Blood in diarrhoea - what do I do?

[pleasebeokkk]

I had a rumbling stomach and the feeling of urgently needing to go to the loo earlier, but I was an hour away from home so had to wait until I got in. I went to the toilet and first I passed a normal poo, followed by some watery diarrhea that was like complete liquid. I had stomach cramps and had awful cold sweating and the feeling like I was going to pass out. I felt ok afterwards, then around half an hour later I felt the need to go to the loo again and this time it was a small amount of bright red soft poo and when I wiped the tissue was pink, like it is at the start of a period.

I feel ok now, no stomach ache and I still have an appetite. I'm not sure what to do, whether I need to call 111 or just see how it goes? Can I wait until Monday to speak to my GP?

I'm in my 20s, only medication I'm on is sertraline and the only thing I've eaten today is a packaged salad and some toast. I don't eat meat.

I know your anxious, its probably nothing but you won't know unless you call 111.

I've got an appointment tomorrow, glad that I'm getting seen but very anxious about what to expect during the appointment. I've been to the toilet since and haven't had any more blood or diarrhoea

It's more than likely going to be absolutely fine but you really must get it checked

www.nhs.uk/conditions/bleeding-from-the-bottom-rectal-bleeding/

its very simple to Google these things to get advice.

see GP if you’ve spotted blood for 3 weeks. Not if you’ve had it twice with an upset stomach. And you certainly don’t need to seek out of hours help.

taking care of your health is crucial but catastrophising and wasting resources as a result isn’t.

I went to the GP and they felt my stomach and did some obs and all was looking ok so they think it was a bug. I've just got to keep an eye on if it happens again

@Joyfultoes I understand this and I didn't seek out of hours help, I just rang my GP practice. I explained all my symptoms and didn't catastrophise or exaggerate and they gave me an urgent appointment. I was also concerned about the fact my stomach cramps nearly made me faint so it wasn't just the bleeding

Ask any doctor about Dr. Google, they'll tell you it's the worst doctor going.

This "advice" is really quite worrying, if anyone actually took it seriously.

pleasebeokkk ·
I am glad you got i sorted out and hoping your minds at rest and you're feeling better.

@Mememene you think looking up NHS advice is extremely dangerous. Ok…..

Looking up NHS advice is fine.

Thinking you know better than a doctor because you've read it on the internet. Not fine.

Advising someone who has found blood in their poo to wait three weeks - not fine.

Blood in poo can be for many reasons, most innocuous and harmless, others not. NHS 111 are there to assess and refer if needed to a GP.

No catastrophising, no drama, just a call. It's what they are there for.

@Joyfultoes if you had actually read the page you have linked to, you would see that when accompanied by diarrhoea it says to call 111.

Shaming someone for seeking medical help for something that already feels a bit embarrassing is dangerous and stupid.

@pleasebeokkk I am glad you asked for support and sought medical advice. It can be scary when faced with something weird and unknown and sometimes we need an extra handhold. That is what mumsnet is here for

I hope you are feeling better now x

Ok…outcome was the same as the NHS page. Nothing to worry about as likely from an upset stomach. That’s not ‘bloody diarrhoea for no reason.’

as someone who’s had two very good friends get bowel cancer - one sadly died- I don’t dismiss seeking medical opinion at all. But advising looking and following NHS advice is not negligent

Confusius says: when in hole stop digging.

Campylobacter can be horrendous. It tends to be sudden onset ie you feel fine then five minutes later you feel like your bowel is turning inside out. I had a particularly nasty bout. For 24hrs it felt like full on contractions every 5- 10 mins. And by the end of 24 hrs I was passing just blood. Very frightening. I couldn’t leave the house or even the loo for 2-3 days. Because we have a family history of bowel cancer I thought worst but by the time I had colonoscopy my bowel had fully recovered and apparently was in perfect health.
It is a common infection and for most it just causes diarrhoea, however for a few people it causes almost complete ulceration of the lining of the bowel and prolonged bleeding. The good news is it’s bacterial and can be treated with antibiotics so I would make an urgent appointment with your GP.
It is also a noticeable disease ( I believe) so make a list of all the food you have eaten over the last few days ( particularly any food you have bought ready prepared and the source). If you can take a stool sample. If it does test positive you may have to stay off work and they may investigate the source.
Although harmless to most people it can be life threatening to the very young and very old.
If you have young children or live with anyone you mustn’t prepare food for them or use the same towels etc.

Noticeable - notifiable disease