“Smelly stool?”
Lately as in the last 3 weeks or so my stool movements have smelled different and much worse than normal. I’ve also noticed a few stool samples that have some small, but few black areas (maybe a pencil head in size). Also, I haven’t recently had COVID (that I know of) but also in this same time frame things like coffee, onions, and my body odor smell different and have a foul smell as well.
Male | 37 years old
Complaint duration: 3-4 weeks
Medications: None
Conditions: None
2 Answers
GastroenterologistGastroenterologist
A change in the smell of stool doesn't help us make a diagnosis, unfortunately. But something may have changed the gut flora or there was a change in diet. A thorough history taken by a physician might be able to get you some answers.
The only issue is the black spots in the stool. The black stool which looks like tar may be evidence of bleeding. Little black spots rarely mean bleeding. A stool test for blood would be useful which your doctor can order. If negative the odor is likely normal which can be secondary to
certain foods often sulfur-containing cruciferous foods or a change in the microbiome the microbes living in the digestive tract which may change from diet or medicine change.
certain foods often sulfur-containing cruciferous foods or a change in the microbiome the microbes living in the digestive tract which may change from diet or medicine change.
