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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:
amusedbush · 25/04/2022 15:59

Oh and as an aside, I rarely go to the GP (touch wood) but when I phoned up a couple of months ago to say that my new ADHD meds were making me feel like my chest was going to explode, I was told to go up to the surgery immediately and the locum saw me without an appointment.

If something is urgent, they will see you whether there are appointments or not. Mr Smith's eczema can wait another 15 minutes if you have internal bleeding!

lovemelongtime · 25/04/2022 16:01

i wouldn't take imodium - that will just block you up (unless of course you got really bad diarrhea) but it didn't sound like that was the problem. Blocking yourself up wont do you any good - esp if something is wrong in your bowels.

BrinksmansEntry · 25/04/2022 16:03

Phone NHS24 or 111 if you need a reassurance that you aren't time wasting with a trip straight to A+E.

They can triage you to a certain extent or advise if you can wait to your GP appointment or if you need to go in now for medical attention.

Your worry of time wasting is stopping you from taking yourself seriously.

You've said yourself you don't feel right. That you are concerned, you've had a change in bowel movements and that the pharmacist was recommending medical help.

Please follow their advice.

Chip22 · 25/04/2022 16:04

Hi OP,
I’m a GP, please go to A&E now, don’t wait until tomorrow

NewBootsAndRanty · 25/04/2022 16:05

Please go to a and e. You don't need to have a temperature etc, you have enough worrying symptoms without that to make this urgent. They won't see you as a time waster or attention seeker at all.
I'd rather get checked out than potentially die because of my embarrassment...

bellabasset · 25/04/2022 16:06

I'm pleased you were given good advice by the surgery so hopefully you've been sent to the hospital for an endoscopy.My dh had a bleeding ulcer when this happened to him and he was kept in overnight

lborgia · 25/04/2022 16:06

OP, you NEED to go. This is important.

Meanwhile, what do you think constitutes an attention seeker? I think if you asked an A&E doctor, they would say, someone who comes in regularly, as in 3 or 4 times in quick succession, especially if it’s with a different complaint every time.

When were you last at the hospital?!

Dodie66 · 25/04/2022 16:09

Please go to A&E. My dad had black stools. They sent an ambulance to take him to be checked. It can be bleeding in your stomach that can be serious. They said we did the right thing

EmpressSuiko · 25/04/2022 16:10

OP you won’t be seen as an attention seeker, you need to go to A&E now, this isn’t something you should be burying your head in the sand over. You need to be seen in person by a medical professional!

IAmAWomanNotACis · 25/04/2022 16:10

If we can't convince you to go to A&E (and you should), will you speak to or use the website for 111 please? I used them yesterday and it was really helpful. It's purpose is literally for if you're not sure if you need medical attention and/or how urgently you need it. Please use the 111 website or call them.

StellaAndCrow · 25/04/2022 16:10

I feel for you - it's horrible when you feel ill and don't know what it is. And trying to navigate the NHS and not do the wrong thing.

Bleeding can cause anaemia - that can make you tired, short of breath, palpitations. It's the tarry stickiness that is making it sound like blood from your stomach/upper intestine. Things like beetroot/charcoal/iron/bismuth etc cause colour change but don't tend to cause texture like this.

I'd suggest try phoning GP, say you've tried pharmacist and they said it sounded like bleeding ulcer was possible and suggested you ask for urgent appointment. If they don't have any urgent appointments (they might not) they should be able to suggest what to do to get seen urgently. In England you would either ring 111 and they would advise attending A+E, or you can attend A+E directly. Walk in centres may not be able to help as they don't always have medical staff, so they also might direct you to A+E.

Hope you get sorted and feel better. xx

Easilystartled · 25/04/2022 16:10

Op, for goodness sake, get yourself down to a&e now. Do not wait to see if it happens again. You will not be considered an attention seeker or a time waster with the symptoms you’ve described. Trust me, people go for far less and still are taken seriously. Good luck.

ittakes2 · 25/04/2022 16:12

You’ve been told to go to a&e for a reason - exactly what do you think a gp can do urgently? The only urgent thing they can do is send you to a&e so cut out the middle person and just go!

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 25/04/2022 16:16

Fgs op please listen to everyone and go, don’t martyr yourself on the cross of ‘I didn’t want to seem like a time waster’

StrongTea · 25/04/2022 16:16

Better to go to a&e now than get carted off in an ambulance when you collapse.

FrankLeeSpeaking · 25/04/2022 16:16

You wouldn't be attention seeking or wasting time.
A+E is there for people who are, or potentially are, very unwell and/or who need immediate medical attention, which you may do.
Never feel bad about seeking medical help.

IStandWithMaya · 25/04/2022 16:16

Sounds like an upper GI bleed.

monarchoftheglen · 25/04/2022 16:16

A&E, now.

Lovemypeaceandquiet · 25/04/2022 16:18

im not sure no one is going to call you a time waster for going to A&E with suspected GI bleed @Watercolourpencils . Honestly, it’s better to be safe than seriously ill.

Jackdawface · 25/04/2022 16:20

@Watercolourpencils stop worrying what people think. You have a symptom that could be indicative of something that needs urgent care. Stop overthinking. 💐

whenwilliwillibefamous · 25/04/2022 16:21

Put it this way OP, if you take up more than 2 minutes of their time once you get seen at A&E, that means your symptom is NOT obviously harmless.
On the other hand, if they immediately recognise it as something yukky but not dangerous you'll have taken up no time at all.
So you won't cause any issues with the NHS by going to A&E with something that could be a symptom of internal bleeding.

Nocutenamesleft · 25/04/2022 16:22

Horcruxe · 25/04/2022 15:58

If there isnt any appointments it means there isnt any appointments.
Though maybe they meant no routine appointments.

If you dont want to go to A and E.

Ring 111. But they will send you to A and E. And the later you leave it the busier A and E will be.

Show quote history

They have a duty of care. Regardless of whether there is any appointments

Soultrader · 25/04/2022 16:22

Can everyone stop bullying the op? The pharmacist has told her what to do.

RosyappleA · 25/04/2022 16:26

Go to A&E, although you have no other symptoms when those other symptoms show up and look textbook, it can be too late. I have a medical background and have cared for a chronically ill family member. Black poo is an indication of a serious problem. Black is old blood. NHS 111 will tell you to go to A&E. GP may send off a sample and blood tests and tell you to go to A&E if you feel worse judging by if your other observations are all normal. This can be caused by an ulcer, liver problem. A&E is normally full of people who don’t need to be there, but you are not one of them in this case as this is unusual for you.

Moppincraxy · 25/04/2022 16:30

Possible internal bleeding is a medical emergency. You might not feel "ill enough" to go to A&E but by the time you feel ill enough it could be too late. Not trying to scare you but please believe that this is a medical emergency. A GP on this thread has told you to go to A&E and, as I said, my own GP told me that if I vomited blood or had black stools to go to A&E immediately.