Black 'dots' in stool sample?

[Diarrhea_Gas_Bloating]

Please help.

I have diarrhea, cramping, gas, severe bloating, very LOUD stomach/intestinal noises & grumbling. I will have constipation for up to a week and then it turns into diarrhea.  The diarrhea will last for sometimes several days, leaving me fatigued.

Three weeks ago, I brought in a stool sample to be tested for dysentery - I wanted to rule dysentery out before assuming it is IBD or Crohn's.  I put my test sample in a clear plastic ziplock bag and found small black "dots" in it. I was shocked to find the black "dots" disintegrated into blood.  I also found long, "stringy" like fibers in my stool (approximately up to 3 inches long and very thin).  My GI said it was nothing to worry about.  I do eat sushi (raw fish) and red meat fairly regularly.

In the past, I have had some unusual periods. About a year ago, I had a second period after having one a week before. During my period, I once noticed a piece of skin/tissue (1 inch in diameter).

I have bled medium-heavy for a few minutes after intercourse. It is sometimes painful during intercourse and will feel like my upper uterus is getting "misplaced" and "bruised."  I do have a "tipped uterus." I had a D&C several years ago and a couple of abnormal PAP Smears.  

During my period, I will become very depressed and emotional (I will cry for no reason).  I also sometimes cry after intercourse (I do not know why I cry - it just happens).

During my period, I experience sharp cramping, severe diarrhea, and severe bloating (it will look like I am 7 months pregnant - but I am not pregnant). Please help. Thx.

[individual]

There is a great web-site (fascrs.org) that has been a big help to me. Read about fistulas. I thought I had one, but luckily it turned out to be another problem when they did the barium enema test.

[feelbetter]

Your problem sounds like it could be endometriosis. Has your doctor looked into that possibility? I have been going to a gastro doc for 3 years for rectal bleeding and blood in the stool. After several tests, including a colonoscopy, no cause could be found. I then went to my GYN and she thinks that I may have endo. of the bowel. I get very bloated right before my period and the week before and during is when I have blood coming from the wrong end. I have not been "officially" diagnosed with endometriosis because surgery has to be done to see for sure but I am taking a birth control pill that is supposed to help with the bloating. I have bad acne (I am 38) and I also have terrible PMS. I have been on the pill for only one month and I still had rectal bleeding but my face has cleared up and the bloating was not bad at all. Keep in mind that I am just another patient but it does sound like endo might be your problem too. I have been to a website called "Hated Endometriosis" and I have read the posts there and many times there are digestive problems along with everything else. You may have to go thru several tests to rule out other causes but I thought I would share my own experience with you. I hope you and your doc can find out what the cause is and that you will feel better soon. Take care.

[Diarrhea_Gas_Bloating]

Dear Feel Better,

I think you are right.  I am going to check into the possibility of endo.  I have pretty bad periods and I have mentioned all my symptoms to my GYN, but he never did anything for me (other than put me on the pill).  I will try to go on the pill again and see if it helps my symptoms.  

In the meantime I am going to county hospital and see if I can get some help there.  I have run out of money on these other "quack" doctors.  I am going to suggest to them it is either endo, diverticulitis, or IBD and see if I can get some results.

I have been in and out of work for the past 3 years because employers cannot work around my medical problems.  Hopefully, they can do an Abdominal Cat Scan, laproscopy, sigmoidscopy, or something and see what's wrong.

If you have blood in your stool, you, too, should go see a doctor right away.  If it's endo, I think they can do a laproscopy (not sure of spelling) to diagnose.  Please be sure to see a doctor and take care of yourself.  

Take care,
Sherry

[feelbetter]

Hi again. I am glad that you are obviously doing some research on your own. It seems like that is what a patient has to do to get to the bottom of whatever it is that they have. My Gastro doc did not even consider the possibility of endo for me even though my colon appears healthy and the bleeding is around the same time as my period. From what I have read, endo is one of those diseases that even Gyns fail to think of as a possibility and some women even get told that it is all in their heads! It can be the same for stomach problems. It seems that if docs cannot find a cause they start thinking it is just stress. Meanwhile you sit there with no relief from your pain and other symptoms.I hope you get some relief soon and keep us posted. Take care!