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?

I hope you are on your way to hospital and get seen quickly.

Glad you've gone to A&E.

Im not a medical person but taking diarrhoea tablets in your case seems like a very bad idea. I'm surprised the doctor's receptionist advised it. 111 or A&E.

Really glad you're going to A&E. That looks like melaena, so you're having significant bleeding into your guts. If your arm or leg had bled that much, you'd have been in A&E hours ago. Holes hosing blood into your guts are just as serious as those hosing blood onto the floor.

Stomach ulcers can cause granule like stools and vomit.

H Pylori infections cause ulcers, I wonder how many people get seriously ill because of infections like this due to NHS inability or unwillingness to treat chronic infections combined with the indoctrination of people thinking they mustn’t ask for help, protect the NHS, don’t be attention seeking, etc

111 will actually make you an appointment at A&E so you don’t have to sit and wait for hours. If it’s grainy it’s concerning.

Hope everything is ok at A&E

My partner had this situation and she went to hospital and they found out it was stomach ulcers - diagnosed with endoscopy. She got put on daily omaprozole. Good luck hope you get answers soon

Good luck OP

Glad you are in the right place now.

Maybe it's just the photo (it's difficult to tell from a photo vs in person) but the poo on the toilet paper looks just like the wet coffee grounds that a pp described.

I'm very glad you're on the way to A&E and I hope you get some answers soon.

You don’t need to keep apologising OP. No one will think you’re an attention seeker, glad you’re getting checked. Hope all turns out well x

I’m a doctor. You need to go to A and E tonight.
you know what you saw , you don’t need a sample.
just go….

Good luck op

No one thinks you're attention seeking @Watercolourpencils , quite the opposite! It's just worrying when someone urgently needs seen in A&E and they don't go. Even if it turns out to be nothing, your symptoms warranted a visit. Glad to see you have gone there now, I hope everything is okay!

I hope you get sorted soon, you’ve definitely done the right thing.
Let us know how you get on.

Honestly - it’s digested blood that’s why it’s so black . You need to go to A and E definitely

glad to see you have gone ! Keep us posted really hope you ok

I have a tummy condition and like many have said black tar like stools, sometimes sticky with mucus are really common when taking iron tablets, supplementary liquids etc. Also eating a lot of dairy rich foods can cause issues. If you have any pain I would definitely ask to be seen to make sure. Feel better OP 🌻

Glad you're getting checked out. Good luck

Hope you get seen quickly and it’s something easily treatable.

Glad you're going

Hope your ok OP
it might be a H. pylori infection which you will need strong antibiotics to treat. It’s good you have a sample as they will be able to test for this and other infections. Try not to worry !

Hope you get answers