Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

Sorry, a bit gruesome - bloody diarrhoea. WWYD

20 replies

vipersnest1 · 27/09/2023 19:47

Sorry, but I thought I ought to be frank in the title, rather than be mysterious.
Anyhow, I have fibromyalgia and had an awful pain in my sternum last night, so took an opioid and naproxen.
(For disclosure, I don't tolerate NSAIDs very well - I've tried them in the past and after a few days end up with bad diarrhoea, so tend to avoid them)
Returning to last night, on going to bed, my gut felt totally normal. I then woke at 4 with bad gut pain, followed by a 'bout'. I didn't take much notice of anything as I felt terrible and got back to bed asap.
On getting up later, I had another bout which had a noticeable amount of fresh blood in it.
Obviously I have taken the day off. My gut is still very sore, so I'm not sure I'll be able to work tomorrow. I haven't 'been' any more today, so don't know if the bleeding has now settled.
If it was naproxen that caused it, I'm surprised that a single dose affected me so badly, so I'm concerned about that, but also if it wasn't that, what the hell caused it?
I haven't contacted my GP today as I thought I would see how things went.
Would you do anything in my position, and if so what?
(Usual disclaimer re the poo troll to save me typing more.)

OP posts:

justasking111 · 27/09/2023 19:50

Please make an appointment with your GP. It's probably piles but best to have this confirmed.

gamerchick · 27/09/2023 19:53

Fresh blood wouldn't alarm me tbh. But speak to a GP for reassurance if you're worried.

Might be worth avoiding those pills if they upset your guts like that though.

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 27/09/2023 20:11

@justasking111, it's definitely not piles, believe me. I've had enough tests for other reasons to know this for certain.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 27/09/2023 21:22

So far the vote is 1-1 on contacting anyone.
I was going to go with the idea of seeing if my gut is still bleeding tomorrow. Do I need to at least let my GP know what's happened?

OP posts:

Boopeedoop · 27/09/2023 21:27

Did the GP prescribe anything to take with the naproxen like omeprazole? That protects the lining of the stomach.

I would stick to bland food for a few.days and if it happens again seek advice.

Singleandproud · 27/09/2023 21:30

I also don't get on with some NSAIDs ibuprofen is fine but Diclofenac have me such strong stomach cramps I couldn't walk.

You SHOULD go get it checked out but I think if it was me I'd opt for wait and see, as it coincided with the tablets and see if it resolved itself.

I had similar episode after swimming in the sea it fixed itself after a couple of days so I guess it was linked to e. Coli or similar.

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 27/09/2023 21:33

@Boopeedoop, I do have some omeprazole knocking around somewhere, but didn't think I would need it just for a single dose - if I was planning on taking the naproxen long term (which I wouldn't anyway), I would have taken the omeprazole with it.

OP posts:

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 27/09/2023 21:35

@Singleandproud, I think you've summed up what I think (although I wondered if I was being foolish about it) - I'll wait to see how I feel tomorrow and if I still feel grotty I'll contact my surgery.

OP posts:

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 27/09/2023 21:39

Sorry, but another thought - I now take meptid for breakthrough pain instead of codeine, which has less of a constipating effect. It definitely doesn't cause loose bowels (so to speak), and is more of a gut relaxant. So how on earth did I end up where I was this morning? I'm still mystified (and fed up obviously) by the whole thing.

OP posts:

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 29/09/2023 20:42

(Probably boring) update:
After my gut not playing up yesterday, I was all set to go to work today even though I still feel awful, but my gut had other ideas this morning. (Thankfully no blood.)
Given that this was day three with gut pain, I asked for a GP appointment. He examined me (v high blood pressure for some unexplainable reason), found that indeed I didn't have any piles or any visible bleeding ATM, so has ordered stool samples (bacterial and FIIT test, plus bloods), saying he doesn't think it's to do with the naproxen and thinks I have food poisoning. (If I do, then it's going to be interesting as I eat my meals at my place of work which is a public institution.)
Meanwhile, my gut is still very tender (and was upon abdominal examination plus the 'other one' (😳).
I can't help but think it was the naproxen that knocked me for six, which makes me worry what will happen if I finally get a failed prolapse repair operationdone as I know they are keen on using anti-inflammatories.

