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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 7/6/2009 8:12 PM (GMT -6)
ok I'm not sure if this is even the right catagory but this is as close as i could get. Ok so here recently I've been noticing just a few black specks on the toilet paper after i wipe when having a bowel movement. Should I go see a doctor about this or should I not stress over it? I've been causing myself to go into panic attacks because I obsess over every little thing and right now I've convinced myself that I may have cancer. My BM is normal in color there's no blood or anything my parents both say it's just me being a hypachondriac (hence the name) but has anyone else had this problem before? like i said it's not a lot just a few. I've been online looking things up for 2 hours now freaking myself out. Thanks in advance.
Posted 7/7/2009 9:22 AM (GMT -6)
Colon cancer is rare in people under the age of 40, and not very common in people without a family history.

Black flecks could indicate blood higher up in the GI tract; black in stools is oftentimes linked with bleeding ulcers. But tiny amounts of small flakes doesn't sound like a bleeding ulcer. Actually, it sounds more like something you ate. Kool-aid can turn my stool blood-red, and I seem to recall that someone on here linked something like black flecks to broccoli. Pepto Bismol will also turn stools dark/black.

I wouldn't worry unless these flecks become more numerous, larger, or are accompanied by a black, tar-like substance in your stools.
Posted 7/7/2009 2:02 PM (GMT -6)
Save the toilet tissue and show it to your doc, or at least call him about it.  Maybe talking to him will ease your mind...
Posted 7/7/2009 7:35 PM (GMT -6)
Black stools can indicate bleeding in the top of the digestive tract, such as an ulcer. Also caused by Pepto Bismol. Also caused by eating too much blood sausage (hemoglobin breakdown). However simple flakes of black indicate poorly digested food. Flecked with undigested food: Not enough chewing! It's all about mastication! Corn is notorious for coming through as whole kernels. What you see in your poo is the outside of the kernel, which is 100% cellulose. Humans can't digest cellulose. More chewing will help (a mouthful should not be swallowed until it's the consistency of baby food). Here's a great book on stools The Urine and Feces in Diagnosis by Otto Hensel, Richard Weil and Smith Ely Jelliffe. Jump to page 157.
Posted 4/21/2013 11:04 PM (GMT -6)
if it's flecks, than there is a good chance it is heavy metals (mercury, lead etc). Doctors Data has a great urine analysis.
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