Black stools & back pain

[cxl6963]

Ok...so I have been having black stools for three days and am wondering if it could be bleeding. I have suffered from constipation all my life, but have been having normal bowl movements for a while. I have occasional right upper abdominal pain, but that has been happening for about 9 months and had it check out but they did not find anything.  My only other symptoms is low back pain that seems to be getting more painful. What do you think??? I personally don't think its bleeding but I also don't think its normal. Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Morecambe]

I agree with the above posting - you should take the necessary test to determine whether there is blood in your motions - or whether the cause could be diet/medicine etc.

If the description of your motions is "foul smelling/black/tarry" then the medical name is MELENA and you may want to look this up on google to search out possible causes.  If you have melena then this definitely requires medical advice.

regards
Morecambe

[LivingInHope]

If I'm not mistaken, stools can be black if you have been eating a lot of red meat, have been taking peptobismol, have been taking an iron supplement, or if you have blood in your stool.  You should get the three day occult blood stool test done.

[cxl6963]

Sorry i meant to say left upper abdominal pain