Abnormally dark bowel movements

[cowgirlnerd]

Recently, within the last 45 days, I have started taking Lamactical for Bipolar I, and when I started I had horrible naseau systems.  I was previously on Cymbalta and Adderall XR, and came off of that.

I have had a gall bladder removal about 4 years ago, in which, my doctor said I had the gall bladder of a 100 year old man eating bacon....36 year old female, not obese at the time.    I had over 100 gall stones and it just basically quit within a few months.  Anyway, I have always had stomach issues, ulcers, etc.,

In the last month, I have been having really dark / black/ bowel movements and they are more frequent than normal.  I will have really bad stomach pain, and then the BM.

I have read that the black bm could be ulcer, but also maybe colon problems, etc.

Advice?

[Morecambe]

Hi - I think you should ask your specialist about the cloudy material - but I suspect that the major problem will be an investigation of the bleeding.

Maybe when you visit your doctor you could take an sample of the cloudy substance so that it can be tested.  Perhaps also a stool sample.

regards
Morecambe

[cowgirlnerd]

Thank you, I will find that and see what it is about.  Also, at times, there are "cloudy" areas surrounding the BM.  I thought the first time, perhaps, the dark bm was just eating something odd, but it's been pretty consistent over the last month.  

Would the cloudy area mean anything?

[Morecambe]

Hi - one of the causes of dark bowel movements is bleeding from the upper - and occasionally lower - intestines.  The motions are blackish and tarry.  The medical name is melena.  You may want to look up this word on google/yahoo etc and learn more of possible causes.

Anyway, if indeed you are expelling melena then this effectively means intestinal bleeding which should always be investigated.  Probably a colonoscopy and/or endoscopy could be requested.  Do insist on a definite diagnosis rather than a "well it looks as if it might be ......".

Good luck
Morecambe