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What Does Black Tarry Stools Indicate
Posted on
Fri, 8 Nov 2019
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 8 Nov 2019
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : what does black tarry stools indicate
Brief Answer:
bleeding from upper gastro intestinal tract.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details,
Black or tarry stools may be due to bleeding in the upper part of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, or the first part of the small intestine.The blood while passing through intestines is acted upon by digestive enzymes giving black color to stools.
Firstly-
Test called stool for occult blood should be done to see if it is really blood.
If its blood then a endoscopy should be done where bleeding site would be looked by a camera and further intervention would be done.
Hope i was helpful,
Follow ups are welcome.
Thanks!
bleeding from upper gastro intestinal tract.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details,
Black or tarry stools may be due to bleeding in the upper part of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, or the first part of the small intestine.The blood while passing through intestines is acted upon by digestive enzymes giving black color to stools.
Firstly-
Test called stool for occult blood should be done to see if it is really blood.
If its blood then a endoscopy should be done where bleeding site would be looked by a camera and further intervention would be done.
Hope i was helpful,
Follow ups are welcome.
Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
She was recently in the Hospital and they tested for blood in stool and she also had a endoscopic exam. All were negative as to problems. So it is a mystery. We will continue to watch it and maybe go to Urgent Care and ask for a stool sample kit. Years age she had dieulafoy bleeding problem but the hospital, as noted, last week checked for blood with negative results. Could there be another reason for tarry stools other than blood. They checked her gall bladder thoroughly and found some stones but no problems.
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Tarry stool is just an observation.
Black color has hundreds of variant.
Unless and otherwise proved by stool for occult blood test / Endoscopy it has no significance.
All colors of stool from Green to Z black are normal unless tests shows blood.
Plus she is on a number of medicines and her age is also 90.
If tests are normal no need to worry sir.
All is fine.
However one more stool for occult blood test can be repeated.You just need to take some stool in a box to nearest lab.
Gallbladder stone has nothing to do with it.
Hope I was easy to understand.
Follow ups are welcome.
Thank you.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Tarry stool is just an observation.
Black color has hundreds of variant.
Unless and otherwise proved by stool for occult blood test / Endoscopy it has no significance.
All colors of stool from Green to Z black are normal unless tests shows blood.
Plus she is on a number of medicines and her age is also 90.
If tests are normal no need to worry sir.
All is fine.
However one more stool for occult blood test can be repeated.You just need to take some stool in a box to nearest lab.
Gallbladder stone has nothing to do with it.
Hope I was easy to understand.
Follow ups are welcome.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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