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?

sorry I meant to say, I’ve had calprotectin tests in the past which were thankfully negative so they’ve already ruled out crohns and other serious things like that.

I haven’t been eating very much because eating definitely flares it up, but even on an empty stomach I’m still getting the cramps and it’s still yellow and I definitely haven’t eaten anything yellow to change the colour😕

i was just so reluctant to get back in touch with 111 or anyone else because I don’t want to waste their time for an upset tummy when my tests in the hospital were fine last week. I’ll try and go to my GP this week if it’s not improved. Usually I eat loads but I’ve hardly had an appetite at all this past week, probably because I know as soon as I eat it sends my tummy crazy again!

is there any foods that are best for an upset tummy? I’ve tried things like rice, dry toast, banana, but everything is just going straight through me and causing really bad cramps. The only thing I’ve been persevering with is drinking water which even still makes it worse but obviously I want to drink so I’ve been persevering with that. I don’t think my body has ever gone this long without proper food, I usually eat like a horse!

sorry I meant to say, I’ve had calprotectin tests in the past which were thankfully negative so they’ve already ruled out crohns and other serious things like that.

I haven’t been eating very much because eating definitely flares it up, but even on an empty stomach I’m still getting the cramps and it’s still yellow and I definitely haven’t eaten anything yellow to change the colour😕

i was just so reluctant to get back in touch with 111 or anyone else because I don’t want to waste their time for an upset tummy when my tests in the hospital were fine last week. I’ll try and go to my GP this week if it’s not improved. Usually I eat loads but I’ve hardly had an appetite at all this past week, probably because I know as soon as I eat it sends my tummy crazy again!

is there any foods that are best for an upset tummy? I’ve tried things like rice, dry toast, banana, but everything is just going straight through me and causing really bad cramps. The only thing I’ve been persevering with is drinking water which even still makes it worse but obviously I want to drink so I’ve been persevering with that. I don’t think my body has ever gone this long without proper food, I usually eat like a horse!

Not sure why that posted 3 times!

Hello lovely @Watercolourpencils . Your yellow poo is bile travelling through your system too quickly, the film on the water and the smell are basically because your body is struggling to digest and process food properly. I have BAM (bile acid malabsorption) and get the same thing. The worst food is greasy so avoid that as much as possible.
Hopefully this is just a short term thing while your body is healing and it sounds like you are doing the right thing diet wise. I am on what is called binders to literally bind the bile and slow down the diarrhoea, hopefully you won’t need this but you may find Psyllium Husk tablets (a fibre capsule) which bulks up stools. It can in some circumstances make things worse but I think it is worth a try? Also some good probiotics to improve your gut health?

if you’re not improving by Tuesday perhaps try your GP again, stress you ended up in A and E following their last advice. Maybe you need something for the infection or to calm your bile acid.

I hope you feel so much better soon x

Thank you so much for all the advice, that’s really helpful😊 it’s good to know the yellow is normal (well not normal, but not serious like the black was!)

the sickness and cramps are still happening unfortunately and I feel like I’ve been run over 10 times by a double decker bus, but I think that’s probably just tiredness from barely being able to eat properly over the last week! I think I’ve probably had less than 600 calories in total over the last 6 days because after taking one bite I feel so much worse! I can’t wait to feel normal again!

A further thought, if you do end up returning to your GP ask if the blood tests you had done checked your liver and pancreas function. It is disorders of these organs that tend to be responsible for yellow poo/bile problems. If the pain eases when you are leaning forward it could indicate pancreatitis so if the pain continues or worsens I’m afraid it’s a trip back to A and E and they put you on a drip to sustain you whilst resting your system. Good luck x

Just posting a quick update!

unfortunately still feel rubbish so I’m going to contact the gp tomorrow to see if there’s something I can do or take to help this. Still getting cramps and horrible sickness/pain and I can’t eat anything without getting the awful diarrhoea. I’ve made sure to keep drinking water and I’ve tried with the sachets for after sickness/diarrhoea but for the last few days in particular I’ve just felt awful, it’s like a shakey and exhausted feeling. It’s like being run over by a train! Sometimes I get a bit of energy and I’m fine for a few hours, then the cramps start up again and it starts all over again

no idea if the gp will be able to recommended anything or if I just need to wait for it to pass but I’ll update once I’ve been to the gp x

Thank you so much for all the help and advice I really appreciate it x

Definitely wait for the GP recommendation but I had a terrible stomach bug with cramps and was recommended Buscopan which I found really helpful. Make sure you ask if it's appropriate to take first.

@Watercolourpencils you poor thing, you are really going through the mill. As pp had suggested Buscopan is an anti spasmodic and won’t do any harm, maybe an antacid too? Calm your tummy lining down? Good luck with the GP, let us know how you get on x

When you eat, where is the pain? Upper abdo? Left? Right? Around the navel? Down low? Are you vomiting? If so, how long after eating, and what is the vomit like? Has that ever been black or coffee ground-y?

do you live alone OP ?

Hi is are you doing OP? Did you manage to talk to the GP?

@Watercolourpencils
how did you get on?

Hope you’re feeling better OP @Watercolourpencils

How are you doing OP?

@Watercolourpencils how are you now? Hope you’re feeling better x