To think that the school should mention that the kids get access to unlimited access to beetroot at the salad bar? (possible TMI alert!)

[serendippity]

I probably am aren't I? We get the menu but not mention of what is available at the salad bar. DS goes to the toilet regularly most evenings, and we have been summoned to the bathroom by a worried 7 year old DS 4 times now because his poo is, not pink, but really, really looks full of blood.
I freaked the first time, and didn't even think to ask him what he'd been eating (stupid, I know) and raced him to the doctor, where a calm and lovely doctor asked him the golden question, and reassured me that was most likely cause. I was supplied with a sample bottles, in case it happened again- which it has. DS is a beetroot fiend, so we ask him now if he has eaten any before fishing about in poo with a sample bottle!!
As far as I know, no other parents have had poo panic, but surely it is worth letting parents know if they allowed to eat as much of something as they like, that could cause alarming changes to bodily functions?

FYI- DS had an internal haemorrhage when he was 14 months, had to undergo emergency surgery and almost died, due to a meckle's diverticulum that was creating stomach acid and eating through his bowel , so I am totally open to the idea that I may being completely loony over sensitive :)

[gobbynorthernbird]

YABU, but in a totally understandable way.

[DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease]

Sorry but yes, you are being unreasonable. Probably for the reason you have identified - medical history, still unreasonable though.

Now that you know, you can ask the 'golden question' before you go fishing for a sample in the future.

[Littleorangecat]

YAB a teeny bit U, but with good reason!
ve had the same scenario with myself, I'm fond beetroot, but had totally forgotten I've eaten loads of the stuff. Bit of a panic when I saw the loo as I do have crohns, so ptibsbly s bit more used to blood in the loo than others.

[Artandco]

Blueberries turn it black btw incase he increases eating those

[Essexgirlupnorth]

Probably slightly unreasonable but I have done the same, had a slight panic as have a strong family history of bowel cancer and then remember I had beetroot brownies

[bushtailadventures]

You know you are being a little unreasonable, but I think it's understandable. For what it's worth, my DM rushed me to the doctors when I was 2 because I had a red nappy,he too asked the 'golden question' and my DM remembered me eating beetroot at my Grans the day before. She said her face went as red as my nappy

[Ellie06]

Yes, you're crazy to expect that - however I can understand why you would have been so worried

[VioletBam]

Aw bless you. YABU.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

You know you are being U but it's totally understandable. Fwiw I often forget when I've eaten beetroot and give myself the total fear. Ditto asparagus wee...

[MistressMerryWeather]

DS1 once had a pure black poo.

I remembered reading somewhere that black stools could mean internal bleeding so I was a little freaked out. He had been with my mum and dad all weekend so I rang them to explain what happened and see if he ate anything different.

She sheepishly replied that, actually, he may have sneakily eaten a whole packet of Oreos the day before.

So as someone who has experienced Poo Panic I'm going to say YANBU. :o

[Artandco]

Oh and yes we did go to a and e with black poo from child 1, which turned out to be fully related to eating a whole punnet of blueberries. Dh and I though Ds was about to die!

[serendippity]

Thank you... Just to clarify, I don't mean that the school should tell me, and every parent personally when beetroot is provided! I just wondered if it was worth them adding a small bit of blurb in the menu that beetroot may be consumed, so that we're aware, but, as I say, as far as I know no other parent has had any issues, and point taken that am being U :)
Genuine question: Would all of you automatically assume that is was something your DC had eaten immediately, rather than anything more sinister? (a little concerned about myself and my level of worry now!! )

[SocksRock]

My DD2 was a complete milk fiend for a while, and her poo actually turned not quite white, but very pale for a while. We cut back on the milk and it righted itself, but Dr Google threw up a couple of worrying diagnoses before I worked out it was the milk!

[MistressMerryWeather]

It's amazing how terrifying shit can be when you become a parent.

You spend the first two years examining nappies to make sure everything is working OK then the toilet summoning begins.

There is little worse than that 'Muuuuuuumy!' echoing from behind the bathroom door.

[LyndaNotLinda]

I would automatically assume it was something DS had eaten after he had bright green/blue poo as a baby and I took him to the GP who said he'd eaten chalk

Having said that, he would never knowingly eat so much of a vegetable that it would affect his poo.

[serendippity]

Post crossed with a couple of you, good to hear it's not just me!
Blueberries I knew about, but no clue about Oreos, we also had a similar panic with red velvet cake, but we knew what that was, as we gave it to him

[serendippity]

Exactly Mistress I honestly can say I got chills when I heard "muuuummmy, my poo is red!"

[Witchend]

If they eat glitter ot goes straight through.

[MistressMerryWeather]

Glitter would be a pleasant change.

[marcopront]

Hopefully not relevant to your children but do any of you get black poos after drinking red wine?

[bolleauxnouveau]

Glittery shit? Or is it unicorn poo?

[nocoolnamesleft]

Only one thing you can do, for the sake of your sanity. Start growing your own supply of golden beetroot, and dodge the issue entirely.

[dylsmimi]

Be careful with too much blue icing ! Ds had green poo after his birthday cake had lots of blue icing. I then realised we had happily cut up big chunks for all his classmates!
My best friend (who made the cake) sent me a text to say her ds had similar problems
I was dreading going I to school Monday morning but only one parent mentioned it and found it funny! (We are now close friends! )

[NamelessEnsign]

YAB a teeny bit U but understandably so.

I like to think I'm a pro now that we grow beetroot and I have been through the scary red poo thing. She has also had bright green poo from eating chalk (at nine months, on arrival in a Centre Parcs lodge), green poo recently from eating rainbow cake, and crazy coloured poo from rainbow birthday cake years ago.

I think I'd guess food for now unless it was a persistent problem 😀.