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?

Good Luck, I'm glad you've gone

It really wasn't.

Are you on the right thread @Scorchedterf ?

Do you regularly take ‘feminax’ or ibuprofen? These can cause irritation and bleeding in the stomach which could present as black stools.

Hope you're ok OP, well done for going in!

hope everything’s ok x

My first thought would be stomach ulcer. I hope all is OK OP x

Good point!

Hope you're ok OP.

I've briefly read the thread up to here. I hope all is OK OP

How you doing op? Hope you're ok.

Hope everything is ok OP

Ibuprofen would cause irritation to upper GI tract accompanied with indigestion.Long term it would cause malaena.

Mine looks like that the morning after red wine

call your local surgery and tell them no need to bother the hospital they have enough to deal with.

Dangerous in the extreme.
Are you always this gung ho with other peoples health or did you not bother to read the several comments from medical professionals advising OP to go to the hospital?

my advise would be to call 111 its a none emergency number they will be able to give the right advise they are the out of hours helpline.

I hope you are getting seen now op.

Then you'd be wrong. She's had multiple episodes of melaena. That means that until proven otherwise she has had a significant intestinal bleed. And the place to sort that out is the hospital. She can have urgent bloods done. If necessary she can have fluid resuscitation or even blood products. She can, if indicated, be urgently scoped. The GP can't sort any of that. And 111 would tell her to go to A&E (and if they didn't, then their algorithm needs changing).

I did not know that so sorry!

Exactly. Tbh your GPs surgery also sounds dreadful. Were tests carried out before the IBS "diagnosis".
You sound lovely OP but also like the kind of person who could be fobbed off easily.
It's now just engrained that you do not bother your GP, the NHS in general. Nice people like you take that to heart. If you live alone, as do many younger people (periods mentioned) there less witnesses/ advocates. Plus tbh had an awful GP whose philosophy seemed to be young, working full time, nothing wrong with you. Saw a different GP at same practice who was much better. This was back when you usually saw the same doctor.
People who did waste time continue to do so.
You are not one of them and worth so much more than this broken health system.

Just saw waiting list mentioned.

Bollocks, the NHS isnt free, we all pay for it.
OP, good luck to you, don't ever feel ashamed of seeking help.
Many people on here won't be happy until it costs 3K for an ambulance, USA style.

Very quick post as I’ve got low battery and I’m waiting on my charger being dropped off in the morning!

im so glad I listened to all the advice and went to get checked out just in case. The doctors and nurses have been so lovely and nobody has made me feel like an attention seeker.

my blood test showed that my red bloods were low (hemoglobin I think, can’t exactly remember) so I’m in overnight and I’ll speak to the consultant tomorrow. Could be nothing but I’m so glad I’m getting checked out.

thank you everyone for giving me a wake up call otherwise I would never have gone. The pain is a lot worse so I’m definitely glad I went. I’ll post an update once I’ve got one x

SO glad to read this OP and I hope you are better really soon.