What Does Black Stool Look Like ? Posted: 06-22-07 14:17pm
I know this sounds like a silly question,
but let me explain. I am constantly
worried about my health, and its always
been just me getting worried about
nothing.
Recently, I thought my rectum didnt feel
right and had it checked out. I also eat
VERY bad foods (taco bell on almost a
daily basis, at least 64 oz. of Mountain
Dew per day). I had it checked and the
doctor felt around inside then, put
something in my rectum and smeared it onto
a card. She told me, no blood, no growths,
nothing. I am also going back to have a
physical in a few weeks (last one was 2
years ago and I was fine).
Sometimes, ive noticed my stools can be
dark. They arnt brown, but im not sure
they are black either and they certainly
arnt "tar" like. Still, they are kind of
dark. No pains to speak of, and when im
eating well (I have been lately) stools
are formed and no diahhrea. I hve looked
for but cant find a photo of what melena
(black stool) looks like exactly. My
stools seem to alternate between light
brown and dark.
Should I be concerned? And what was the
test done where something was inserted
into my rectum and smeared onto a card to
test for blood? Should this be enough for
me or should I have more testing done?
THANK YOU!
|
lintek
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 50 Location: New York
Posted: 06-27-07 05:50am
big al,
the smear test is to test for blood in
your stool. this is usually performed in
a physical.
these little tests have saved lives.
I don't know how old you are but by a
certain age everyone should have a
colonoscopy performed to test for colon
cancer or polyps.
they insert a scope and you can see the
inside of your colon on a t.v. screen.
it's really cool. they give you medicine
thru I.V. so you aren't uncomfortable, or
they put you to sleep totally. which only
lasts about 10 minutes maybe less.
the colon is the large bowel. the
colonoscopy can't reach the small bowels.
people who have a family history of colon
cancer need to have this exam at an
earlier age, depending on the doctor.
you can't feel polyps growing inside your
colon. some of them can be very dangerous
and can be malignant and others can be non
malignant which is called "benign".
to answer your question when the medical
society refers to black stools, I THINK
the color is closely related to what wet
coffee grinds resemble.
or I may be mixing that up with if someone
vomits and blood is in it.
I may be mixing up the both. not sure. my
memory is so bad at times.
I wouldn't worry unless you have a family
history of colon cancer.
get your exams when you're supposed to and
eat lots of healthy green vegetables and
stay away from a lot of red meats and
hopefully you won't have a problem up the
road.
