Metallic poop

[ben1988]

Hi

Sorry sensitive question

Does anyone have metallic smelling poop like iron smell

With Vit b 12 injections for PA?

[Foggyme Administrator]

Hi ben1988. Are you taking any iron supplements. This can cause poop to have a metallic iron smell and can also change the colour to black (as can liquorice, bismuth medications, etc).

However, metallic iron smelling poop can also be indicative of blood loss via the GI tract, especially if the poop is black and has a sticky tarry texture (texture is important too 😉).

Here's something about poop (medical term faecel matter of faeces). Taken from the Bristol Stool Chart but also includes information about interpretation and good vowel health:

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

If this continues and you're not on iron tablets or the poop is black and sticky, the it's best to see your GP. Take a sample in a pot because they'll want to send it off for testing. You can ask the surgery for a stool specimen pot if you don't have something suitable at home and I usually pop the pot in an envelope before handing in.

Lots of people sensitive about poop but it's really important, can tell a lot about how the body is functioning and, believe it or not, it's very interesting 😉😀.

And I bet you question is one that many others would like to ask too...so we’ll done for posting 👍

[ben1988 in reply to Foggyme]

Thankyou for all your help

I am on weekly vitamin b12 injections for pernicious anemia so I’m guessing it’s that

No black tar texture

Just normal lol

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to ben1988]

No...not heard of B12 causing metallic iron smelling poop. Might just be a one-off caused by something you ate (or,perhaps a multi-vitamin then contains iron?). Sugges you see your GP if it continues 👍

[fbirder in reply to ben1988]

It’s not likely to be B12 in the faeces. Excess B12 is preferentially eliminated in the urine. Enough so that it can cause discolouration.