Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Going to A&E?

29 replies

coffeewithmilk · 15/04/2023 08:45

I've had constant diarrhoea for 4 days, unable to eat anything and half lost over half a stone.
I've tried Imodium but it's not helping, really severe abdominal cramps.

Do you think it's unreasonable to go to A&E? I feel very weak

OP posts:
LadyPenelope68 · 15/04/2023 08:45

Ring 111, 4 days if diarrhoea isn’t an A&E visit.

Original poster
coffeewithmilk · 15/04/2023 08:48

I'm not in the UK so we don't have a 111 service, and there are no GP open on a weekend

OP posts:
Disco2023 · 15/04/2023 08:49

Have you kept fluid down. food isn’t the biggest issue but dehydration. You may need medical help if you’ve kept NO fluid down in four days, not weeing at all, dry mouth, etc… look up dehydration.

Jojobees · 15/04/2023 08:49

I doubt an and e want infectious diarrhoea in the department.
You need to get some rehydration salts ( dioralyte or similar) and wait it out.

chocolatenutcase · 15/04/2023 08:50
  1. Do you really want to sit in A&E waiting for hours with diarrhoea and having to rush off to a public loo multiple times. This is useful information maybe have a read before phoning 111 www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/
Wereongunoil · 15/04/2023 08:50

If the only medical option is a&e I'd go

PinkButtercups · 15/04/2023 13:05

I had the same recently but lasted 3 days. The stomach cramps were horrible. I felt sick but wasn't sick. I think I had a bug.

PinkButtercups · 15/04/2023 13:06

Forgot to add. I didn't eat just tried to up my water intake. The thought of food made me feel sick.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 15/04/2023 13:12

Don’t take Imodium! You need whatever is causing the diarrhoea to come out, not stay in.

I would keep up my fluids and ride it out.

lljkk · 15/04/2023 13:21

Can you keep clear fluids down if you stick to a small sip ever 2 minutes?

How is there ongoing diarhea, you should have cleared out days ago if no calories are going in, what is coming out?

LIZS · 15/04/2023 13:22

It can take that long to resolve. Once got a bug on holiday and was well over a week before the symptoms went. Keep hydrated and eat plain foods like dry toast or rice when you are hungry or a banana. Live yoghurt can help once symptoms stop.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 15/04/2023 13:24

Are you able to drink? If so, take oral rehydration salts or sports drink. No food, and absolutely no imodium. If you can’t keep any fluids down then you need medical attention today.

Katrinawaves · 15/04/2023 13:25

Severe continuous diarrhoea can be a medical emergency if it’s ongoing for several days so I would seek medical assistance from A and E in these circumstances

I was once admitted to hospital for 10 days in similar circumstances and ultimately diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I was told at the time I could have died had I not got medical assistance when I did, and I did spend a few days in the HDU until I was stabilised.

Hintofreality · 15/04/2023 13:28

LadyPenelope68 · 15/04/2023 08:45

Ring 111, 4 days if diarrhoea isn’t an A&E visit.

It is if you have an underlying health condition, or suspected IBD.

JupiterFortified · 15/04/2023 13:28

I wouldn’t personally ever go to a&e for diarrhoea. Only you know how you feel though. Hope you’re feeling better soon x

Makewayforsummer · 15/04/2023 13:32

Are you still weeing?

GobbieMaggie · 15/04/2023 13:40

chocolatenutcase · 15/04/2023 08:50

  1. Do you really want to sit in A&E waiting for hours with diarrhoea and having to rush off to a public loo multiple times. This is useful information maybe have a read before phoning 111 www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/

Not sure calling 111 is going to help much , being as she doesn't live in the UK.

endofthelinefinally · 15/04/2023 13:46

You need rehydration salts like dioralyte.
If you can't get to a chemist you can make up a pint of water, 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt.
Sip it slowly.
Agree with all pp saying do not take Imodium.

Rowthe · 15/04/2023 13:48

You need medical advice.

If you think you need this today a d the only way to access that is A and E, then yes you need to go.

Bearpawk · 15/04/2023 13:51

If it's 4 days solid you may need iv fluids, I would call 111.
In the mean time, can you sip rehydration drinks frequently ?

Original poster
coffeewithmilk · 15/04/2023 14:24

Thanks everyone for the advice
I ended up going as I felt so weak.. I'm being hospitalised for low sodium.. obviously I've lost so much water over the last few days.
Hopefully it's a quick stay and I can get home soon.

Hope everyone has a good weekend

OP posts:
Katrinawaves · 15/04/2023 14:27

Get better soon @coffeewithmilk

Rowthe · 15/04/2023 16:01

Hope you're better soon

VanGoghsDog · 15/04/2023 23:45

JupiterFortified · 15/04/2023 13:28

I wouldn’t personally ever go to a&e for diarrhoea. Only you know how you feel though. Hope you’re feeling better soon x

Really? Not ever?

You might want to review this 'policy'. My mum had diarrhea for eight weeks. GP told her to take Imodium, she was taking six to eight a day, going to the loo eight times a day and several times in the night.
Second GP gave her steroids, made no difference.

She phoned 111 and they told her to take paracetamol.

I came over, took her to A&E, she's been in hospital a week, had a length of her bowel removed and a stoma fitted, and is currently having the pleasure of one to one care in the ICU. She had diverticulitis, a perforated bowel and subsequent sepsis (she still has the first and last of those).

So if you have persistent diarrhea and no joy with primary medical care, go to A&E. I am hoping it has saved her life, but we won't know for a couple more days if she's going to pull through.

JupiterFortified · 16/04/2023 01:48

VanGoghsDog · 15/04/2023 23:45

Really? Not ever?

You might want to review this 'policy'. My mum had diarrhea for eight weeks. GP told her to take Imodium, she was taking six to eight a day, going to the loo eight times a day and several times in the night.
Second GP gave her steroids, made no difference.

She phoned 111 and they told her to take paracetamol.

I came over, took her to A&E, she's been in hospital a week, had a length of her bowel removed and a stoma fitted, and is currently having the pleasure of one to one care in the ICU. She had diverticulitis, a perforated bowel and subsequent sepsis (she still has the first and last of those).

So if you have persistent diarrhea and no joy with primary medical care, go to A&E. I am hoping it has saved her life, but we won't know for a couple more days if she's going to pull through.

Show quote history

Sorry I probably didn’t actually mean “ever” in the true sense of the word, I probably should’ve said i wouldn’t go to a&e if I’d had diarrhoea for only a few days like OP.

8 weeks like in the case of your mum is totally different and it doesn’t surprise me at all that she was fobbed off by her GP so I don’t blame you at all for taking her to a&e, it sounds like it was the best thing to do. I hope she’s ok x