Stool Test - Occult Blood accuracy

[Ryanseoldier]

Hi Everybody,

I made a post a few days ago regarding symptoms i've been having for the last 8 years, stomach issues like heart burn and deep belching after I eat along with loose stools. I'm getting more worried, I had a stool test done a few months back because I was seeing black flakes in my stool, but my blood test results came back negative along with my stool test negative.

So I have a couple questions:

I've still been seeing these black flakes when i wipe, or mixed in with my stool. So I guess my question is, how accurate are the occult blood tests?

I'm currently taking omeprazole for acid indigestion, and also probiotics. Could this be a side effect from either of them?

Ryan

 

[KayleighMeek]

Do you know what method they are using? As one is more sensitive to diet than the other.
I found this on labtestsonline: Vitamin C, on the other hand, interferes with the chemical reaction and prevents the colour formation that should occur when blood is present (a false negative result). Vitamin C supplements and fruit juices that contain vitamin C should be avoided three days prior to and during testing.
But this is only for guaiac-based FOBT the immuno chemistry method is much more reliable as you don't have to have any dietry restrictions.

Also if its flakes in your stool are you sure it's not something else? It seems strange that you would see blood as flakes.

 

[Ryanseoldier]

Hi Kayleigh, thanks for the help. I didn't have any diet restrictions when I did the exam. So I'm not sure. Either way, I don't really drink very much vitamin C because it's pretty acidic which causes me heartburn. I'll probably just leave it be, all these doctor visits over these flakes is kinda of expensive and hasn't amounted to very much. The doctor said it was most likely un digested food. I'm kinda worried about ulcers because of my heartburn that I get.

 

[KayleighMeek]

I wouldn't give up if you are in a lot of discomfort, have you had a scope to check it all out? Have you been tested for h pylori?

 

[Ryanseoldier]

Thanks for the note. Yeah, I'm not really in too much discomfort really, it's basically just the heart burn and flakes in the stool. Other than that I feel ok. I figure if it's been like this for 8 years, it could wait a lil longer. It's just expensive to see these doctors and then potentially have a colonoscopy done. I think between the stool test and blood test, I can hold myself over for a bit longer when things at work are more stable... I'm in sales so it's tough to get time off...

 

[KayleighMeek]

Yeah I understand about trying to balance work I used to do shifts and found it tough. If you are having more upper symptoms it might be better to have a gastroscopy rather than an colonoscopy but like you say that could be further down the line. If you haven't had h pylori done it may be worth looking into its usually just a faeces sample and it is used to see if you have ulcers.
Anyway I hope you get some answers soon and can get rid of the heart burn

 

[Ali29]

Do you eat blueberries or plums or dark veggies/fruit? Sometimes they (and undigested parts like the skin) could cause it to look like blood in the stools.

 

[Ryanseoldier]

Hi Ali, thanks for note. I' don't eat anything like blueberries... Not too sure what it is which is why I was wondering about the accuracy of those occult blood tests. Dr said it could just be undigested food... But who knows...