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've only just seen your thread but just wanted to say the same thing happened to my mother except for her it was just before Christmas not just after so she ended up in hospital for the holiday. She made a full recovery, she was terrified of the gastroscopy but said afterwards it was fine.

Hope all goes well.

Reported this one as well. Is there any way of locking this thread?

reposting as apparently it's still needed.

So, anyone who is contagious should not ever go to the hospital because they might pass the "bug" around?

You must have been a real "good" medical advisor in 2020. Not. FFS

Luckily, she didn't listen to the TW who told her to stay home and that it was NBD, as she very well could have died.
If you don't understand what the symptoms are saying, you might want to think twice or three times (or more) before giving advice that could kill people.

Get better soon !!
sending hugs

Seriously, immodium for peritonitis. This thread just keeps on giving.

Maybe my grammar was badly constructed, English is only my fourth language, but I meant everyone who was giving the awful advice which still continues today. Maybe you should check yourself for your own blame game attitude while nitpicking the use of one word.

I find it incredulous that you claim to be a "nurse", yet you give advice that could have killed someone.
If you are a nurse, you totally discounted the dark black stool and smell, which is a giveaway to anyone with a bit of medical knowledge that it is likely digested blood. You know, like when someone vomits coffee grounds?
The fact they couldn't keep even a sip of water down for three days but they are supposed to go to the store and get "full fat coke", add sugar and drink?
If you are a nurse, how did you miss the sense of "feeling like I am dying". When someone has the sense of impending doom, along with the above, it is a bit more serious than needing a can of coke.
A "nurse" giving out advice like this is truly scary and quite unwise. Especially when not even bothering to read the thread and see what had already been diagnosed.

Your advice could have been tragic for someone. Luckily, this person listened to other posters who realized the dangers and gave sound, caring advice.

I hope you can get lots of rest and that they get you nice and rehydrated.

Remember, when you get released, you will still need to rest and take a bit of time before going full-speed ahead.

I know you probably don't care right now, but your thread taught a few valuable lessons.
#1--You CAN feel terribly ill and still post on MN or anywhere else.
#2-It's never a BAD idea to call 111 and listen to them
#3-Posters on MN can be helpful or a hindrance, depending on if they are really reading the poster's questions or just posting an automatic, "Don't go to A&E. Your bones will heal in time.... Drink a Coke"
#4-some symptoms should never, ever be downplayed

I hope you are home soon and that there is no lasting stomach damage. Oh, and rest, rest, rest.

I’m so glad you are getting help OP and i
hope you feel better really soon 🌷

The fact that the "can of coke" comment came from someone who claims to be a nurse is very concerning.

Thank goodness there were posters who could read and understand the symptoms and stepped up. They should be very proud that they helped save a life.

Totally agree with No 1., i ended up in resus with DK without A and was whatsapping my friend when i was in A&E waiting. I had been to GP that morning and has been sent straight to A&E, spent 6 days in hospital with infections and newly diagnosed insulin dependent Diabetes.
I was only in A&E 10 minutes before I was called and taken straight to resus.

Sadly this 'giving advice' by GP's receptionists seems to be all too common these days, and it's appalling, considering your GP's surgery is usually the first port of call for anyone who's ill. OK, I don't mind giving the receptionist an indication of the problem when booking an appointment, but I don't want an unqualified individual telling me what's what. However busy GP's are (and at our practice, if you pop in at different times of the day to drop off a prescription you can bet your next pay cheque that most of the waiting room will be empty), then this practice of receptionists giving triage needs to stop - now.

quite common for our mothers to belittle symptoms whatever her job

I really would like to see more information about sepsis and bring about more awareness of blood poisoning. It is really very important to act quickly and having had an experience with sepsis where my daughter was seriously ill with strep A & sepsis.

This thread will hopefully make people aware of how it can so easily be misjudged, and don't just look for black poo as my dd didn't have black poo that wasn't one of her particular symptoms

The black poo wasn't a symptom of sepsis - it was a symptom of the issue that caused the sepsis!

@Seeline thank you for the clarification

https://sepsistrust.org/about/about-sepsis/

Sepsis is a follow on condition to an infection. The ‘Sepsis 6’ triggers are the red flags.

Malaena, black stool, can I think, be a sign of sepsis due to necrosis

Maelena as a symptom ALWAYS needs urgent medical assessment regardless of the potential underlying cause.

Yes I know, I was just trying to point out that it can also be a sign of sepsis

This is incredibly helpful, thank you!

My DD had sepsis aged 7. I knew she wasn’t well, thought she had flu, had no idea what was going on really, but when I looked closely at her mottled bluish pale face I had no doubt whatsoever: very seriously ill, straight to A and E. Thank god I didn’t mess around with the GP!

Trust your gut.

Melaena isn't a sign of sepsis. It's is a sign of upper GI bleeding. In this instance the likely scenario is the gastritis/ ulceration in stomach or duodenum has perforated and caused the sepsis due to escape of bowel contents into the peritoneum

How are you feeling OP?

Glad you were seen quickly and were taken care of! I'm hoping you are doing much better. You must have felt so very ill, with having infections and getting diagnosed with IDD at the same time.