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Black Tarry Stool
I saw black stool today and previously there used to be specks of black. I do remember feeling very uncomfortable for quite a while including problems with digestion and all. I have vertigo and so I have been feeling very dizzy and off balance too
Answers (28)
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Are you taking iron supplementation?
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Have usg abdomen done
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MELENA IS BLACK TERRY STOOL.
ADV
STOOL TEST
COMPLETE N MICROSCOPIC WITH OCCULT BLOOD. MAY BE GASTRIC IRROSION.
ULCER.
EMERGENCY
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Get your Hb checked immediately if you’re having this issue since a while.
Proper evaluation and treatment should be started.
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Provisional Diagnosis
Melena (Black tarry stool) → Upper GI bleeding
Probable Causes
Gastritis / erosive gastritis
Peptic ulcer disease
NSAID / painkiller use (agar liya ho)
Rarely: esophageal or gastric bleed
Explanation
Black tarry stool = digested blood
Usually source hota hai upper GI tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum)
Dizziness ho sakta hai due to:
blood loss → ↓ hemoglobin
already existing vertigo (worsened by anemia)
Red Flag Symptoms (Emergency)
Continuous black stool
Severe dizziness / fainting
Palpitations
Weakness
Vomiting blood
➡️ Emergency evaluation required
Next Steps
Investigations Needed
CBC (Hb check)
Stool occult blood test
LFT, RFT
Upper GI endoscopy (gold standard)
Health Tips
Initial Management
PPI (e.g. Pantoprazole IV / oral)
Avoid NSAIDs, alcohol, spicy food
Soft, bland diet
Adequate hydration
Hospital admission if Hb low or symptoms severe
Final Advice
⚠️ Black tarry stool is NOT normal
➡️ Patient should see physician / gastroenterologist urgently
➡️ Endoscopy is necessary to identify bleeding source
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You should go for cbc stool RM and MUST visit nearby physician or gastroenterologist.. thorough detailed history and investigation required for diagnosis.
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✓Vertigo with black stool together often points to anemia, possibilities of internal upper gi bleeding is high .
✓ sometimes Iron tablets can also cause black stool ..
Next Steps
CBC,stool for occult blood and upper gi endoscopy will be helpful
Health Tips
pantaprazole once a day before breakfast for 3 week will be helpful
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More details required.you can consult on practo
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Feeling dizziness may be due to Anemia which can be due to loss of blood from gastrointestinal system , even though blood loss may be mild if present chronically it may result in anemia and diziness
Get Complete hemogram done .
Evaluation for the loss of blood should be done as the patient is young !
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Give motion for occult blood
Next Steps
Avoid spicy food
Health Tips
Medical Gastroenterologist opinion
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Tab stemetil MD 5 Mg for yur vertigo component check for any sided hearing loss right or left, photophobia, intolerance to high sounds, tinnitus and migraine type of pulsatile headache (tab migablok 40/10 mg, prevent migraine to occur and tab naxdom 500 for acute relief
Next Steps
tab bandy plus 1 tablet in a day than 1 tablet in next day, in a week, continue the same in next week if required
syrup flagyl 1 TSP thrice daily
tab ciplox 250 mg in a day ×3 days
sachet econorm once in a week
Health Tips
green tea 3-5 days a week in the Eve time
papaya 200 mg daily
curd 250 mg daily with lunch
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Black stools are usually indicative of gastrointestinal bleeding due to various factors like ulcers, gut inflammation or even infection but can also present in various benign conditions. Your issues of dizziness could also be related to this.
Next Steps
Please book a consultation with me for discussing this further and the next steps for managing this issue.
Health Tips
If in case of severe illness, pain or discomfort, contact your nearest emergency hospital.
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What about your other complaints
Any abdominal pain
Vomiting
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Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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Go for stool test,CBC , May Be due to parasite infection, take light food and ORS, add fruits in your diet, adequate hydration
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It can occur due to gastritis, peptic ulcer, drugs or some food like beets and blueberries. As you are feeling dizzy, it's likely due to anemia, you should be having a test of your hemoglobin levels. You might go for a upper GI endoscopy for the root cause of this.
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Dr. Sajid Ali
General Practitioner
4 yrs exp
Kanpur
Consult to Surgeon
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Dr. Ashita Kuruvilla
General Practitioner
8 yrs exp
Kolkata
Need few more details for further evaluation. Kindly consult
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Dr. Nimmi Mulwani
General Physician
10 yrs exp
Ahmedabad
Do CBC and stool OBT test
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Dr. Ravi Kumar Nadella
General Physician
18 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Its bleeding
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Dr. Abdul Rasheed
General Physician
35 yrs exp
Bangalore
Black colored stool stools associated with dizziness could be due to upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding resulting in anemia.Get your CBC, iron profile, stool analysis for occult blood, routine test, consult a gastroenterologist/internist in your area for a clinical examination and appropriate management
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Dr. Sanskriti
General Physician
4 yrs exp
New Delhi
I understand this is scary. Black stools can sometimes be from food/iron tablets, but when it’s new and you’re also feeling dizzy and unwell, we must rule out bleeding from the stomach or upper intestine. This shouldn’t be ignored.
Next Steps
Please get a CBC + stool occult blood test as soon as possible. If black stools continue, or dizziness worsens, visit a nearby ER/physician today. Also avoid painkillers like ibuprofen/aspirin for now.
I’d strongly recommend a consultation so I can guide you properly based on your reports.
Health Tips
Drink fluids, eat light food, and don’t self-medicate. If you notice repeated black stools, vomiting, severe weakness, or fainting — seek urgent care.
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Dr. Vetsa Sri Krishna Chaitanya
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
Need a few more details please consult for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Needs to be evaluated
Take betavert 8mg 1-0-1 for 3 days
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Dr. Suraj Sharma
General Practitioner
4 yrs exp
Jaipur
Need some more details kindly consult
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Dr. Sachin Bhiwaji Sanap
General Practitioner
7 yrs exp
Hingoli
Some more history needed kindly consult
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Dr. Dinesh Mehta
General Physician
3 yrs exp
Jaipur
You may need blood tests (including hemoglobin) and evaluation for a possible gastrointestinal bleed.some foods or medicines (iron supplements, bismuth/Pepto-Bismol) can darken stool, true black, tarry, foul-smelling stool is not normal. Please feel free to connect me on practo for further management and evaluation.
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