Dark/thin stool - Bowel Disorders Message Board

BigB0882 · 07-20-2003, 01:38 PM

I have been reading on here today and have read a lot about black and tarry stool. I don't know if my stool quite qualifies but the last 2-3 days it has been very dark, probably too dark to call brown.

I am on two new prescriptions (been on one for 3 weeks and another for 1 week) and have begun a new diet that is basically very low sugar, high fiber. Basically, I am diabetic so that kind of diet.

Should I be concerned? I don't actually see blood in the stool. The week before this I have been quite regular. This also began after I had started having bad gas one day, so I wonder if it is something I ate and my body is still getting rid of it?

Oh, one more thing. I also noticed the last 2-3 days that I am going to the restroom more frequently than normal and my stool is very thin. I guess the best way to describe it is like pooping out earth worms. I know that is gross, but I can't think of another way to explain it.

Any ideas?

christine777 · 07-20-2003, 03:27 PM

I would be concerned! I think your going to the bathroom more has to do with the minimal elimination that you are having (narrow stool). You should probably go to the doctor before it gets any worse...meaning you cant go at all or you cause yourself a tear or anything.

raidx · 07-24-2003, 10:39 AM

Yes you should go to a doctor. What you have could possibly be related to your new prescriptions, but why take a chance.

Blood in your stool can be either red or black. From what I understand, bleeding on the first or second third or your colon can dry and turn black by the time you have to go to the bathroom. The first time I went to a doctor over rectal bleeding, he asked "is it red blood?" I almost laughed and replied "what other color is there?" then he explained.

I don't want to alarm you too much, but I'd say dark thin stools are something to go to the doctor about.

projapoti · 07-24-2003, 11:31 AM

Your thin stools are probably due to the medications, but they are not bloody. Melena stools (another name for the black stools) are black...and I mean coal black. It's not from "dried up blood", but from partially digested blood. If you have melena stools, it usually means that you have a bleed somewhere in the upper GI tract starting from the stomach somewhere to the mid part of the small intestine (sometimes even lower).

I would go see the doctor, not because it's serious, just so you can tell him/her about the symptoms you're facing right now and the doctor will decide if this is a normal reaction to the drug or if you need to be taken off it.

projapoti · 07-24-2003, 11:34 AM

Another thing...."popping out earthworms" is something that I've actually heard before...a lot of patients use this description. Here's the thing though...you said that your stool is "thin" correct? What I mean to ask you is, it's not like you're popping out "spaghetti like" hard stools right? It's more of a "worm-like" liquidy stool? The former is not a good sign, the latter is fine if you are having a day of loose stools.

Also, a comment was made about blood from your colon. When one has bleeding in the colon, you will almost always have bright red blood in your stool....the black, tarry stools usually only come when the bleeding is occurring higher up in the intestine (usually in the jejenum or higher)