I have had black stools for the passed 8 weeks, quite possibly more What is going on and what does this mean?
Question:
My normal before the constipation was 3-4 times a day. Now I see black stools-I dont take that much Pepto Bismal maybe twice every two months but aside from that, what is the cause of my Black Stools?
I also don't have insurance.
Answers:
The first place to start looking for answers, would be with your diet. What have you added/removed from your diet since then? Think carefully, especially if there is processed food in your diet. You may want to start checking ingredient labels to see if there's a connection; Do you take vitamin supplements, or changed vitamins and/or brands; is your water intake AT LEAST 64 ounces (about 8 small cup fulls)? Start your 'home investigation' while you await your doctor's appt. And you may want to look into applying for straight medical at you local Dept. of Human Assistance. If approved, it may cover up to three (doctor/hospital) visits PRIOR to insurance activation
It maybe blood in your stool. Make an appointment to see a doctor at your local clinic.
You have bleeding from some where so insurance or not you have to go see a doc ASAP. Internal bleeing is serious so get to a docs office today before this gets more serious. The fact that the stools are black indicates old blood or bleeding higher up in the GI tract but is serious so go see a doc today.
Black stools can be caused by a number of things. First if you started taking Iron supplements that can definitely be a cause. If you eat alot of spinach as in salads. Certain food colorings can cause black stools. Pepto Bismol or any other "salicilates" (aspirin products) can cause it depending on the amount you take. The only other thing I can think of would be an Upper Gastrointestinal bleed.
If your taking pepto bismol that will turn it black!!
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