Almost Black Vomit and Stoma Concerns

Hi Friends

One of the conditions I have is gastroparesis; this causes me to feel full fast and throw up a lot of undigested food even hours after eating.

This morning I woke up feeling very nauseous and went to throw up; this is usual and an almost daily occurrence. But today the vomit was really, really dark brown, almost black. I'm feeling okay, but the color of it shocked me.

I changed my bag about 3 hours later, and I noticed my stoma was dirtier than usual with sticky black dry-ish “strings” on it, almost like dry black mucus.

Sorry for being so horribly graphic, but I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this before and if it's concerning?

Since throwing up this morning, I am feeling fine and having no pain in my stomach.

I am hesitant to call my doctor as he tends to be overly precautious, and I do not want him to send me to the hospital, which is what he does whenever I call to say that something feels off.

Hi C,

Your day sure sounds like fun! First, it's understandable that your Doc is precautious, as he's responsible for keeping you alive. The dark vomit is a bit concerning. Obviously, the dark color could be because of something you ate, like black licorice, blueberries or blackberries, beets, grape juice, etc. But if you haven't eaten or drunk anything different from what you normally consume, the only other thing that turns vomit black or dark brown that I can think of is blood. Same goes for what comes out the other end. So keep an eye on what comes out of you, and if you're not eating any of those things I mentioned and you see dark output/vomit.....you may want to call your overprotective Doc. At the very least, he'll know you trust him, and he can rest assured you WILL call when something is out of the ordinary.

;O)

It does sound like something you ate... but like Bob, I find the color disturbing. If it continues, you need to call your trusty doctor to rule out blood in the digestive tract, if nothing else.

If it's nothing you've eaten, I wouldn't waste time phoning the doctor; I would just go straight to A&E. It's Friday afternoon now, so you will have problems speaking to your doctor before Monday. Now, no one likes to go to the hospital, but it's the best place for professional advice, help, and care if needed.

Thanks, Ben, Susan, and Bob.

I appreciate your advice. I cannot remember eating anything dark or red that could cause black vomit.

If it's blood, which I hope it's not, and I don't continue throwing up, can I assume that whatever was bleeding inside has stopped bleeding? If I throw up that way again, I'd assume that it's still bleeding. (Whatever it is…)

I think as long as I feel fine, I'll wait and see if I throw up again today and decide then. And yes, Ben, at that point, I will have to go straight to the Emergency Room as the GP will be closed till Monday.

Words of Encouragement from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

Another of the 50 Shades of Black is the villain Pepto-Bismol… amazingly, it can turn the tongue and quite possibly vomit black. I wouldn't put it past that pink devil! jb

I agree with everyone else...go get checked out....Are they even giving you anything for the vomiting???? The only time I vomited black was after an ERCP when they exchanged out my bile stents....I felt fine after, but it was black instead of green...they told me if it happened again to look for streaks of blood....Also, just curious if you possibly need enzyme treatment to help digest and keep your food down...it works wonders for me....That's something you'll have to ask your GI doctor about..Also, if this is recurring, talk to your GI...ERs don't know anything but how to send you home and check with your GP for a follow-up, it seems (what happened the last time I was in the ER...3 days later I went back and I had a baseball-sized abscess and had sepsis).....Definitely talk to your GI; they'll know more ....take care 🫂

G-Day Clara,

You have to stop finding a reason not to go and get it checked out

and just go to the ER.

Better safe than sorry.

IGGIE

Hi Clara,

Two things:

1 - If your vomit was the consistency of coffee grounds, you should go to the hospital.

2 - If you are taking an iron supplement, that can turn your stool black.

Good luck!

Rocks

I know you don't want to, but if it continues, call the doctor. It could be any number of things. Like I said above, it could be something you ate. Or it could be something you drank. It could also be bile. You know yourself and how your body reacts. You seem to understand your condition. It sounds horrible to live with. But you also know that if things don't improve or change, there could be something more serious going on. So, if it continues, then call the doc.

I would get that checked out ASAP.

My first thought would be ulcer. Black stool is generally from blood, so that is where I would want to start.

Before my ileostomy, I had trouble with a lot of vomiting as well. Mine turned out to be from a cyst right next to my gallbladder that would fill with bile and then release into my stomach (about 150 cc worth). My stomach was not amused with this and would expel it from my body at an alarming speed. Linda Blair would have been proud.

I had my gallbladder and the cyst removed, and I was good for about 2 years until the UC and PSC kicked in, but that's a whole different story for a different campfire.