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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

317 replies

Watercolourpencils · 25/04/2022 13:16

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?

OP posts:
Whulfc86 · 26/04/2022 18:57

Glad your getting seen, hope they find the issue!

nocoolnamesleft · 26/04/2022 19:30

Hope today brought you some answers.

impossible · 26/04/2022 21:32

Glad you got yourself to A&E and are being taken seriously. Hope you get sorted.

SayCheeseBoris · 26/04/2022 21:51

Glad to read that you went to get seen to OP, I think I'd have been the same as you and thought it wasn't urgent enough for A&E but glad to know now that it is definitely something that needs attention.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

crabb · 27/04/2022 08:03

Hi, @Watercolourpencils , I hope you’re doing well and feeling better. Are you still in hospital? It’s been a scary ride for you.

MuchuseasaChocolateTeapot · 27/04/2022 12:50

How are you OP?

Lovingmylife · 27/04/2022 15:35

How are you op?

whatisheupto · 27/04/2022 18:23

Hope you're OK OP. Send an update if you can x

Greywhippet · 27/04/2022 19:25

Hope the OP is Ok?

AMBE123 · 28/04/2022 04:43

OP please post, and hope you are ok

Myfootfeckinghurts · 28/04/2022 14:48

Hope you’re ok OP x

Passthewinebottle · 28/04/2022 19:13

Really hope all is ok OP & you're able to come back & let us know x

Original poster
Watercolourpencils · 28/04/2022 19:56

Hi! I’m so sorry for not posting back for so long. Thank you so much everyone for being so nice. I’m absolutely fine now and am thankfully home and out of hospital. Everyone there was so lovely but I was just so desperate to get home!

The first few doctors and consultants when I first went in said the blood tests were low and wasn’t keen for me to go before getting the scope but the other doctor I saw later said it was actually normal for iron to be low in younger women so he wasn’t concerned about that which was a relief. I’ve never had low iron before but he said periods can cause it. I had an endoscope down into my stomach which is fine thankfully.They said the black poos and cramps are probably an infection somewhere underneath my stomach so thankfully nothing serious although I feel bad for causing all the fuss for what turned out to be nothing!
the doctor discharging me said the blackness and cramps should stop in a week or so.

thanks so much everyone for all the help and advice! 💐

OP posts:
Juniper68 · 28/04/2022 20:02

If they don't stop what have they advised?

MuchuseasaChocolateTeapot · 28/04/2022 20:08

That sounds very promising, you didn’t bother them for nothing, it was of genuine concern and you were right to go. Make sure you follow up if it doesn’t improve! So pleased 😀

thecurtainsofdestiny · 28/04/2022 20:23

Am glad you are ok.

PenelopeLively · 28/04/2022 21:08

Glad you’re ok op.

IStandWithMaya · 28/04/2022 22:06

Thanks for updating OP.

CorsicaDreaming · 28/04/2022 22:30

You absolutely were not causing a fuss for nothing OP - they definitely would not keep you in at hospital unless they had significant concerns.

I'm glad you are back home and hopefully on the mend 💐

It may be worth having a follow up appointment with your own GP in a few days, too. Just to talk it through and be sure all is okay and checked out.

You are absolutely entitled to health care and you are not wasting time or being attention seeking by getting it. Far better to check things out early than wait until it's really bad if there is a next time.

lborgia · 29/04/2022 02:13

I know it’s the not the point of the thread, but tell me they gave you a plan for upping your iron?

drives me mad, just because it’s common, doesn’t mean it’s OK to have low iron!

Once you are feeling better, find yourself some decent iron supplements, so important!

Etinoxaurus · 29/04/2022 03:03

What was the plan for upping your iron and treating the infection?

From what you’ve written I’d not be happy.
Stop being so polite and grateful and take someone to the GP with you if you can’t advocate on your own behalf.

WouldBeGood · 29/04/2022 03:07

It’s not been nothing @Watercolourpencils , it sounds horrible. Are you on any treatment now, and is follow up planned?

SleepyRich · 29/04/2022 03:44

Etinoxaurus · 29/04/2022 03:03

What was the plan for upping your iron and treating the infection?

From what you’ve written I’d not be happy.
Stop being so polite and grateful and take someone to the GP with you if you can’t advocate on your own behalf.

Not necessarily, most infections will settle themselves without treatment if the Doctor felt antibiotics were required they'd prescribe them. Otherwise you're just getting all the side-effects of antibiotics without any benefit.

Regards the Iron supplement common adverse effects include: Constipation, Diarrhoea, Epigastric pain. Faecal impaction, Gastrointestinal irritation. Nausea. There's a reason it takes so long to qualify as a Doctor and then even more years to get to consultant level, it's often not as simple as reading a test result in isolation and prescribing a tablet to take for it.

By all means it might be you're reviewed in future and trailed with a supplement if you're anaemic/cause dependent but don't be made to feel because a consultant hasn't given you any tablets today you've been neglected or you've somehow let yourself down for demanding a treatment which they apparently didn't feel was indicated.

Moppincraxy · 29/04/2022 08:28

The thing is, it does make it hard to trust doctors if you've experienced poor care/treatment/diagnosis in the past. If I had trusted doctors unequivocally I would be dead from cancer, DS would have died from a silent burst appendix and DD would most likely have been stillborn. So unfortunately I find myself questioning everything I'm told my medical professionals as they have got it so wrong in the past. Sometimes you do need to push and question for the sake of your own health.

peridito · 29/04/2022 09:13

Am I the only person who has never come across what sounds like an infection in the intestines/bowel resulting in blackish sticky poo ?

I'm in my 70's so surprised that I've not come across this before.

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