GASTROENTEROLOGY COMMUNITY
dark streak in stool

dark streak in stool

Hi everyone.  Im a 27 year old male w a history of gerd and hemmorhoids.  Lately, Ive been noticing that parts of my stool are different colors.  For example, i had a dark stream down the side of my stool.  I have guaiaced it several times ( i have strips and reagent at home) and its only positive whenever i have an active bleeding hemmorhoid.  It doesnt really look like blood, but its darker then the rest of the stool.  It doesnt happen with every bowel movement.  I have a family history of colon CA.  should i be concerned?  any idea what this could be?
thank you
Tags: bowel, Colon
Related Discussions
4 Comments Post a Comment
Blank
Avatar_m_tn
Blood from color (cancer) would be red in any case. Gut blood has black color only, if it originates from the gaster or esophagus (in any case it has to go through the gaster, where acid changes it into black). You may want to check, if your test can detect this acidic blood. If you can't get rid of a feeling it's blood, go to some lab. It may be from polyps, or from crohn's disease or...27 y. is young age for colon CA though (except if it appeared at young ages in your family).

Other causes of black stool:
- Pepto.Bismol
- iron supplemments
- bluberries, raspberries
- maybe bacterial or candida overgrowth, but this would cause bloating, diarrhea or so.
Blank
Avatar_f_tn
The thing that confuses me is that its only on one side.  The whole stool is never entirely discolored, and its usually only on one piece.  I have parts of my stool that are darker then others, but not the whole thing.  If i use something to spread it, the water does not turn bloody, so it really doesnt look like blood.  
Blank
Avatar_m_tn
Have you maybe add some new food (vegetable, tea) in your diet "lately" ?

OK, one rare possibility: In Meckel's diverticulum (inborn defect), a small part of distal  small intestine is replaced by gastric mucosa, which may secrete acid and cause ulceration and bleeding. This blood would be black. Since this mucosa is like in the pouch on one side, it is just normal, if the stool is black only on one side. This would go with middle right abdominal pain (not necessary). There is not always so much mixing inside the bowel, as you might think.

Another: if you have inflammed diverticles (diverticulitis) in the last part of the colon, stool can be trapped there, inflammation can cause bleeding or not, anyway, some old stool can be dark.

What to do:
1. Is it blood or not (reliable lab test). Before the test you might want to esxclude some suspicious food from the diet. Aspirins may cause gastric bleeding also.
2. well, think from there
Blank
Avatar_f_tn
Boron:  I have guaiaced the sample, and its only positive when i also have blood on the tissue paper from hemmorhoids.  I dont think its blood, just wondering what else can cause one side of it to be completely different color then the rest.  I dont eat any unusual foods, dont take NSAIDS.  I do take nexium for gerd.  
Blank
Have a Gastro question?
100,000+ doctor answers
Post a Comment
To
Comment
Post A Comment
Go
Blank
Gastro Tracker
Log symptoms & treatments
Start Tracking Now
Blank
Food Diary Tracker
What are you eating?
Start Tracking Now
MedHelp Health Answers
Submit
Top Digestive Answerers
Avatar_f_tn
Blank
patient915
CA
Avatar_n_tn
Blank
CalGal
Avatar_f_tn
Blank
mammo
Cincinnati, OH
168348_tn?1333651418
Blank
ChitChatNine
681148_tn?1285160820
Blank
FurballsMom
329165_tn?1330085073
Blank
Smiley2000
Australia
RSS Expert Activity
1741471_tn?1336957856
Blank
LIVE WEBINAR TOMORROW!-SUPER BODY, ... Blank
May 22 by Michael Gonzalez-WallaceBlank
2126606_tn?1335910182
Blank
Fibromyalgia Awareness
May 11 by Clare Waismann Kavin, RASBlank
2126606_tn?1335910182
Blank
Opioid-induced hyperalgesia reduces...
May 03 by Clare Waismann Kavin, RASBlank