Dark Stools - anyone relate?

[OzConcerned]

Hi... I have been following this forum for a few months now and have earlier made a posting about my right side abdominal pain. I am a 26 y.o male, have been to various GPs and one gastroenterologist, and apart from an ultrasound and blood test, they have not considered other tests necessary. I'm not so convinced, though.

The pain (which was bearable) has subsided... however, my loose motions in the morning continue. I still go once a day, but notice that my morning trip starts off well, followed by stools becoming looser, almost diarrhoeal. Being a vegeterian, I am naturally slightly anaemic and previously have taken iron tablets. Whenever I did, I noticed my stools to be significantly darker - this was always when I took the tablets, and it would normalise after I stop. Last nite I had a meal which is reputably high in iron... and this morning noticed that my stools were akin to when I took iron tablets ie darkish, almost black, and lose. No pain etc.

Could the above be due to what I ate? Does anyone else have this kind of motions in the morning? Need I be alarmed? Thanks for any responses in advance.

[livinabox]

if you drink guinness (which is packed with iron) itll do the same thing....black stools dont panic

[katey]

It sounds like your stool is dark from the iron tablets.  Isn't that a side effect of iron tablets??  If you're already talked to your doctor, then i would try not to worry.  Black stools can be a sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, but if its only happening when take iron, then that sounds like what it is.  Maybe you can't absorb iron like other people.  Different people react to things differently.  Have a fecal occult test taken. That will solve your worries!  You can but them at drug stores i believe, if not just ask your doctor.