To ask what the hell to do about my leaking arse!

[alittlebitembarrassing]

Exactly as the title says. Very crass but it is a literal pain in my arse and I’m starting to feel very unwell.

Backstory: I have inflammatory bowel disease and have had my large intestine removed. I had a stoma for 10 months and then a reversal surgery joining my small intestine to my rectum. I have mild proctitis left in my rectum.

A week ago, my anus started itching and leaking fluid. It has been getting worse and worse to the point I am leaking through my underwear to my clothes, I am uncomfortably wet all of the time and it is so painful to go to the toilet that I almost vomit from the pain and am just living by having cold baths.

The leaking is mucous, I’ve developed wounds on my bum cheeks from the dampness, and it is mixed with blood and green pus.

I developed abdominal pain with it two days ago so went to A&E who were useless, have referred me to gastro (no idea how long that will take), and told me my infection markers are raised so gave me antibiotics. Nothing else.

Today I have been on off sleeping and am feeling feverish and unwell in myself. When I was at A&E my heart rate was 120 and my blood pressure was high, but they said they weren’t concerned.

I am leaking massively to the point it’s not even just damp it is like water is pouring out of me.

I don’t want to waste another 8 hours in A&E to be sent home, but I’m feeling unwell in myself now, I can’t go to the toilet properly because it absolutely kills.

What do I do?!

Good luck today OP 🤞🏻

Glad you’ve managed to get to hospital and fingers crossed they can make you more comfortable and find out what’s going on. Before they discharge you get the number for the IBD nurse. Here’s a link to crohns and colitis nurse search. Hope you feel better soon
www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/support/find-an-ibd-nurse-specialist

So glad you've been looked after. Really hope you feel better soon!

Glad you're in the right place now, and being cared for.

I agree you should get a contact of some sort to be in touch with when things flare up. I've got a McMillian contact and it's been invaluable over the years. Partially, its just nice to know there is someone who knows my history to talk to if I'm concerned, and she's been great about getting me seen at short notice when needed. Hopefully there is an IBD nurse you can be 'linked to'.

@Borderterrierpuppy

Phone 111 or the gastro ward and demand to be seen by a medic, so sorry you are feeling so rough x

Should she do that from A and E where she currently is? If you had read the thread or at least the OP's posts you would know that.

phone 111 your symptoms will likely flag 'risk of sepsis' and they will send an ambulance to take you straight in (no waiting in the queue at A&E)

@beautifullymad

I'm sorry you are going through such a bad time with this. When A&E have sorted you out today you need an urgent referral to a colorectal specialist nurse. There is one attached to these services at your local hospital.

They provide you with specially adapted anal tampons in the first instance. As well as barriers to help the wound heal.

Your body is digesting your anus and surrounding skin. It will heal quickly once the leakage is controlled.

Once the damage and pain is under control they can look at long term strategies for the future.

Once you have seen the colorectal nurse you can phone them for advice in the future and be re-seen rapidly.

This should have been part of your discharge after surgery.

Just reposting this as it seems like really valuable information and it would be a shame for it to be lost amongst all the bickering.

Good luck OP, I really hope you are listened to and the medics can help you as best they can.

I used to work in ICU. The majority of our patients could text or talk on the phone. Even really very sick patients. It is no marker of whether someone is ill.

The OP was getting generalised pain from an open, contaminated wound that had no way of being cleaned because the contaminant was free flowing. The wound was in a warm, moist environment. That is a perfect recipe for sepsis.

Hope you're ok OP and getting the care you need.

Glad to hear you were seen quickly and hope you are feeling better today. Please insist that you have proper follow up as some of the pp have advised you. This seems like really good advice.

Hope you’re feeling better very soon op

Wishing you all the. luck OP xxx

I was fobbed off multiple times with an infection by 111 and A&E so know how it feels. They told me it was impossible that I had an infection, it didn't sound like I had symptoms, and they would not refer me anywhere. Even family said it sounded like the professionals must be right if that's what they were saying...Had to pay to go private after 3 days of worsening symptoms and the doctor was horrified, I was in the beginning stages of sepsis, they rang me an ambulance from the clinic and I was in hospital for a week

Let this be a lesson to everyone, DO NOT accept it if people are ignoring you and you know something is wrong

I hope you're feeling better very soon op. Glad you're being looked after now x

@mam0918

phone 111 your symptoms will likely flag 'risk of sepsis' and they will send an ambulance to take you straight in (no waiting in the queue at A&E)

If you had bothered to read anything more than the OP, too would know that she has done that.

@alittlebitembarrassing

My surgical team discharged me a while ago so I no longer have a consultant. I have been ‘referred’ to gastro multiple times but nothing has ever come of it.

Even though you are discharged , call the secretary of your last consultant, call the number on your letters, ask for the secretary, be sweet as pie to get through. Tell her what's happening. Get her to put it to the team and see what happens, tell her you are desperate and so ill.

How are you doing OP? Sounds grim. Hope you are getting some urgent help xx

Hope you get sorted OP

I'm glad you're getting sorted, hope you feel better soon

So glad you are finally getting some help. Keep us updated as your treatment. I.hopr not sepsis. Where in country are you op?

Sepsis IS a medical emergency - in our area we have first responders who come round in cars, so they could do an initial triage in the OP's home and then a full blown ambulance could potentially attend. There was no problem at all with the OP calling an ambulance. Thank goodness her partner was able to take her in the end.

OP I hope you are feeling much better.

I do wish people would stop telling others how to use the NHS. We all pay for it via our taxes and we are entitled to use it.

Jesus OP that sounds horrific! Glad you're at the hospital, i wish you a speedy recovery

I also suspect a fistula. You need to be examined by a surgeon and may need an MRI. Either get your GP to refer you back to your original team or get a new referral ASAP.

Your stoma nurse may be able to help.

Sorry ignore I missed the updates that you are at the hospital.

How are you OP? I've been thinking of you all night/morning.