Should I go to A and E? I hate wasting time

[Doormouse46]

Just to say I hate wasting time especially when A and E will be busy on the weekend. For the past 3 days, I have had sickness and diarrhoea. At first I thought it was a bug, then food poisoning then maybe Norovirus. I don’t want to go to the doctors if I’m going to make more people sick.

However, I noticed the vomiting/diarrhoea comes after I eat or drink only. I even tried to have a few strawberries this morning and within 20 minutes I vomited them back up.

The same this afternoon, I ate some toast following the brat method and it came straight back up. It’s the same with anything I drink even water. I’m so dehydrated my lips are chapped and I’m pale as a ghost.

The other thing I’ve noticed is my poo (sorry) is sort of black and thick now and smells horrendous even though I’ve not eaten for 3 days now. I’ve lost weight but that’s to be expected. I have a cracking headache which I think is from dehydration.

i really don’t know what to do. I’ve tried an anti sickness band, didn’t work- I’ve tried not eating which does work but I even bring up water.

I don’t know what to do. I feel sort of like I’m dying (sounds dramatic I know). I called my mum for advice as she’s a GP receptionist and she basically told me to keep out and keep drinking water best I can.

i just feel so helpless and can’t see an end to it. I’d appreciate any advice!

I probably wouldn’t go to a&e as I would want to be be near my own toilet! I would also stop trying to eat anything and drink lucozade very slowly in very small sips as this will replace ions etc that you’ve lost.

It’s fairly normal for you to be unable to keep anything down for a few days if you’ve had a really bad bout of noro or some sort of stomach bug. If you can sip water and keep that down that’s the main thing then slowly try and introduce very plain foods like toast etc. But - the black poo is worrying. Do you take any iron supplements as this can cause black stools? I would be concerned enough to ring 111 and ask their advice re that aspect.

I wouldn't go to A&E, I'd keep drinking water but I wouldn't eat anything else.

I absolutely would ring NHS 111 for advice is you are unable to keep water down. You may need some anti sickness medication so you can start to rehydrate. Also definitely worth mentioning your poo symptoms.

I would ring 111 and ask for an out of hours GO appointment. I wouldn't go straight to A&E for this at this stage.

You need to sip fluids, a sip every 20 mins or so, and try no food until you can keep water down. Some rehydration sachets dissolved in the water may help too.

I think drinking just sips of water regular and if you eat keto it bland sort of like dry crackers . It's totally up to you but I'm not sure it's an a & e issue

*make

Thank you all. No, haven’t taken any iron tablets or anything.

What have you done so far to help? Have you tried a sip of diorlayte every 5 minutes. With black poo I would ring 111. Have you had a wee in the last 12 hours?

Call 111 and eat some jelly or ice cream or cucumber or melon (or any thicker fluid) to get rehydrated. Nibble biscuits or crackers as you drink too or you'll see it all back again.

The part of your message that struck me was "I feel sort of like I’m dying (sounds dramatic I know)."

It does sound like it's likely just a particularly nasty bug/food poisoning, but I would still call 111 as soon as you can, and make sure you tell them you have a "sense of impending doom" if that resonates?

I think you should mention the black poo, are you on any medication or have any pain. I would call 111, does it burn after you eat.

@Iwishiwasasilentnight had some paracetmol, some water and tried some food. I’ve also made camp in the loo with my laptop, blanket and kinda half trying food but bringing it up. I’ve been sipping water but that doesn’t help stop the sickness

Black stools is very serious. You need to be seen.

I don’t take any medication no. My stomacb has been burning but assumed it was the acid from the sickness.

If you do go to hospital it might be worth taking a poo sample if you can.,

Drink diarolyte and isotonic lucozade. Eat only plain white rice and only if you are actually hungry. Phone 111 for advice rather than going to A&E.

Is there blood in your stool?

Are you urinating OK?

Bloody diarrhoea *does' warrant A&E, it could be a VTec E coli. I'd phone 111 at least.

Have you eaten any of the cheese implicated in the latest E coli outbreak in the last week? Or any unpasteurised cheese?

The black poo is the worry. That indicates bleeding from the gut. You say you are very pale. Is that compared to normal? What is your pulse? Do you feel short of breath? Are you on any medications? History of stomach ulcers?

Ring out of hours rather than A&E

If you have black sticky stool it could be a bleed and you need to go to A&E. Melena has a very distinctive smell. I'd describe as nasty metal chocolate, but I'm a bit odd.

'feeling like you're dying' can be a serious symptom so I would not ignore it - 111 to start with at the least

I would go to a&e, you're probably severely dehydrated and the poo situation is scary.

If the poo is thick and black like tar then you need seen today, and that is the symptom you mention first when seen.