Dark stool, no pain or blood?

[marmalade22]

Hi,
Ive recently been diagnosed with Indeterminate colitis after getting very ill before christmas and being admitted into hospital with a colon full of ulcers.
Luckily, i was classed as in remission a few weeks ago (yay) but i have recently started noticing that my stools have become very dark over the past week or so? Should i be worried that i'm bleeding somewhere higher up?

Some more info:
-I'm in no pain
-There's no other signs of blood
-I am regular (once a morning), formed balls ( doctor said not to worry about shape too much, as long as they are formed)
- I eat spinach, broccoli,peas etc almost everyday (they dont seem to affect me), could leafy greens cause it?

Meds:
Tapered off Pred today-down from 40mg over 8 weeks
3rd and last Infliximab infusion on 30th Jan
Pentasa daily
6mp- 75mg Daily
Calcium

Thanks

 

[FrozenGirl]

Are you taking iron? That can cause dark stools, or certain dark coloured foods, anything with lots of black food coloring?

 

[marmalade22]

Nope, I haven't had any iron since an infusion almost 2 months ago and I'm not eating anything overly dark or with colouring =\

 

[FrozenGirl]

Hmm, that may be concerning then. My bleeding is generally painless so no pain doesn't mean its okay. How were you classed as in remission, lack of symptoms or did you do another scope?

 

[marmalade22]

They did it based on the lack of any symptoms and the progress with my bloods returning to normal as they've been doing them weekly. My consultant thinks I have UC which is why I think he doesn't want to do anymore tests or scopes elsewhere.

 

[marmalade22]

I forgot to mention that they are not tarry and they don't really have an odour. Apart from being dark, they are fairly normal.

 

[FrozenGirl]

Maybe a fecal occult blood test would be a good idea. It is a simple stool test that tests for blood.

 

[crohnsinct]

Hmmm, my daughter is the exact same! I have been wondering myself. Although she is on exclusive enteral nutrition so I have been putting it down to formula and maybe the iron content in it. I am planning to ask her GI the next time we see him and will let you know what I find.

Keep us posted.