To go to A&E?

[LeeRyan4eva]

I’ve had quite heavy bright red bleeding every time I’ve had a bowel movement for about 6 weeks now - I’ve been referred to the colorectal clinic so I’m trying not to worry as I think (hope) the cause is internal hemorrioids as I’ve had them banded in the past.

My worry is I think I’m getting low on iron. Recently I’ve been exhausted and noticed my hair shedding. I’ve had headache for almost a week now, it isn’t blinding but it’s always there. Since last night I feel really dizzy, exhausted and short of breath.

is it worth going to a&e on a Friday night? Or should I just start taking iron tablets (I haven’t been as I worried it might cause constipation and make the bleeding worse) and would they be able to do anything even if the cause of my symptoms is my iron being very low due to the bleeding?

Call your gp and request a blood test and start taking iron tablets. If symptoms worsen or you are concerned, call 111 for medical advice rather than mn. Hope you’re okay x

Dizzy, exhausted and Short of breath.

How short of breath?

Walking 2 steps short of breath? or might have a head cold short of breath?

Shortness of breath is the symptom that should take you to A&E, Op, to rule out any other cause and because you could need a blood transfusion if your haemoglobin has dropped to dangerous levels.

I don't think I'd go to A&E with those symptoms unless it got a lot worse. A Friday late afternoon/evening in A&E is generally pretty full on.

You do need medical advice though. Can you try and get a GP appointment on Monday and ask for a blood test? Try and eat iron rich foods in the meantime like spinach.

Yes you need to go to A&E. GP won’t be able to get a result same day for a blood test, and there are other causes of your symptoms that need a proper evaluation.

Call your gp

Thank you all. I might see if I can speak to my GP before they leave for the weekend. I’m not gasping for breath but I’m feeling easily out of breath even when talking. I hate to bother doctors!

Doctors are there to be bothered. Go to A&E if you’re worried and prepared to wait. It sounds concerning. It’s probably as you described and you need iron tablets but doctors are there for exactly these issues.

Being out of breath when talking warrants a call to 111 if nothing else.

Out of breath when talking I would be going.

We have too much of the mindset that we must not bother the doctors or go to a hospital that simply doesn’t exist in other countries.

It’s drilled into us that the precious nhs is struggling and we mustn’t use it - it is struggling but if you are unwell then you shouldn’t be put off going.

If you’ve cut your thumb that’s a bit different. But that level of being out of breath sounds worrying and I would go.

But then I was treated like a dirt and a nuisance by one hospital and had to go to another who bothered to do tests and found I needed admitting so I am now no longer put off being the idea I might be “a nuisance”.

Hi, I can recommend Spatone, much more gentle on the stomach, and there is a version that contains vitamin C to aid absorption. I was very anaemic after having dc and it worked quickly.

As a HCP I strongly reccomend if you won’t go to a&e (which you should) then call 111 asap

If you can’t see your GP call 111. They can often arrange and out of hours appointment. You’ll probably get to see a doctor much quicker than A&E.

There was a woman on here with bleeding a few months ago and when she eventually went to A&E she was dangerously anaemic and kept in for transfusions.

Can you ring 111?

As its not an accident or emergency I'd try your GP and if not try to get an out of hours doctors appointment.

You’re describing quite a sudden onset lf symptoms, and I’m not sure you should necessarily link theM to low iron- I’d expect those side effects to be gradual and quite manageable.

I had years of bleeding with BM and it was (non cancerous) polyps. Even though my iron is always pretty borderline I never lost enough to get symptoms of low iron.

What do you think an OOH GP will do? They can’t do bloods which is what she needs.

WHY haven't you gone before?!

Please go to your GP and just ask for a blood test - I did this, said I thought I was anaemic, she just ordered it for me and the results were back in less than a day. I was severely anaemic and now I've had two iron infusions. I wasn't even really having any symptoms other than being cold all the time.

I wouldn't go to A&E because you're likely to have to wait for an age, then even if you have a blood test and it shows you're very anaemic, they probably won't be able to refer you to the clinic for infusion when the clinic isn't open - I doubt they would do it in A&E for you.

Being out of breath is a concern so talk to 111 first.

This kind of breathlessness would count as an emergency so yes if you can’t get through to the GP I would go to A&E.
Hope you can get it sorted x

Sorry I should’ve said - I saw my GP on Wednesday and she’s ordered a blood test (but I can’t get in until the 25th), I’ve done a stool test and she’s referred me to the colorectal department at hospital. I’m just sat and feel like I’ve ran a marathon 😔 I live in a seaside resort though and I know our hospital will be busy tonight with people on holiday.

I’ll ring 111, that’s a good idea and I’ll see what they advise. I have anxiety at the best of times and I’m feeling really worried about it

I used to work in A&E and voted YANBU. Symptomatic anaemia (which you are describing) was something we’d see relatively often and no one would consider it time wasting.

It will probably be relatively straightforward. Triage should arrange bloods to be taken asap once you’re checked in, results likely back by the time you see a doctor and then you’ll have your answer. If extremely low you may be admitted for an iron infusion. Where I worked if it was moderately low people would often be discharged from A&E and booked to come back to the ambulatory clinic within about 48 hours to have the infusion, avoiding admission.

Go to A&E if you think you need it. It’s a shitshow but you will get seen, sooner or later.

What did they say? Hopefully you’re waiting to be seen by now

Are you a health care professional?

Op, yes you need to go to A and E. Yours sincerely, a health care professional.

I know it won’t help with the immediate issue but you can get iron tablets which don’t irritate your stomach. I have IBS also was worried about that. I get mine from Amazon.