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Original poster

Should we go to a and e?

539 replies

ChatterMonkey · 12/03/2022 07:49

Dp has been feeling rubbish for a week now, with pain caused by constipation. He hasnt had a bowel movement for a week now. The pain is constant, with waves of agonising pain.

Hes struggling to be able to medicate it, as hes not allowed to have anti inflammatory medication for seperate issues, and is wary about codeine based medicine as that causes constipation. Paracetomol isnt touching the sides of the pain.

The plan was to get a doctor appointment on monday, but the pain was really severe last night, im not sure we should wait till monday. He mentioned yesterday that the blockage is starting to affect his ability to pee properly which i think is worrying?

Hes alsp worrying now that the constipation is a side effect of something more serious, as theres nothing we can think thats triggered it. Hes worried about gallstones, or bowel cancer.

Is it worth going to a and e, are they likely going to he able to do anything, even if its just investigate and rule out some of the more scary possibilities thats worrying dp? Or would we likely be waiting ages and then sent away with a box of laxido?

OP posts:
Weebleonaworkout · 13/03/2022 19:24

Tbis sounds just like what I went through. After many blood tests antibiotics and laxatives they diagnosed Diverticular Disease. I too had had pains in prior years but nothing was ever found out until I was admitted in 2020. The pain in a flare up is absolutely agonising and crippling. I wish him a speedy diagnosis and recovery

alltheapples · 13/03/2022 19:26

@WTAFhappened123 covid is raging through the population again. Hospitals have to try and protect the vulnerable.

KateTheEighth · 13/03/2022 19:27

@ChatterMonkey

And yes the diagnosis itself seems to have helped massively with dps discomfort. The relief of having a name for whats wrong with him makes such a difference

I suffer with various bowel issues and they are 10 times worse when I am anxious/stressed

As soon as I had a diagnosis for my "main" problem it settled down a bit because I understood it and as long as I can keep my anxiety under control I can control it better

I hope your dh feels better soon

Interested in this thread?

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General health
LIZS · 13/03/2022 19:34

Glad he has some answers and hopefully will get support for his condition.

Pugwash2005 · 13/03/2022 19:37

Thanks @godmum56 I’ll have a read

Kate0902900908 · 13/03/2022 19:38

God I hope you have gone to A&E this happened to my brother in law his bowel burst due to in diagnosed cancer. I’m not saying it’s that obviously but my brother in law was at work and had same symptoms! Go go go now!!

Cric · 13/03/2022 19:39

My MIL suffers just the same with DV. She has found a Facebook group for sufferers and finds it really helpful talking to others that go through the same.

Idbemonica1 · 13/03/2022 19:40

Drawing pad, i was just coming in to say cancel the chq !
Glad you have had a diagnosis OP xx

BusinessMindThoughts · 13/03/2022 20:05

@Kate0902900908

God I hope you have gone to A&E this happened to my brother in law his bowel burst due to in diagnosed cancer. I’m not saying it’s that obviously but my brother in law was at work and had same symptoms! Go go go now!!
Even easier than 'hoping' - you can read the OP's posts!
OMG12 · 13/03/2022 20:05

@WTAFhappened123

Utterly ridiculous that you cannot go in with DH! The NHS are taking advantage of COVID by doing this - absolutely criminal and they should be ashamed of themselves! Having worked at a vets all through C19 it shows lack of compassion and ridiculous pompous nature.
Totally agree. I went to A&E, explained I had PTsd caused by a hospital and wouldn’t necessarily be able to advocate for myself if I panicked -husband was told he couldn’t come with me. I ended up freezing, collapsing on the floor then doing a runner, seriously ill. Another lady came with her daughter, daughter explained mother was autistic and she was her career again refused entry, at which point the mother collapsed in a panic, hit her head, I had to run for a nurse, a doctor literally walked right by!
MarvellousMonsters · 13/03/2022 20:06

@ChatterMonkey

Thank you for the links and advice on diet plans, my normal go-to when im trying to lose weight is a low carb diet, but see that thats the totally wrong thing for dp now? Will need to do some proper research into what to eat moving forward.

Also, i cancelled the cheque Wink

You can eat low carb if you have diverticulitis. The main thing you need to do is avoid the foods that trigger an attack, and keep your bowels moving.

www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/diverticulitis

OMG12 · 13/03/2022 20:09

[quote alltheapples]@WTAFhappened123 covid is raging through the population again. Hospitals have to try and protect the vulnerable.[/quote]
Lots of vulnerable people need assistance whilst going to hospital, covid is not the only threat

Foolosophy · 13/03/2022 20:13

I’m not in UK but here they never do colonoscopies until at least 8 weeks after diverticulitis as it would be too painful. If he does have a colonoscopy after 8 weeks it’s a great way to keep an eye on his colon as they check for polyps and inflammation as well as diverticulae.
To prevent it from happening again he should keep the poo soft enough not to clog the diverticulae. Fiber, water and exercise play a big part in that. Hope he feels better soon!

