• 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.

2 Answers

  • Gastroenterologist
  • LAS VEGAS, NV

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.

  • Gastroenterologist
  • Columbus, OH

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.

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