When this happens, you may vomit blood or have black, tarry stool. Gastrointestinal bleeding is considered a sign of end-stage liver disease, along with bleeding from the nose and gums.

All shades of brown-colored stool are normal. If a person’s stool is red or black, or other changes remain longer than 2 weeks or come with other symptoms, they should consult a doctor.

Black stool: Uradomo warns that black or tarry-looking stools can indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This includes your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Chronic diarrhea ...

Deep red or brown may suggest bleeding in your upper colon or small intestine. Black or tarry stool may suggest bleeding in the upper part of your digestive tract, like the stomach or esophagus.