Spaghag · 13/03/2022 20:17

@WTAFhappened123

Utterly ridiculous that you cannot go in with DH! The NHS are taking advantage of COVID by doing this - absolutely criminal and they should be ashamed of themselves! Having worked at a vets all through C19 it shows lack of compassion and ridiculous pompous nature.
Do animals tend to suffer much from Covid then?
Original poster
ChatterMonkey · 13/03/2022 20:17

Im not sure if there's any plans for a colonoscopy in the future, he has to go back on tuesday for more bloods so he can ask then what the plan is.

From reading a bit about it, if the bloods on tuesday show a high reading they are likely to prescribe antibiotics, is that right? I like to know what to expect going forward!

OP posts:
Fluffmum · 13/03/2022 20:20

Appendicitis

Spaghag · 13/03/2022 20:20

OP, I also have diverticula disease so can empathise with how nasty it can be.

My advice for the colonoscopy is to have sedation & all pain relief offered. I went into mine thinking it would be fine & I only had the gas & air. It was extremely painful - apparently because of the diverticulosis.

If ever I need another one I'll be taking all that's offered.

Mandyjack · 13/03/2022 20:22

You could ring NHS 111 who will advise you. Have you not tried any form of laxative during the week?

Mandyjack · 13/03/2022 20:24

@Spaghag

OP, I also have diverticula disease so can empathise with how nasty it can be.

My advice for the colonoscopy is to have sedation & all pain relief offered. I went into mine thinking it would be fine & I only had the gas & air. It was extremely painful - apparently because of the diverticulosis.

If ever I need another one I'll be taking all that's offered.

I've had 1 and was sedated and found it very painful. I had to beg to be knocked out more. I don't have diverticulitis. I bled a lot after too
elliesmummy19 · 13/03/2022 20:25

@ChatterMonkey

So he is home now and has a diagnosis... Its diverticulitis. Apparently there isnt an actual blockage of poo (sorry for those invested in a live birth thread...!) But its the inflammation thats making it feel as if there is.

Has to go back on tuesday for more bloods, crp was high, went from 35 yesterday to 88 today. I have no idea what that means but it seems quite a jump?

But other than that, lots of rest, lots of water, and lots of fruit and veg. And a bit of a wake up call to sort our diet out.

Haven't fully caught up yet (we have Covid, toddler has been vomiting) but I have an autoimmune condition and my C reactive protein is aaaaalways high no matter if I'm flaring or not. Think it's an inflammation marker? Someone medically trained would know more though obviously!

I'm glad he has a diagnosis and is home! What a stressful couple of days for you both.

Spaghag · 13/03/2022 20:27

Oh god. I'm sorry to hear that. Strangely I didn't bleed after the colonoscopy although I do during a flare up.

reesewithoutaspoon · 13/03/2022 20:29

CRP is a measure of inflammation. Its present in infection but also when inflammation is present. A usual result is < 8 so a rising CRP is something they will want to keep an eye on.

linsey2581 · 13/03/2022 20:30

@WTAFhappened123 I work for NHS and all through Covid including being on the covid wards. At the minute some hospitals are experiencing high levels of covid and bringing in partners etc unless absolutely necessary could help spread the virus. IMHO vets were the worst for not letting people be with their animals in there time of need. My mum and dad took their dog to the vet during the summer of covid as he was a bit peaky but nothing major. They weren’t allowed to take him inside and spoke to the vet over the phone from the car, vet said they would keep him in over night. Mum and dad went home and by the time they got home (20mins) they got a call from the vets to say dog was dead! They never even got to say goodbye and the next day was worse as the vet called to say can you make a payment. So don’t you dare say that we are not compassionate in the NHS, we do what we can under the circumstances!

JesusSufferingFuck22 · 13/03/2022 20:37

I got really quite invested in this thread.
Glad you got some answers and your dh is not as uncomfortable.

Hope everything improves soonDaffodilDaffodilDaffodil

longtompot · 13/03/2022 20:49

I am so pleased he has a diagnosis, and it wasn't what he feared. I didn't want to post before he knew what was causing his issue, but my aunt had a similar issue a few years ago. She had lung cancer and thought she had constipation, but sadly in her case it wasn't so and she left it too late to let anyone know and to get help.