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?

Oh good grief. How many more hours is this going to go on for? STOP posting on MN and go to A&E while you still can!

It doesn’t matter that it’s dark brown, your stools are not normal, they are tar like and dark in colour, that still means you need to get to a&e for it to be tested and for you to be looked at.

Attention seeking or time wasting is going to A&E with a broken nail or bad hay fever. I refer to these both as they are genuine cases I have seen to in A&E.

I am a nurse. Seeking emergency advice for black, tarry stools is not attention seeking. What’s annoying is when you rock up 24 hours later in a complete heap because you wouldn’t come in to be seen. Not much a GP can do either. That stool needs to get to the lab and you need some imaging pronto

Please go to A&E, no one will think you’re an attention seeker.
You have what is potentially a medical emergency and you need it investigated. The way you’ve been feeling recently is an indicator that you’re not well.
my mother had black tarry sticky stools, she didn’t tell anyone until I noticed how pale she was, she also had cracks to the corners of her mouth. I called her doctor and he advised a blood test that morning which showed she was extremely anaemic, the lab rang her doctor with the results as they were concerned at how low her iron count was, her doctor sent an ambulance and she was in hospital having blood transfusions that same day.

OP several medics on here have told you to go to.A&E including an A&E doctor.

Just go, please

Going to go to A&E right now. Honestly, I wasn’t meaning to upset or annoy anyone, I just wanted to convince myself it was nothing. Maybe it is but I suppose I won’t know until I’ve had it checked. I’ll update once I’m there. Sorry again everyone, I’m a bit of a nervous person and I didn’t want to be a time waster or attention seeker especially with how busy things are atm. I’ll update when I’ve had it checked

Yeah, A&E

OP - Don't worry about anyone else but yourself right now; I am glad you are going to A and E and hope it is resolved quickly for you whilst there (with nice attitudes shown to you).

Good luck

You're doing the right thing.

PLEASE phone 111 or go to A&E NOW. I am not trying to frighten you, but this happened to me and I ended up in intensive care and I nearly died. Please get some help
**

hope everything goes ok!!

I’ve only just seen this so I’m hoping that as per your post above you are indeed on your way to A and E . I was a nurse on a surgical many years ago looking after vascular and gastro patients .. and was the stoma link nurse
Your stools are not normal and bleeding within the GI tract will present like this , I’m wondering if you’ve had any tests or investigations regarding your ongoing bowel issues prior to this . Please make sure you give them your full medical history regarding the IBS symptoms . Good luck OP

There is a difference between a 'genuine' time waster and someone who is 'genuinely' worried and staff know the difference
In future stop second guessing yourself, be brave and go straight away!
Hope they've got you sorted now

Go

Glad the pharmacist wouldn't give you Immodium tbh. Like others, I think you should go to A&E

Good luck op! Don’t be nervous, you need to put yourself and your health first, I hope it all goes well for you!

I am glad you are going to A&E. GP receptionists should not be giving you medical advice. Only except advice from trained medical staff like GP, A&E or 111.

I would imagine that if the blackness is caused by bleeding, they would say immodium because It slows the contraction of the bowels meaning you go less often. This would prevent too much blood being lost (I'm not a doctor just my guess.)

Hope you're okay OP ♥️

Good luck OP. Fingers crossed for you… x

Hope all goes well OP. You are absolutely doing the right thing!

Hope you can get some answers at the hospital. Best of luck x

No, the blood loss has already occurred into the bowel. It's no longer circulating. This is known as internal bleeding.

Apparently it is so they can get you the right doctor or nurse..

If it happened once I'd probably ignore it, but multiple times over several days does need checking out by professionals so I'm glad you're going to A&E.
Not sure if they're still doing it but in our area if 111 advised attending A&E they were able to book appointments.