Which of the following is a symptom of a GI bleed?

• A. Usually smells very bad
• B. Increased appetite
• C. Blurred vision
• D. Abdominal cramping after meals

Answer: (A)

Foul-smelling stool is a classic clue for GI bleeding. When blood enters the GI tract and is digested, it often turns the stool dark and tarry and gives it a distinctive, very foul odor. This melena is a sign clinicians look for as an indicator of bleeding somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. The other options aren’t typical signs of a GI bleed—increased appetite isn’t related to bleeding, blurred vision isn’t a direct symptom of GI bleeding (though severe blood loss can cause dizziness or fainting), and abdominal cramping after meals can occur with other GI conditions but doesn’t specifically indicate bleeding.