To call nhs24 for diarrhoea

[Bouncingbelle]

I just feel like you only worry about diarrhoea in the under 5s & im being ridiculous. But - i've been having stomach cramps & bouts of the runs for over 18 hours. Im in agony & miserable. Have had over 50 bouts & its now just running out of me. Am also on waiting list for a transplant & cant even take my meds cos i feel so sick. But then again, what the hell could a dr do at this time of night? :(

You are waiting for a transplant and can't take your meds, call 111 for advice.

No one on here can really advise you without knowing why you are waiting on a transplant, what medication etc and even then you can claim to be anyone on the internet so its safer to call and check.

I agree, call 111 and they'll be able to assess the risks of missing your meds and what treatments you need accordingly. It'll most likely be triaged differently to a general diarrhoea issue given the circumstances.

Sorry you're so ill OP

Sounds pretty extreme, I think you would be perfectly reasonable to call for some advice. Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you. I called (and spoke to a nurse who asked "if i had a date for my heart transplant" but was otherwise very helpful) and a dr called me back but he just told me to drink more water & didnt even mention the transplant issue :( its going to be a long old night, glad mumsnet is here!

I'm sorry you are going through this. I'm here with you. Currently going through one of my was constipation now is diarrhoea episodes. Bathroom is my best friend.

Just water? If that was the doctor's advice then OK, best follow that (I'm not a doctor), but this also may be of interest.

The Rehydration Project has a recipe for home-made oral rehydration salts (water, sugar, salt) but this may conflict with the dietary advice you've been given relating to your future transplant (all good wishes for that by the way), in which case please ignore :)

If you have some table salt (half a level teaspoon) and some caster sugar (six* level teaspoons) and a litre of water you can make it yourself rehydrate.org/solutions/homemade.htm#recipe, then sip it over several hours. It's basically a home-made Dioralyte, doesn't taste particularly lovely.

*"A rough guide to the amount of salt is that the solution should taste no saltier than tears."

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Jo

Thank you. Transplant team are aware im not well & are ok with me not taking my tabs in the v short term. I was drinking diluted juice as i thought it was best to have something 'sweet' to keep rehydrated but apparently this could be making it worse & irritating my gut more :/ will keep the emergency rehydration mix in mind tho! Hope you feel better too @PotterHead1985, things always seem worse at night dont they :( just have eveeuthing crossed the toddler doesn't wake up with it too

Hi @Bouncingbelle have you a transplant coordinator you can ring, or open access to the ward? I think the GP is underplaying this, you require a transplant and he seems to have fobbed you off. I would be concerned that your bloods need checking. Yes push fluids, but please call 111 again and be persistent with them.

If you were critically ill they would have admitted to you. Do as the doctor says, hydrate and rest

Don't be afraid to call 111 back and start the conversation with "I have a heart problem, a medical condition and I feel very very unwell right now. I have had x episodes of very watery diarrhea." It's important to say the first bit first so that they identity this just an average Joe with an upset tummy.

I went a whole hour there without going to the toilet, then the pains were back as bad as ever & that was me again. Im trying really hard to stay hydrated but the tiniest sip of water triggers a waterfall of diarrhoea so im struggling. I'll try to get thru tonight & call the team again 1st thing but im worried about the effects of dehydration.

On the plus side (if there is a plus side) i've lost 2.5kg since yesterday

How are you feeling this evening?
What was your team's take on it?

Hi @Bouncingbelle how are you feeling today? Hopefully a lot better!
Sending you all the love in the world on your transplant journey. 💕

How are you my love?

Have you tried immodium?

Thank you all, feeling a bit better now (tho still off the transplant list temporarily). Ended up seeing a dr this morning & my bp & heart rate were actually holding up despite me being dehydrated so that was good. Been given tablets to stop the diarrhoea & have to go back tomorrow to get bloods/bp etc checked. Have honestly never experienced anything like it. Thank you for the good wishes re transplant - am hoping to be back on list by monday x

Incidentally, dr says i was right to see them given my other health condition so i dont feel guilty now!

Glad to hear that, OP.

What's a nasty experience for anyone must be far more concerning whilst you're dealing with an additional health complication such as yours.

Wishing you the very best of luck re transplant.

A week on & i'm now on my 3rd day in hospital about to get a probe to find out what is causing the horrendous stomach pain. Lesson being, contact a dr instead of procrastinating!

I hope it gets sorted and that things improve rapidly, you’re having a rotten time of it! 💐