I’m 8 days post op sleeve. Bowel movements are small but black!! Anyone relate? Thoughts?

Residual blood from your surgery or its hung around in your colon so long it's overprocessed and nearly senile? Be sure to keep moving things along and out even if you have to resort to Miralax, Colace, M O M or Smooth Move Tea. You don't want to resort to the Fleet being in or his evil uncle the dreaded High Colonic! They are not fun dudes to hang with[emoji46][emoji46][emoji46][emoji46]

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By chance, have you taken Pepto bismol? That can turn poop black. I would ask your surgeon about this one. I can't recall seeing another person have the same issue, didn't encounter it in my education class and doesn't seem to be one of the top 10 post op questions everyone asks. My thoughts are it Doesn't hurt to ask the surgeon on this one. Best wishes!

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Yeah the bismuth in Proto Bismol is notorious for that![emoji90]

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No Pepto. I believe it’s digested blood from surgery, but wanted to get peeps opinion how long it would last. Maybe I’ll get some miralax and try to move things along! Thx

My first couple bowl movements were the same. But it changed after that. Have you had your 1 week follow up yet? I'd suggest mentioning it if you haven't. My GI doctor told me Miralax is the only OTC medication that your body doesn't "get used to" over time. I take soluble fiber and Miralax everyday. Obviously, you don't want to take Fiber until you are regular, but I swear by it.

I have my post op on Tuesday; which is 12 days post op. Hoping it clears up before that. LOL SO ready to eat some regular food. Although I don’t know how I will considering I always SO full. [emoji4]

2 hours ago, Di0705 said:

No Pepto. I believe it’s digested blood from surgery, but wanted to get peeps opinion how long it would last. Maybe I’ll get some miralax and try to move things along! Thx

Have you started on an Iron Supplement? If it is being absorbed correctly it should turn your stool black. Trust me I with the color and the constipation the Iron causes me I keep wanting to check for diamonds.

If you find any it proves you are under too much pressure because that's how carbon turns into diamonds![emoji13][emoji13][emoji13]

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I’m on the Bariatric Multi Vitamin (2x day) and calcium nitrate (3x day). Is that the iron you’re asking about??

20 minutes ago, Di0705 said:

I’m on the Bariatric Multi Vitamin (2x day) and Calcium nitrate (3x day). Is that the Iron you’re asking about??

I don't know what's in your multi-vitamin for sure, but if you look at the label and it has more than 40mg of Iron I would suspect that is the cause (and there is nothing wrong with that in fact if you are taking iron it should turn your stool black). At over a week out I wouldn't expect you to still have blood from your surgery in your digestive system.

I don't know what's in your Multi-Vitamin for sure, but if you look at the label and it has more than 40mg of Iron I would suspect that is the cause (and there is nothing wrong with that in fact if you are taking iron it should turn your stool black). At over a week out I wouldn't expect you to still have blood from your surgery in your digestive system.

I looked at the label and each tablet has 45 mg of iron. So I’m taking 90 mg a day.....

That would be the most likely explanation for the black stool.

See Darlin' all better, but it is always good to ask. We are lucky to have each other on here, usually somebody has been there and can reassure us.[emoji13]

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I looked at the label and each tablet has 45 mg of iron. So I’m taking 90 mg a day.....

Is that much iron even safe? I'm not being sarcastic, I'm curious. Isn't that way more than recommended? I think I surgeon recommends 30.

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27 minutes ago, GassyGurl said:

Is that much iron even safe? I'm not being sarcastic, I'm curious. Isn't that way more than recommended? I think I surgeon recommends 30.

Like everything else on this journey every surgeon has their own rules that seem to run the gamut. My doctor has me on 150mg Iron a day (I have no history of anemia or anything that would indicate I need more iron). My understanding is that the range of too much Iron is closer to 5mg per pound (well over 800mg for me), but I think it depends on a number of factors.