the gut and thus increases the volume of the faeces.It increases the bulk in your stool, an effect that helps to cause movement of the intestines. It also works by increasing the amount of water in the stool, making the stool softer and easier to pass. Psyllium, one type of bulk-forming laxative.
feel free to follow up.
With proper medication and life style changes things would be much better in a month time.
Do rate the answer any suggestion to make answer better are welcome.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
i dont excersise at all so will start to walk daily. i have banana smoothies with berries daily. i will buy psylium husk and have it daily and eat 2 salads a day with 2 pears. im scared naturally as i have always dealt woth rectal bleeding, hemmaroids, fissures, anal itching over the last 10 years. nervous to empty my bowel to see the color. also is it normal for a stoll to be darker around my period? thankyou for answering all my questions. you arr so great.
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for follow up my dear patient,
In a normal woman, color of stools has no relation to menstruation.
Liver secretes a chemical called Bile. During digestion bile is broken down into stercobilinogen(a brownish pigment) which imparts color to stools.
In case of constipation various toxins are produced as a result of incomplete fermentation of food. One of them is alcohol and aldehyde derivatives. Stercobilinogen may react with them and color of pigment changes.
So just follow what I said.
Don't forget to add probiotic and laxative.
Follow up after 10 days.
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ramesh-kumar/72660
If you are satisfied then rate answer.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Regards.
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for follow up my dear patient,
In a normal woman, color of stools has no relation to menstruation.
Liver secretes a chemical called Bile. During digestion bile is broken down into stercobilinogen(a brownish pigment) which imparts color to stools.
In case of constipation various toxins are produced as a result of incomplete fermentation of food. One of them is alcohol and aldehyde derivatives. Stercobilinogen may react with them and color of pigment changes.
So just follow what I said.
Don't forget to add probiotic and laxative.
Follow up after 10 days.
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ramesh-kumar/72660
If you are satisfied then rate answer.
Any suggestions are welcome.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
i will. any feedback on my iron you dodnt answer? also can a probiotic be food based instead or yakult?
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Yakult contains unnecessary sugar.
Probiotic will provide you only with spores of bacterium required(VSL#3).
You said that you have thallesemia?
But i can't see any report of thallessemia attached with query.
I can just see levels of ferritin etc?
So who said you have thallesemia?
I am a bit confused.Your reports are suggestive of iron deficiency anemia.
Please clarify.
waiting for reply.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Yakult contains unnecessary sugar.
Probiotic will provide you only with spores of bacterium required(VSL#3).
You said that you have thallesemia?
But i can't see any report of thallessemia attached with query.
I can just see levels of ferritin etc?
So who said you have thallesemia?
I am a bit confused.Your reports are suggestive of iron deficiency anemia.
Please clarify.
waiting for reply.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
so probiotic helps with good bacteria and help me go? thallesemia ive known since inwas 16 heridary from my mother. my gp has told me and specialist as why my heomoglobin is low they tell me. no mayyer what indo i cant get my.levels up. im going to see a hemotologist again. iron tablets dont agrrr with me so now im trying beet juice.
Brief Answer:
Attach electrophoresis report.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and sorry for a bot delayed reply,
Yes probiotics would help to replete the lost good bacterial culture in your gut and over days would help you to improve your digestion.
Basicaklly hemoglobin electrophoresis has to be done to see if its thallesemia or not.It is further classified into mild moderate and severe.Treatment differs for 3 of them.
Secondly in CBC target cells should be there to tell you that you have thallesemia.
Don't take iron tablets take iron polypeptides. They are latest and won't cause any gastric upset.
Till electrophoresis has XXXXXXX done your profile is that of iron deficiency anemia.
Regards.
Attach electrophoresis report.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and sorry for a bot delayed reply,
Yes probiotics would help to replete the lost good bacterial culture in your gut and over days would help you to improve your digestion.
Basicaklly hemoglobin electrophoresis has to be done to see if its thallesemia or not.It is further classified into mild moderate and severe.Treatment differs for 3 of them.
Secondly in CBC target cells should be there to tell you that you have thallesemia.
Don't take iron tablets take iron polypeptides. They are latest and won't cause any gastric upset.
Till electrophoresis has XXXXXXX done your profile is that of iron deficiency anemia.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
ok, im trying to get the iron with foods eg beet juice. also voyld i have internal bleeding? Im going to see a hemotologist to fix my low iron as it doesn't go up no matter what i do plus have heavy periods. also drank alor of prune juice today had a bowel motion and was normal in color.
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Thats great so your bowel are back to normal.
As far as thallesemia is concerned no one can label you as having it before hemoglobin electrophoresis(Gold standard test).
Your blood reports history of heavy bleeding serum ferritin and all are suggestive of Iron deficiency anemia unless proved otherwise.
You should discuss this with your hematologist.
Hope i was helpful and provided you with specific informations.
Feel free to follow up any time i would be happy to help.
Regards.
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Thats great so your bowel are back to normal.
As far as thallesemia is concerned no one can label you as having it before hemoglobin electrophoresis(Gold standard test).
Your blood reports history of heavy bleeding serum ferritin and all are suggestive of Iron deficiency anemia unless proved otherwise.
You should discuss this with your hematologist.
Hope i was helpful and provided you with specific informations.
Feel free to follow up any time i would be happy to help.
Regards.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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