PLEASE HELP What do I do ? GP ? NHS24 ? A&E?!

[Watercolourpencils]

Posted yesterday but posting again sorry

for the last day I’ve been passing stools that are very dark- possibly black- and extremely sticky. It started randomly yesterday (without any cramps or vomiting) and has continued again this morning and this afternoon.

I don’t have any other symptoms but for context, I have IBS and get bad diarrhoea a lot. I sometimes get bleeding but it’s usually red. I’m on the waiting list to see the hospital for this. My blood tests and poo tests and piles/fissure exams were all normal.

I very rarely get black stools but for the last day it’s been really bad. It’s extremely dark, strange looking texture (possibly gritty but im not sure) and very sticky.

I have absolutely no idea what to do. I tried to contact my GP earlier but couldn’t get through. Im worried that im starting to seem like an attention seeker with all these symptoms yet my tests are all normal, but I know im not imagining this poo. It’s definitely black.

what do I do in this situation? Do I keep trying to get through to the doctors? Or do I call NHS 24? I don’t want to make it a bigger deal than it is but im starting to get worried about it because it’s still black today and not just a one off last light.

I spoke to my parents who insisted on NHS24 but I don’t want to be a timewaster when I don’t have any other symptoms

I’ll keep trying to get through to the GP for an appointment today but im starting to get worried in case I can’t get through. It’s a good surgery but just really busy but that’s not their fault so I’ll keep trying to call.

Has anyone been in this situation before or have any advice?

Very glad to hear this OP. You were wise to go.

Another nurse here-my ward is mostly upper gastrointestinal stuff. I’ll just add my voice to the many who have said that you have 100% done the right thing. Low Hb levels are one of the best indicators that there’s been a bit of a GI bleed. In Oz if you’re having trouble getting to sleep (ED is a noisy place!) and need a hand hold x

Hope you get some answers to everything today and are feeling better soon 💐

Good to see your update OP. and you’ve been admitted. You are as worthy of medical treatment as anyone else.

Wishing you all the best, OP. Hopefully today brings explanations and the care you need to feel better. So glad you went to A&E.

Glad you went and are being taken care of. Definitely the right call. Wishing you well.

Glad you are getting treatment OP but once this is sorted please look into your anxiety.

To come to a forum for medical advice rather than doing something directly yourself like going to A&E or calling 111 is not wise

Your health is the most important thing and sometimes time wasted can be the difference between success and failure. Fortunately that has not been the case this time but something to keep in mind

I’m so pleased you were brave and went and dealt with this, well done. Hopefully they can get you sorted and you’ll be feeling much better soon. Let us know how you get on x

To come to a forum for medical advice rather than doing something directly yourself like going to A&E or calling 111 is not wise

I think you maybe missed the post where OP phoned GP and was told no appointment available and they should go to chemist for Immodium. OP did everything right, her GP practice let her down.

Thank goodness. Glad you are getting looked after.

It sounds like it’s lucky the op did come here, tbh.

Hope you’re being looked after now @Watercolourpencils

Glad you're being seen.

Get well soon 💐@Watercolourpencils

@Womencanlift tell that to the the GP Receptionist who advised getting Imodium!

I've only come across this now but I'm so glad you did in fact seek advice here. The NHS has gone to hell and anyone who would suggest immodium for black stool needs to not be giving advice to patients. Please write down any questions and/or new symptoms you may have between now and when a doctor comes to give you what I call a 'friendly' interrogation. You get so bogged down trying to give accurate answers that everything flies out of your head. It's like a bombardment. So write the questions down such as pain, where it is, whether anything makes it worse, eating, drinking, frequency of passing stools etc. It can make me cry sometimes as I feel so stressed being interrogated.

Would you not have more symptoms than dark coloured stools if you had a bleed though? I get very dark coloured poo when I drink red wine.

I'm glad you are being checked out, OP.

Let us know how you get on. We're all rooting for you!

So glad you're in the right place.
It's quite a serious symptom so never think you're wasting time
Hope you feel more comfortable very soon

you can get dark coloured stool from red wine /blueberries/ beetroot /iron tablets. the difference is malaena (digested blood in poo) tends to be tarry/sticky/smells different its not the same consistency as normal poo.

Hope you're ok op

OP suffers with IBD so is at risk from GI bleeds

OP suffers with IBD so is at risk from GI bleeds

Glad to hear you are in and being checked out OP.

When everything is sorted please speak to your GP Practice manager to establish who you spoke to and why they were giving out such terrible medical advice. If it was the receptionist, she needs training to make sure she doesn't give medical advice to anyone else!

Please post back when you know more what is happening.

Well done @Watercolourpencils