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AIBU?

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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:
Owwlie · 25/04/2022 14:45

I would phone 111 OP. Who was it at your doctor surgery who told you to get Imodium from the pharmacy? That seems like really bad advice as they don’t know what it is. If it was a receptionist they definitely shouldn’t be giving out medical advice.

111 in my area can get you an appointment with a walk in centre/urgent care centre. Phone them and see what they say. You will most likely be sent to a&e but you probably do need to be seen today.

lanthanum · 25/04/2022 14:47

Watercolourpencils · 25/04/2022 14:19

quick update - phoned up and spoke to someone at my GPs. Unfortunately they didn’t have any appointments left for today but they said if I call tomorrow morning they’ll try and book me in for a phone call tomorrow, they were really understanding about the problem though and I feel better after calling (and I didn’t feel like an attention seeker which I was worried about!)

They said I could get some immodium from the pharmacy for in the meantime, I’ll go and pick some up now.

Did you speak to a doctor or the receptionist? From what people are saying here, this may be an A&E job. If a doctor has said not, fair enough, but if it was just a receptionist trying to keep you calm, I think I'd go to A&E.

Original poster
Watercolourpencils · 25/04/2022 14:50

They recommended Immodium after I asked is there anything I can do to control it until tomorrow, i had been having diarrhoea in the days leading up to this (just typical ibs though nothing unusually bad) and although this isn’t fully liquid diarrhoea, it’s definitely not a normal solid poo either. It’s extremely soft and looks like puree with lumps or gritty stuff in it. Like when food gets put in the blender and blended but not fully liquid. It’s extremely sticky though and i had to go for a shower to clean myself properly because wiping physically won’t get it off. Obviously I didn’t go until all those horrible details on the phone because that’s definitely too much gross information! They recommended going to the pharmacy to get immodium or buscopan because I explained it was black and diarrhoea-like. I think they said to call 111 if it gets worse and I become unwell. I’m going to the pharmacy now so I’ll see what they recommend taking x

OP posts:
PademelonFelon · 25/04/2022 14:57

Was the person you spoke to at your GP surgery medically trained?

Singlebutmarried · 25/04/2022 14:57

Don’t do the immodium. Whatever is in there needs to come out.

GP is not IMO the right move for this. I would be going via 111 with a view to hospital (crohns sufferer so used to all things poo) and this is one of the times I would take myself off to a and e.

StellaAndCrow · 25/04/2022 15:00

If it's sticky like tar, I'd either phone NHS 24 or go straight to A+E. Keep highlighting that symptom - black stick stools like tar.

The risk is it could be a bleed from the stomach - further bleeding could occur and you could collapse from blood loss. Are you feeling faint/dizzy/palpitations/fast heart rate/pale?

StellaAndCrow · 25/04/2022 15:01

I'm concerned whoever you spoke to at GP just heard that it's your IBS/IBD playing up, and that you wanted something to stop the diarrhoea.

Bagelsandbrie · 25/04/2022 15:01

Don’t take the immodium. If you have bleeding in the bowel the last thing you want to do is create some sort of blockage. I think you need to go to A and E.

MadeForThis · 25/04/2022 15:03

Can you call A&E?

Xpologog · 25/04/2022 15:03

Sounds like blood from somewhere in your digestive system, could be stomach or anywhere along intestines. Personally I wouldn’t take Imodium. I think you need blood test ( you’ll have lost iron, I needed 3 units transfusion) and camera to see where bleed is and state if it. Don’t panic, I’m a total wimp and the procedure was very simple, painless and the staff were lovely, very understanding that I was nervous.
I think you’re best going to A&E.

moderntile · 25/04/2022 15:03

Bagelsandbrie · 25/04/2022 15:01

Don’t take the immodium. If you have bleeding in the bowel the last thing you want to do is create some sort of blockage. I think you need to go to A and E.

Agree!

Buscopan isn’t for this either.

LaMarschallin · 25/04/2022 15:03

Obviously I didn’t go until all those horrible details on the phone because that’s definitely too much gross information!

That is the sort of information they need, though.
It sounds like you haven't given all the appropriate info to whoever you spoke to which might be why you ended up with the Immodium advice.

If you've Googled this, then you must know that bleeding from the stomach could cause these stools and, if you haven't, you've been told here by PPs.
You probably do need to go to A&E, imo.

cakewench · 25/04/2022 15:07

The details of the poo are what they need to hear, otherwise it's just you saying you have diarrhea and that's not a concern.

If you do go to the pharmacy, tell them the details, they might be able to give some basic advice here? Speak to the pharmacist directly.

Horcruxe · 25/04/2022 15:09

I think you need to bite the bullet and go to A and E

Ringing 111 is just going to cause an extra few hours wait until you are triage and they are going to say the same thing.

Sunnierdays · 25/04/2022 15:10

Don’t mess around, either insist on speaking with the GP, why you were prescribed Imodium I have no idea!! Or go to AE , as others have stated this can be a sign of an internal bleed and needs checking !!

itsmeagainlol · 25/04/2022 15:13

For goodness sake stop advising the op to go against their doctors advice. No way is a receptionist going to give medical advice based on symptoms. Do what you've been told. If possible take a sample with you to the appointment. It does sound to me as though you will need more testing and a sample sent for old blood If positive you will be put on a pathway to full investigations again.

itsmeagainlol · 25/04/2022 15:13

For goodness sake stop advising the op to go against their doctors advice. No way is a receptionist going to give medical advice based on symptoms. Do what you've been told. If possible take a sample with you to the appointment. It does sound to me as though you will need more testing and a sample sent for old blood If positive you will be put on a pathway to full investigations again.

PademelonFelon · 25/04/2022 15:16

@itsmeagainlol You don't know it wasn't the receptionist that gave the advice, just like posters don't know it wasn't the GP that gave the advice. The OP has admitted she left out crucial details.

This could be a medical emergency and hopefully the pharmacist realises that and advises on A and E. It's really not normal a doctor would advise waiting with the symptoms the OP shared on this thread.

ladydimitrescu · 25/04/2022 15:19

Don't take Imodium - all you're going to do is hung yourself up and you'll need a stool sample for an appointment.

ladydimitrescu · 25/04/2022 15:20

Don't take Imodium - all you're going to do is hung yourself up and you'll need a stool sample for an appointment.

ladydimitrescu · 25/04/2022 15:20

Not sure why I've double posted - apologies!

Moppincraxy · 25/04/2022 15:23

I think in your embarrassment you haven't given the receptionist the full picture and as a result you have been advised wrongly. Please go to A&E. I've had a stomach ulcer recently and the GP said that if I vomited blood or had black stools to go to A&E immediately.

SiennaSienna · 25/04/2022 15:24

A&E

Original poster
Watercolourpencils · 25/04/2022 15:24

Sorry I’ve been so vague, I genuinely didn’t mean to be, my phone has 5% battery so I’ve been trying to avoid using it but I’m home now so it’s on the charge!

i did explain it all to the person on the phone, I just meant I didn’t go in to all the gory details about not being able to wipe it off and having to shower. I explained it was black and totally different to normal and diarrhoea-like though.

just back from the pharmacy aswell, they told me to call back and insist on being given an appointment. They were definitely not keen on giving me immodium- they said they could if I absolutely wanted to stop it but that ideally I need to take a sample of it first to be tested x

OP posts:
Moppincraxy · 25/04/2022 15:26

Please go to A&E.