Tummy pains last night...... then lots of blood (warning TMI alert!)...

[Toothache]

For those who have read about ds he is much better. He's had bad bad abdominal pains for the past few nights (so bad he's breaking out in a cold sweat on the loo!).

Anyway.... yesterday on the way home on the train my tummy started cramping and making those ominous bubbling noises. I managed to hold off going to the loo until I was at home where I completely exploded (sorry).

However to my horror it was mostly blood! What the hell could that be???

I got really scared, DH was working late last night so I was on my own with the kids. I took some Imodium and only had a small 'episode' after that (with blood in again). But after I had taken the tablets I read the leaflet which said "Do not take if there is blood present in faeces".

So 2 questions really:

1)What could be wrong (I've had piles before and it doesn't feel like those).

2)What damage might I have done by taking Imodium??

Please, anything would help really. I'm at work today (like a true Contractor!), but feel sick and shaky and frightened.

TIA

No. The office is so busy and open plan. I've only been here 3 wks so don't even know of any offices I can sneak into to use the phone without being disturbed.

Just seen this . Phone them!

How is your foot? You are in the wars.

xx

Take your mobile and phone from the loo?

Toothache - honestly you should do as Tissy says.
I have had dysentry, too, and it does lie dormant, come back - and you have no business to be risking anyone else.
Normal diarrohea does not involve red blood.
Tissy has said in the past that she works in the healthcare system. So probably the most experienced voice on this thread. Listen to her!

Yes, use your mobile in the loo, Toothache. Do it now, you need to be seen. Pretty-please-with-a-cherry-on-the-top??

I'm going home now anyway.... unfortunately I've no other way of getting home apart from the verrrrry busy train. I promise I'll stay away from: pregnant women, children and the elderly.

I'll phone NHS24 after teh GP surgery shuts..... that way I'll DEFINITELY get an immediate appointment at the out of hours clinic, without having to put up with the boot at reception.

I've opted for sheeps blood and a bell.

Night.... might be here again tomorrow...

sniff< >sob

Hope you're ok Toothache.

You poor thing and for the record, I think you should keep the name frankflange

((((((frank))))) Hope your squits get better tomorrow xxxxxxx

hope evrythings ok

Toothache, you poor thing, you must go to the doc and get them to send off a sample.

I have had bacterial dyssentry and I think, by now, you would probably know if you had it because I spent 5-6 weeks having it and sleeping solidly for 2 weeks in my bathroom, (TMI warning!) with a bucket so I could puke and diarrhea at the same time whilst on the loo. It was deeeeeply unpleasant and not something I'd wish on anyone.

Anyway, the moral of the tale was that I didn't see my GP till I'd been ill for a week. By that time, I was so ill that the stuff they gave me (these whopping great pills) didn't work as quickly as they should (hence the illness for 5 weeks) - I also damaged my stomach, bowel and god knows what else because of it.

SO whatever it is, pretty please see the GP asap and insist they take a sample so they can narrow down what bug it is. Hope you don't feel any worse.

Message withdrawn

Changed my name back.... sorry to disappoint.

Well I phoned NHS24 and they arranged an appointment at the out of hours clinic. They took my temp, BP, pulse, felt my tummy...... then concluded that it was "just a bug" and to go home.

She told me that if it was still happening over the weekend to collect a sample and drop it into the GP on Monday(!!). And to take time off work and rest coz the bug was clearly draining me (hmmm..... I'm at work today.... its more peaceful I assure you!).
So thanks for all the advice.

I went to bed at 9pm last night and slept right through until 6am. Feel surprisingly good..... apart from feeling a wee bit nauseous. Will take it easy for a few more days, but I really think the worst has passed, thankfully!

I have now removed the sheeps blood cross and warning bell.

Toothache, I know what I'm talking about...
salmonella, shigella, campylobacter and E. Coli are all bugs! I would drop in that specimen on Monday whether or not you're feeling better- the bugs can lurk in your bowel long after the symptoms have subsided and flare up at any time. I'm serious! If stool culture is clear, well I'll be pleased that you've seen it off, whatever it was!

Was it actually a doctor you saw at the clinic, or a nurse? Passing blood from the back passage must ALWAYS be taken seriously, at the very least you should be checked for the piles that I think you don't have.

Message withdrawn

I agree with Tissy - passing blood should always be investigated, and I think you should still see your GP. You can always take the stool sample with you when you go.

It was a Nurse that examined me, poked and prodded at my tummy. Scribbled everything down then went into the next room and discussed me with the GP.

She gave me a sample bottle, but if I don't have any other episodes of diarrhea over teh weekend should I still drop in a sample of 'normal' stools? (eurgh this is grosssss!).

She said by my description of the poo >rrrrretch< ....the fact it was a violent episode, bright yellow, fresh red blood mixed in.... she said it sounded like either my piles have ruptured with the force.... or I had a small tear in my bowel (OUCH!).

I honestly do feel much better today, but I will give a sample in on Monday.... if there is a sample to give. Thanks so much for all your advice.... some of you sound like you have had terrible time of it!

Glad you've seen someone, Toothache, I was rather worried about you last night. Def have a poo sample tested - better safe than sorry blah-de-blah.

toothache, the description does NOT sound like ruptured piles at all (normal/ hard stool followed by bright red blood dripping into the pan), and the bowel does NOT tear like that, sorry, but she was talking out of her you-know-what!

To collect the stool sample, lay some strips of loo paper across the water in the loo, to prevent it sinking, and scoop up a SMALL amount with the little spoon they give you. You do NOT need to fill the pot!!

FWIW, I think your whole family should be tested.

Good luck! Hope you feel better soon

Morning all.

Well absolutely NOTHING to report over the weekend. No pains, no blood, no sickness...... in fact, hardly any poo either!

Very weird. I'm assuming that something else would have happened by now? My appetite has been normal (unfortunately!). I was out on Saturday night and had a few drinks too.

Hopefully, thats the end of it. Unless any of you have any advice to the contrary?

Tissy, I don't think the Nurse thought that was all that was wrong. She thought I had a nasty infection.... but that the blood probably came from a pile rupturing with the force of the diarrhea, if that makes sense?

Glad you are feeling better toothy, maybe it was a pile rupturing but I'm more inclined to think it was self limiting viral food poisoning which comes on very fast and painful but never really lasts more than a day.

Shows you how naive I am SK, I didn't even know you could get Viral food poisoning!!!