Hi Dave-the color an

Answer 1

Hi Dave-the color and consistency of stool can vary widely from person to person and depending upon the diet. However, black stool should not be ignored, especially if it is sticky and loose. This can indicate old blood in the stool. However, medications can also cause stool to be black-the most common culprits are Pepto-Bismol and iron. If you are having solid black stools while on the iron, this is the most likely cause. That being said, the presence of anemia and NSAID (naproxen) use, along with black stools, is potentially concerning. NSAIDs can cause injury to the mucosal lining of the intestinal tract, ranging from mild irritation to severe ulceration. These injuries can lead to bleeding, which can cause black stools and, if enough blood loss occurs, iron deficiency anemia (I'm not sure what type of anemia you have based upon your question-there are multiple types of anemia, and iron-deficiency anemia is the kind associated with chronic intestinal bleeding). Even if there is no injury from the naproxen, the combination of black stools and iron-deficiency anemia should prompt further evaluation of the intestinal tract. If you've never had a colonoscopy, I would recommend you get this test done in the near future to exclude problems like large polyps.