Hello,

So, lets get personal. I am on day 10 of my pre-op liquid diet. Day 3 I had the runs, day 6 I had loose stools, and today I have black poop. I am scheduled to get sleeved in 2 days. I already has esophogatis and gastritis which is said to get worse with the sleeve due to GERD. These two conditions are also linked with black poop. Could this be caused by all the protein I have been getting these past 2 weeks or due to internal bleeding?

Well it happened to me, too, so I'm going to say it's 'normal'. It's probably because of the restrictive pre-op diet that we're placed on.

Happens to me before and after surgery. Liquid poop and black or green, so it is normal

Also any reason you have had a charcoal based product, or somethingn like pepto bismol (bismouth) will produce black stool.

What concerns me is that all the research says black stool indicates bleeding in the upper GI tract (stomach, esophogus). I have been taking protonix so I don't know why my gastritis and esophogitis would have gotten worse. The only think different is that I am living off of protein shakes and water. Is it safe to go ahead with the surgery?

Like Pookeyism mentioned... had any Pepto lately? It looks like you ate a charcoal briquette, after. Or.. Heaven FORBID... Oreos? The preop diet is tough to take, and I am sure has had its share of cheaters... (I cheated with a Rockafeller Oyster and felt cheap for having done it) and on the protein shakes, anything off-diet will show itself quicker and more obvious than usual, if you know what I mean . That being said, I think that at this point, black stool is nothing to mess around with... get to your doc and don't count on the forum to give you definite answers. Play it safe on this one! If you're having the surgery out of the country, go to your general practitioner for testing.

I plan to call tomorrow. I have stuck 100% to the pre-op diet and have not had any pepto. I was wondering if anyone else had digestive problems that could be related to the high protein diet. I think I had digestive problems when I did the Atkin's diet. Hopefully I will know something tomorrow.

I plan to call tomorrow. I have stuck 100% to the pre-op diet and have not had any pepto. I was wondering if anyone else had digestive problems that could be related to the high Protein diet. I think I had digestive problems when I did the Atkin's diet. Hopefully I will know something tomorrow.

Are your Protein shakes chocolate? What goes in must come out. I had black stool entirely throughout my preop diet.

Have you taken any Pepto Bismol? That will turn poop black.

Yes, the shakes with little solids or Fiber can turn your stools dark.

It can also indicates dehydration and / or constipation especially if they are very, very firm and difficult to push. Perhaps you should consider something like Miralax.

It appears normally but if you are concerned you should ask the doctor.