?food intolerances & black poo

[Distracted]

Does anyone know if black (well dark grey) poo is anything to worry about?

ds is 7 1/2 months & we're having food intolerance probs with weaning & he currently has terrible diarrhoea, which is not really anything new as we've been having this to a greater & lesser extent since weaning. However, the colour of this is beginning to alarm me. It was green & has been getting darker & darker, turning grey & now almost black, which I've never seen before. Just looks rather alarming to me .

If you can bear to read the full long story then here goes,(but it's not necessary, main part of my question is above). Started weaning at 20 weeks, 2 weeks later bad diarrhoea & stopped solids. Assumed bug, then when diarrhoea didn't stop & realised ds not atually ill (no vomitting) realised food intolerance (retrospectively had wondered if he was having stomach cramps after eating sweet potato several times). Stayed with milk only and 2 weeks later diarrhoea started again and got worse & worse with blood & mucus. Diagnosed lactose intolerant (presumably temporarily as result of previous episode of diarrhoea).

Switched to lactose free formula and diarrhoea cleared up, 2 weeks later tried to wean onto solids again. Took 2 1/2 weeks to get ds to eat any solids at all then diarrhoea started to gradually creep in again as solids going in (just carrot & potato). Stopped potato & diarrhoea cleared up a bit (could have been coincidence) then few days later got much worse again (could have been attempt to introduce broccolli last weekend). This particular episode has just continued to get worse, even though it's now 5 days since we discontinued broccolli. Spoke to HV yesterday to suggest stopping solids until this episode clears up, but they're keen not to stop him again as he was so difficult to restart. She suggested colour could be due to food and/or teething. Now I think more about this though I'm not convinced. He's eaten same food every day for days now (carrot & courgette for lunch, pear for breakfast and apple for tea as those are the only foods he can have at the moment). Also he's not my first child, so I'm familiar with how poo usually changes with different foods.

Would be good to hear advice from other people with food intolerance problems.

Black poo normally means constipated. Is it very hard as well?

My dd had this prob at a similar stage to weaning as your son. She went less frequently and it was black small amounts and hard.

I gave bought a tin of prunes, pureed them and put a tiny tiny teaspoon full into some apple and pear. I think i did this once a day for two days and all returned to normal.

No not hard - terrible diarrhoea!

bump

Oh, sorry misunderstood you!

Afraid i'm no help then.

Thanks anyway!

Distracted - The only time I have seen dark/grey black poo is when I was given Iron tablets!! They gave the runs too, but it was definitely grey/black! Totally shocked me.

COuld it be something do with Iron???

... could the formula you have him on be very high in Iron/FOlic Acid?

don't think so as it's not a follow-on milk, it's suitable from birth? In fact I was worried about him not having enough iron now he's more than 6 months old, which is why I was trying broccolli, but it doesn't seem to agree with him!

two of us on mumsnet that i know of - me and saacsmum, have babies with colitis that show itself as blood and mucous. Have you asked for neocate? I would definitely think it would be better to keep him off milk formula. Black stool can sometimes mean dark blood, maybe you should get them tested just in case. My ds is taking solids well now, tho he is off milk and gluten and eggs. I would think milk is a big culprit myself.

sorry, just realised you've switched to lactose free formula already. With food you've just got to go slow. Hope it gets better..

distracted sorry don't know much about this but black poo could mean dried blood since it isn't iron tablets. Have you been referred to an allergy consultant because they are the only ones that actually understand this sort of problem? If its a temporary gut problem caused by lactose intolerance then a dairy free probiotic might help. They are often recommended when there is a gut problem. I think on another thread someone gave a website for salicylate allergy - might be worth checking that out if he seems to have a problem with a wide range of foods.

I would definately consult an allergy specialist if you are able. Another thing that dark pooh can be caused by is the rapidity with which the bowel gets rid of waste. You say that there is diarrhoea do you mean he is going frequently or that it is loose and liquid. If he is not going frequently then sometimes what can happen is an inflammed bowel can get a little sluggish and the waste can sit there for a while and then get when it is pushed through it tends to be dark green and black as you say. The lactose intolerance can go hand and hand with cows milk allergy at times so it is worth consulting specialist about Neocate or Pepti Junior as options for elemental formulas. There is a weaning guide available at www.hallpublications.com which has a link for introducing foods to children wiht allergies. If lamb is readily available where you are and you are meat eaters then this is a low allergenic meat that you can introduce to children early and is a readily absorbed source of iron.

Thanks very much for all that advice, I hadn't heard of salicylate allergy, had no idea salicylate was present in food (it's aspirin isn't it?). Did do a search on the internet for this and a quick look at one of the websites. Don't think it would be this though as he seems to be fine on courgette, which is very high in salicylate apparently!

His poo is now clearing up, less frequent, a little less runny and colour has changed back to a more normal shade now too, so a bit less worried! The explanation about things getting pushed through too quickly makes sense - thanks (don't think there was dried blood).

I am waiting on a paediatrician referral to come through, but not too hopefull (have heard of someone else in area who was referred for similar problems and not really offered any help). Toying with idea of going privately, as they might give me a bit more time!

Re. the lactose intolerance, it only started after the first episode of diarrhoea (he had been on formula milk for 5-6 months prior to this with no problems), so I'm hoping that's just temporary and not really part of his problem.

Thanks for the lamb tip, I'll remember that, although not intending to try meat quite yet - would like to get a few more vegetables in him first (he's only on courgette & carrot - going to reintroduce potato this week). Will try that first - would have gone for chicken probably otherwise.

Hiya my bb is 17 weeks and has blood in his stool this keeps happening and is being admitted to hospital tomorrow for a camera down. Hes had a lot of problems with his milk from birth and is on Nutramigen. I will keep you posted when we get out on what is the cause. His stools were normal but with black stripes in it.

I'd change the milk just to rule it out as a problem, process of elimination, try a goats milk formula just for a week or so and see if there are any changes. My experience is that fruit and veg are less likely suspects. Wheat and dairy are the usual trouble causers.