What Causes Dark Brown Stools With Lot Of Mucus?

Posted on Thu, 5 Jun 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 5 Jun 2014 Answered on

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello, for about 2 or 3 weeks my bowel movements have changed...this week My stool is small pebbles with lots of mucus and is dark brown, and I have alot of gas, I hardly have gone this week, I have been eating alot of fruits and 2 weeks ago i was on bactrim d/s but i stopped that a week ago, and also a medrol dose pack but i stopped that 3 days ago..(poison ivy and intercolitus on my rear)..I dont really feel constipated (maybe a little)...I am in good shape and work out...I was also taking advil for a couple weeks which i never do, but i stopped that 3 days ago..I am just concerned cause I always have had no bowel problems and I am eating the same but not going very much at all this week (where is it all going?)...any ideas or suggestions on what to do...cant get in doctors for 2 weeks...peptic ulcer, bowel obstruction, etc...I also had severe flu 5 1/2 weeks ago.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Laxative and probiotics.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.

This problem can simply be solved by taking a laxative and probiotics.

Which of the medicines might have caused this can not really be found out, but it looks to be due to the medicines you have taken. We do see such problems in day-to-day practice. The stool gets concentrated and one feels where is it all going. The large bowel has a lot of capacity to hold .

Now you have stopped all medicines, the normalcy will be returned sooner.

IF you do not get relief with laxatives and probiotics, I would advise you to consult a Gastroenterologist and get at least ultrasonography and colonoscopy done to rule out any underlying problem. ( I know you can not get in Doctors for 2 weeks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T