What does black stools feel like with gastritis?

Black Stools is a common presentation of Gastritis when stomach lining inflammation causes bleeding into the digestive tract. The stool may look black, sticky, or tar-like and may have a strong smell. Some people also feel upper tummy pain, nausea, weakness, or light-headedness. Black stool should be taken seriously because bleeding has several possible causes.

Blood exposed to digestive juices can turn stool dark and tarry. Gastritis may cause this when the inflamed stomach lining bleeds, but dark stool can also follow iron medicine or certain foods and products. A clinician needs to ask about medicines, pain, vomiting, and the stool’s texture. Do not try to diagnose the cause from colour alone, especially if you feel faint or unwell.

Contact a clinician promptly about black or tar-like stool, even if the tummy discomfort is mild. Mention aspirin, anti-inflammatory painkillers, blood thinners, iron, and any recent vomiting. Do not take additional anti-inflammatory painkillers unless a clinician tells you to. Keep a record of when the stool changed and whether it recurs; this helps guide examination and testing.

Go to emergency care for vomiting blood or material that resembles coffee grounds, fainting, severe weakness, confusion, rapid breathing, severe abdominal pain, or repeated black stools. These signs can indicate significant bleeding or another urgent problem. If you take a blood thinner, seek advice without delay rather than stopping it on your own.

Could the stool colour be from bleeding or from a medicine or food? Which medicines should I avoid until I am assessed? Do I need blood tests, stool testing, or an examination of the upper digestive tract? What symptoms should send me to emergency care?