To go to A&E? I’m desperate.

[Havanawinter]

Early hours of Saturday morning (48 hours ago) I woke with the worst stomach cramps. I’ve been pooing liquid ever since, over 50 times a day. I can’t keep anything in. I haven’t been sick but I feel sick. It’s getting no better, the stomach cramps are indescribable, I can’t even lie down they’re so awful. I feel like death and I’m scared of dehydration. Do I call 111? Go to A&E? DH meant to be away in London for work tomorrow and I have 2 young kids by myself. I need help.

Sounds horrid, poor you.

I would call 111 (not least because I'm guessing you won't want to travel far unless you have to!).

Fee better soon.

Sounds like covid , I had this same thing and there are a couple of threads about this going round , although some people had it but had negative tests .
I had it tue to sat and it was awful
it seems to have settled now though , I don’t think a and e will be able to help , but I do know how horrendous it is
x

Not sure what a&e could do and you'd wait hours , not great if you have the runs. 111 a bit useless
Drink millions of water to rehydrate and flush out the bugs , I'm sure it will pass soon

as usual plenty of fluids and paracetamol, don’t know if you should take diorlyre or not , maybe check with a pharmacist/111

Your DH can’t be away if you can’t care for the DC.

Call 111 if you haven’t already.

Keep hydrated.

Thanks all, I’ve just got myself in such a tizz with it being the middle of the night and DH asleep. Will call 111. I have honestly never felt this awful in my life. Will also do a covid test

I've had similar but with vomiting. Looking back as was pre kids it was like labour pains and presume food poisoning but it passed.

When you have water lay down and stay laying down even if it means drinking out of a beaker. Tried and tested by the way!

Can try 111.

Er, I'd go to a and e personally

So you have an all night pharmacy near you? If so, id send you'd dh out for diarolyte, immodum and possibly buscopan.

Definitely need to get some rehydration salts in you. Nausea is a symptom of dehydration too so no doubt you'll be feeling sick from that too by now. Keep sipping or sucking on ice if you can, 111 definitely but if you get worse I'd consider a&e.

Do you have any tenderness or pain (cramps aside)?

Leg cramps are a sign of dehydration too btw.

I wouldn't go to A&E for this. You haven't had an accident and it isn't an emergency. Surely you wouldn't be able to get yourself there and wait hours, if you need the toilet so frequently? Phone for advice. I think they'll give you advice on self-care and tell you to call your GP if symptoms persist beyond 24 hours. Your dh will have to look after the children if you can't.

@GobbolinoTheWitchesCat the only other pain I have is a headache but I’ve chalked that up to lack of sleep and dehydration.

Exactly this

Try and get hold of some Imodium , you don't need a&e at the moment. Drink lots

I wouldn’t go to A&E personally, from a practical perspective having diarrhoea in a hospital waiting room for 6 hours would be awful

Just try and keep hydrated, feel better soon

Don’t use Imodium, let your body flush out the bug

www.nhs.uk/conditions/dehydration/

The NHS offers advice as to when to go to a&e with dehydration.

You have my complete sympathy, as someone with a gastric condition I know well the misery you describe and you must be feeling awful right now.

None of know what's causing your symptoms and the cause can also determine whether you need a&e or not. Out of hours medical advice definitely though, so I hope you've called 111 now. And follow it up with your gp tomorrow.

If you have rehydration salts in the house, do try them.

You won't be in a fit state to look after your children for a couple of days, so your partner needs to make alternative arrangements for tomorrow and the onus on childcare falls to him now - whether he provides it himself or organises someone to step in.

You really need a stool sample testing for stuff like salmonella. Ignore the people saying not to go - it sounds like you need more help than you can manage at home. Layer up pads, take some imodium if you have some, and go and get checked. Take drinks and spare clothes.

You could try 111 first but my experience of them is that you'll sit on the phone for ages and they'll send you to A&E anyway so you might as well skip that step.

Do a LFT if you have them before you go just so you can tell them if it's positive.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

Bugs don't work that way...if they did every infection would be treated with enemas

If you can, I would go. I’ve had kidney stones and burst ovarian cysts, and both presented initially with the worst diarrhea known to man.

It could also be Covid, sure. I’m in the US and it’s rife in my area, and everyone (including myself!) is having a rough time of it. My friend’s husband spent the first three days of it with vomiting and diarrhea. What’s the current protocol in the UK if you are positive and not doing so well?

Thanks all. I do so appreciate any advice. It makes me feel less alone. I can’t understand why it hurts to lie down, it’s torturous not even being able to rest properly. I have called 111.

What did you eat recently?

Don't take your bug to A&E. Call 111 for advice if you think it's necessary. Drink plenty of water, and if you're worried about your electrolytes send DH out in the morning to get some oral rehydration solution sachets. Imodium is fine if you need a break. Codeine works too.

@mackthepony i ate at a pub on Friday eve and had a chicken burger. About 6 hours later the stomach cramps began. I haven’t eaten since.

You could have salmonella www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/salmonella/symptoms-causes/syc-20355329 (excuse the US link, it just has more specific information than the NHS!)

Do you have a temp?

I was like this in Mexico- I took 11 immodium and nothing worked .

I was given antibiotics and other stuff including injections in the arse !

111 definitely the way to go . A&E could be terribly uncomfortable

@QuestionableMouse yes, temp comes and goes and sometimes I’m boiling sometimes freezing