OP posts:

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 12/10/2023 20:44

Coming back as things are puzzling - my gut is still very tender, but no diarrhoea. However, ever since, I'm getting terrible cramps which have really ramped up tonight, as has my nausea.
Bloods have come back normal, still waiting on stool results.
Does anyone have any idea of what is going on?

OP posts:

InterFactual · 12/10/2023 21:06

That's a long wait for the stool results, I'd chase that up with the surgery if I were you. It's probably already come back clear, they very often don't contact you if there's no comment on the results.

It's probably been going on too long to be food poisoning, I'd push further with the GP for an endoscope to see if the bowel lining holds any clues.

This is a totally random idea, but have you tried cutting out dairy and/or gluten? My MIL became suddenly intolerant to something and we worked out after lots of trial and error that cheese gave her terrible diarrhoea after 60 years of eating it without any trouble. She could tolerate other forms of lactose like milk in tea but she's now switched to lactose free cheese and she's much better. A couple of times she's lapsed and had normal cheese and it sets her off again. Food allergies can be triggered later in life by viruses, parasites and general changes to the gut that come with age.

Good luck with it, hope you feel better soon.

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 12/10/2023 21:21

@InterFactual, thanks for the reply - I did laugh at the 'later in life' as that's me!
I eat a relatively good diet (I hope) and tend to avoid 'stodge' ie loads of carbs, but will have a think about it.
I don't think it's food poisoning either.
I rang yesterday (as instructed) for my results and was told then that the stool sample and FIIT test weren't back and to ring tomorrow, which I will, as since being unwell, my bowel habits have changed from what is usual for me. So far, I haven't questioned it as I thought it would take time for things to settle, but what's been going on this evening has me wondering what's going on again.

OP posts:

InterFactual · 12/10/2023 21:42

How recent is your fibromyalgia diagnosis? I wonder if it's drugs side effects and perhaps they need to review your meds.

justasking111 · 12/10/2023 21:51

A month since my food poisoning and I'm still not right. Took a stool sample to the hospital on Tuesday. GP has given me some tablets to take for spasms. Friends daughter is a pharmacist she had food poisoning ages ago and still getting IBS symptoms occasionally. Apparently it's not uncommon

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 12/10/2023 23:18

@InterFactual, I've been taking my current medication for months now, so definitely not that. As I said before, if they're going to do anything it will be to cause constipation.
@justasking111, I will call tomorrow to get the results of stool sample and FIIT test, then go from there there.

OP posts:

justasking111 · 13/10/2023 17:45

Well @vipersnest1 the hospital have lost my test so back to the GP this afternoon 🙄

Angrymum22 · 13/10/2023 17:54

I had a 24 -48 Hr high temp and flu like symptoms a couple of weeks ago. Felt really unwell for a couple of days, it was accompanied by diarrhoea and abdominal cramping. I thought it was food poisoning but then when I went back into work ( I only work one day a week) everyone else had had the same symptoms at various times during the week. One of the staff had tested positive for Covid. We think hat we just had a variant that mainly causes gastro symptoms.

I took over a week for my gut to settle. I had very little appetite over this period. But only very very mild cold like symptoms, hardly noticeable.

Original poster

vipersnest1 · 13/10/2023 19:44

@Angrymum22, I'm the same - my gut is still really tender, especially when I need the loo and immediately afterwards.
All tests now back, and all satisfactory or NAD.
I don't feel particularly unwell other than feeling wiped out (pretty normal for me as I have fibromyalgia), the tender gut and some nausea. The cramps are very definitely not normal for me, but I don't know what the tender abdomen is about. I have a rectocele which could be causing it too.

OP posts:

Angrymum22 · 14/10/2023 17:01

It took a couple of weeks for my gut to settle properly. When it was “off” it just felt a bit full. I think the virus just caused inflammation.
I had campylobacter a few years ago which was a much more extreme form of this virus and is due to bacterial food poisoning. This was probably viral since a number of us had it at work.
With campylobacter it was severe cramps similar to contractions every 10 minutes and I was passing pure blood at one point. It was very frightening.
Campylobacter is usually a lot milder but it would show up in a poo sample, and it’s likely your GP tested for it with the symptoms you had.
I’m guessing I had a GI form of Covid with the high temperature and muscle aches. This would probably not be detectable in a sample or blood test.

Flip