**Gross Topic** But concerns me nonetheless...

I just had my RYN on 3/12/08 and I need to know if something is normal or not.  I have bowel movements but the stool is jet black and tarry.  Is that normal? Did anyone have this happen to them right after surgery?

My BM was dark green for a few months.  I finally figured it was the iron pills that were doing it.  That also could be blood in the bowels.  Get it checked out soon.  Brian

It is expected because when they do the surgery and cut the intestines, inevitably blood is going to be lost, due to the cutting, and thus it will show up in your stool as being jet black and tarry.  With all of the rerouting and stapling of your internal pluming, bleeding is going to happen.  Everyone deals with this.  Mine lasted about a week and a half and then returned to the normal brown color.  If you continue to see the jet black stool make sure you let your surgeon know.  It should definitely change back to regular color, but again it takes times because you need to get your peristalsis (wave like movement of the stomach moving intestinal products) back.  I am not trying to worry you.  Just be cognizant about it, like you obviously are, and watch it for the next few days.  Sometimes bleeding does continue and that could be a problem so that is why I told you to make sure to let your doctor know if stool color does not change.  One of the big things, in addition to the jet black stool, is do you see any tint of red mixed in?  That could be a bigger sign of other things.  Usually if it is bright red, usually = hemorrhoid or anal tear from straining.  Darker blood usually could mean problems higher up in the intestinal track = not good.  Sorry to be so long, maybe too much information, but thought you should know.  Hope you are doing well being post-op.  Welcome to the losers bench.  I am fairly new myself having had the surgery on 2/28/08.  Good luck, Taz 

Lance - in order that we may provide better diagnostic services please provide the stool "Type"  per the  Bristol  Stool  Chart  below:

Baja, I love this chart, too, but you could make it more helpful by using different colors to illustrate the rainbow of poo most of experience shortly after WLS. Joe

Baja, that **** chart makes me crack a smile everytime you post it.  Makes me think there is something ****ty going around here.  Taz

Yeah, mine was like that the first week or so after surgery (when I managed to have a BM at all).  I figured there must be _some_ blood from all the cutting and snipping they did that had to wash out before things started looking better.  After that, it was fine. /Steve

Lance - perfectly normal on two points: First, this is quite normal for the first few days after surgery. If this continuous for more than a few days, or if you see bright red blood, then you need to call your doc. Also, as stated above, if you have concerns about anything, do not hesitate to call your doc. Second, a gross post is entirely appropriate and even expected on this forum. The only thing that would have been better was if you could have included a "scatch-n-sniff" photo. Joe

FWIW, black and tarry stools indicates you are digesting blood. Since you just had gastric surgery, it's to be expected, but keep your doc up to date. If it doesn't get better within 2-3 days, panic as necesssary. Bright red blood indicates colonic bleeding; no digestion happens there. Lots of typical causes, such as a bleeding hemmorrhoid or polyp, or even a tough time with constipation. Once or twice is fine, but if it's every time you go, another application of applied panic is in order.