The nurse is collecting a stool specimen from a client. What stool characteristic indicates to the nurse that the client may have an upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed?

Muscle hypertrophy (increase in muscle size) is not a typical manifestation of ALS. In fact, ALS leads to muscle atrophy (wasting) rather than hypertrophy. As motor neurons degenerate, muscles become weaker and smaller because they are no longer receiving adequate nerve signals to maintain strength.
B.A Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is not a common manifestation of ALS. ALS primarily affects motor neurons and does not usually cause auditory symptoms. Tinnitus is more related to other conditions such as ear infections, exposure to loud noises, or certain neurological conditions, but it is not associated with ALS.
C. Tripping or stumbling is a common manifestation of ALS. As the disease progresses, it causes weakness in the muscles responsible for maintaining balance and coordination. This can lead to difficulties with walking and increased risk of tripping or falling.
D. Confusion is not a typical symptom of ALS. ALS primarily affects motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy, but it does not usually affect cognitive function. However, in rare cases, some patients with ALS may develop cognitive or behavioral changes, but these are not the primary symptoms and are less common.
E. Dropping objects is a common manifestation of ALS. Muscle weakness and loss of fine motor control in the hands and arms can make it difficult to hold or manipulate objects, leading to frequent dropping.

A. Casts in the urine are typically associated with kidney problems, such as glomerulonephritis or kidney infections, rather than biliary obstruction. Casts are formed from proteins or cells in the renal tubules and are not related to bile duct obstruction or cholelithiasis.
B. Dark, tarry stools are indicative of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the presence of digested blood in the stool. This condition, known as melena, is not typically associated with obstruction of the common bile duct due to cholelithiasis.
C. Jaundice is a common and significant finding in cases of obstruction of the common bile duct due to cholelithiasis. When the bile duct is obstructed, bilirubin, which is a component of bile, accumulates in the bloodstream because it cannot be properly excreted into the intestine.
D. Pain from cholelithiasis (gallstones) typically occurs in the right upper quadrant, not the left. The right upper quadrant pain is often associated with gallbladder inflammation or bile duct obstruction.