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!

Get well soon and look after yourself. 🌹

Probably the kind of person who would recommend a good walk for a broken leg. But if it were them suffering, then that would be different, of course.

Good luck! Glad it was caught, interested to know if 111 or did you have a hunch?
And if there are people who say you are able to text then you can't be that ill, I was in septic shock, ICU etc etc, my DH was told I might have hours to live. I was not in a coma, and I was on my phone, He had to text all my friends to say to ignore anything I might send them as I was downplaying it all.

I hope they've got you on a ward now, OP, full of ABs and getting all the treatment you need. Fingers crossed you don't need surgery on that ulcer.

Sorry didn't see your feel like death comment. Classic sepsis, puts you in a feeling you've never felt with any other illness. For anyone else, classic sepsis signs are low blood pressure, high heart rate, sickness, no urine, low (which can be deceiving) or high temp. If you have any of these with (or without) another illness, please be seen and mention sepsis. Constantly. Let them convince you why you don't have it.

You poor thing OP. I hope you recover soon.

Glad you’re now in the right place op. Hope you feel better very soon.

Can people RTFT or at least click on see all from Op. She's in hospital.

@Doormouse46
Doormouse46 · Today 03:42

Thank you all. I’m waiting to be admitted on the ward but it’s a few hours wait for a bed. I have peritonitis caused by a burst stomach ulcer which has gone septic.

Glad you got to hospital OP and wishing you all the best for a good recovery.

Anyone else reading this thread, remember that black foul smelling poo is a serious symptom and likely to be a sign of upper intestinal bleeding. It is an emergency and warrants immediate medical attention/ A&E.

Blimey OP, what a nightmare. I’m so glad you’ve been admitted, diagnosed and treated now. Antibiotics are a wonderful thing! Get well soon.

My God, OP! Wishing you all the very best for a speedy recovery. People should read this thread and think carefully about whether they should be giving advice to ill people online other than to call 111. Most of us are simply not qualified to give an opinion other than see a professional.

How worrying, OP. Really hope you’re on the ward now and getting the treatment you need, hope you start to improve soon.

Please keep us updated 💐

I just started reading thread op ! Wow that turned serious ! I guess the black smelly poo wud have rang alarm bells for me !
Hope you feeling better soon ! Your were right to ask for advise I’m so glad u went A&E x

Or.. go to hospital and be admitted with a burst ulcer and peritonitis.

Seriously. Read. The. Op's. Posts.

Oh Op! I hope you feel better soon!! I was going to say, before I read your updates, that the colour of the poo sounded worrying. You are in the right place and always listen to your instincts, never what other people tell you - if you’d listened to the majority on here to stay at home, you probably wouldn’t be here… get well soon x

What a thread! I'm glad you're in hospital, OP. That didn't sound sinister in my head, but you get my drift. Black poop, lack of urine, constant vomiting and diarrhoea and generally feeling like death warmed over are 100% worthy of A&E. I would say I'm shocked at the number of people who said to not bother with A&E given those symptoms, but it genuinely doesn't surprise me anymore. As for the poster who said that cases of D&V means you stay away applies to you if you work in a medical setting, yes, if you work in a medical setting. Honestly, stupidity knows no bounds. Wishing you a speedy recovery and you'll be back to your normal self in no time. Take it easy sweetheart 💐

Wishing you well OP.

Good luck OP. So glad posters here noted the red flags and gave you the right advice.

I came late to this thread, but was horrified that posters were saying not to go to A&E or ring 111.

Just to reiterate what others have said: black poo is a massive red flag, to be ignored at your peril.

I wonder if Mumsnet should have a list of medical red flags so they automatically pitch in when one comes up.

I am glad you are in the right place now OP and hope that you will be well again soon.

I think there are a couple of problems with advice :

• people with no medical knowledge literally don't know what they don't know and therefore can give dangerous advice
• trained HCPs are advising online with limited info which is also tricky
• it's an anonymous forum posters don't know which is which.

I think it's best if advising to identify oneself as a HCP or not ( I am) but also most of us will advise to seek medical attention unless it is literally something completely benign sounding and non urgent.

• some problems fall between GP OOH / 111 and immediate ambulance/ AE but at the very least phone 111 while deciding but never feel you are bothering anyone in AE if it's an emergency or severe illness as we would rather you present earlier than later.

Keep us updated OP we can help with medic talk/ jargon if needed x

I'm glad you're getting the help you need and hope you feel better soon.
But it is yet another example of doctors receptionists not knowing what they're talking about, I know she's ops mum but bloody hell.

Get well soon, op. I also thought of internal bleeding when I read your op re: black poo. Hope you’re ok 💐

@Mischance Agreed. And IMHO MN should ban posters who’ve given incorrect advice on this and other medical threads.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 1: TO ANYONE READING THIS THREAD IN FUTURE BLACK TARRY POO THAT SMELLS BAD IS CALLED MELENA. IT IS LIKELY TO BE A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS LIKE INTESTINAL BLEEDING. YOU NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION NOT A CAN OF COKE.

https://www.osmosis.org/answers/melena

Public service announcement 2: The OP has gone to hospital and is being treated for sepsis and a burst stomach ulcer.

I had something similar last year, I couldn’t even keep water down. I went gp and she said I had a “mish mash” of symptoms. I got tested for h pylori amongst other things and test was positive so I had treatment for that. She thinks it was some sort of virus coupled with h pylori that I must have had for a while that made it so bad

oops just see she has stomach ulcer