So I'm going to preface this with the fact that its going to have some personal, and kind of icky content, but I'm really looking to find out if this is normal or if I should contact my doctor.

I'm home sick from work today. I took some laxatives last night because I still haven't been able to go regularly and it had been at least 4 days. Overnight I woke with stomach pains that kept me up, but this morning when I got up to go to work & tried to go to the bathroom I experienced the worst case of constipation I have ever had in my life. It was excruciatingly painful and took me 2 hours to pass. As if that wasn't bad enough, it seems the laxatives have kicked in and I've been having diarrhea this afternoon. Aside from the painful constipation, my stool is still black and tarry in consistency.

I'm just wondering if any of you have/are experiencing this and when, if ever, you started to regulate? Do you think I should call my doctor or surgeon?

Thanks all and sorry for the gory details.

Black can be blood in the stool. Call your doc.

Are you taking iron supplements? Iron can make your stool black as well.

Yes I'm on a prescription iron/B-12 pill

Sometimes the iron will make your stool black, but if it just started and you have been on the iron for a while, it may not be that.

Please call your doc!,

Call you surgeon ASAP !! Black tar stools means something is bleeding.

I will talk with my doctor thanks! What about the constipation/diarrhea? Have others experienced this?

I'm 3.5 weeks post op, hope it clears up soon!

I'm 4 weeks out today and up until a few days ago I was really constipated- it's awful isn't it?! Now I'm going pretty much every day. I upped my protein and it helped... Not sure if that's a common thing or not... It'll get better! But since it's so uncomfortable, you might as well call the doctor and see if he/she has any ideas to help you! Good luck!

Oh yes!! I'm 8 weeks out and still periodically taking milk of magnesia and two stool softeners a day. Ugh.

I'm also in week 8 I take a stool softener daily. Iron will make your stool appear black and tarry. Also a bleed can cause this effect also but is usually accompanied with a smell (sorry) that is gagable to say the least. Can't really describe the smell if a gi bleed unless you have smelled one. But you should let your dr be aware of this they can test for bleeding with a simple stool card.

Mine are black tar too most of the time. I'm 2 weeks post op... Pretty sure it's normal

That's not normal. Mine were never black. Is all your doctors to be safe. Don't assume anything at this stage. Better safe than sorry.

I should rephrase... Totally normal in the beginning. It's blood from surgery. After about a week there was no more tar for me

I have the worst constipation. It takes hours for me to pass the stool too! I called my doctor and he said to take a daily probiotic, two stool softeners and drink lots of water.

Also ask your Dr about Taking a Pro biotic it's Good for the Digestive System( and since part of ours was taken out) it still may help out!! I have the same problem Constipation is a ugh started taking them b4 WLS and it was a big help, I need to talk to either my Nut or Dr about taking them again.