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What Causes Black And Green Coloration Of Stools?
Question: Hello, I am a lady of 77 years old. I have started having black and green bowl movements. I had a colonoscopy 6 years ago and was fine. I am somewhat concerned. appreciate your advice.I do need to let you know that I have a hiatial hernia and very acid stomach with a lot of heart burn. I take zantac, Prilosec, Pepcid, sometimes when I cannot relieve the problem I take pepto bismo. I exercise 5 days a week and try to be in good health. thank you thank you XXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Need colonoscopy
Detailed Answer:
Hi madam,
Doing exercise is a good habit at this age. I appreciate.
I would like to confirm if you had the green and black coloration of stools before you took iron preparations? Patients on oral iron preparations may have such symptoms. The non-absorbed part of iron changes its forms in colon and impart a dark color to stools.
There are stool tests (like fecal occult blood) which can differentiate that the dark color of stool is due to iron or due to blood, the later may indicate a polyp or a tumor. At your age, colonoscopy should be done every 5 years. There is no harm in doing colonoscopy. In case blood is seen on stool examination, colonoscopy is advised.
The problem of heart burn might be related to hiatus hernia. Taking antacids is of no harm, even if you take regularly. The grade of hernia is to be decided on endoscopy. Both medical and surgical treatments are available.
Feel free to ask further.
Need colonoscopy
Detailed Answer:
Hi madam,
Doing exercise is a good habit at this age. I appreciate.
I would like to confirm if you had the green and black coloration of stools before you took iron preparations? Patients on oral iron preparations may have such symptoms. The non-absorbed part of iron changes its forms in colon and impart a dark color to stools.
There are stool tests (like fecal occult blood) which can differentiate that the dark color of stool is due to iron or due to blood, the later may indicate a polyp or a tumor. At your age, colonoscopy should be done every 5 years. There is no harm in doing colonoscopy. In case blood is seen on stool examination, colonoscopy is advised.
The problem of heart burn might be related to hiatus hernia. Taking antacids is of no harm, even if you take regularly. The grade of hernia is to be decided on endoscopy. Both medical and surgical treatments are available.
Feel free to ask further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Yes the problem with the stool was before I started taking the iron. I appreciate your answer and will go ahead with your advise. I also have another question
For over two months I have had foamy bubbly urine, dr. has had me give 2 urine samples to the lab. neither one has shown that I have a bladder infection. Dr. has just left it at that. they say I am loosing protein, what does that mean and is this a danger?
For over two months I have had foamy bubbly urine, dr. has had me give 2 urine samples to the lab. neither one has shown that I have a bladder infection. Dr. has just left it at that. they say I am loosing protein, what does that mean and is this a danger?
Brief Answer:
find out the cause of protein loss
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Foamy urine may be due to more albumin in urine. i would like to know your urine report. important to quantify the protein loss. ideally the kidneys should not loose protein. u may need further tests for the definitive diagnosis of kidney disease. this can be treated with medicines.
regards,
find out the cause of protein loss
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Foamy urine may be due to more albumin in urine. i would like to know your urine report. important to quantify the protein loss. ideally the kidneys should not loose protein. u may need further tests for the definitive diagnosis of kidney disease. this can be treated with medicines.
regards,
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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