Advice sought-- do I need to see someone, and how urgent/high level do I need to go?

[taar]

Hi all.

I still feel very new here as I haven't posted much, and certainly not for a while, as things have been "good". However, last night, I unexpectedly vomited in the middle of the night, with no other indications of a stomach bug. It was, very dark brown stuff. Just the one episode, and not too bad. And today, my stools have been very dark. But what with the time of year, and some dark chocolate liqueurs, perhaps that accounts for the dark stuff?

I also find that today I have an ache in my right hand-side, too, but I have been working from home and sitting for hours in an unusual position, for about 3 days, which may account for the pain. Do you think I should a) forget about these (minor seeming) issues-- adopting a wait-and-see-approach?

b) try to see my GP later this week?

c) try to bring forward an appointment with my liver specialist?

Honestly, apart from the above, I feel fine. Any advice gratefully received.

Taar

[AyrshireK]

If there was any redness to the vomit or it resembled coffee granules then you require emergency hospital care. Have you had a recent endoscopy to look for changes in your oesophagus? You say your stools are also dark - are they very sticky or tarry in texture? Has there been any obvious blood in them recently? Sorry to be so yucky but having seen at first hand a variceal bleed - dark vomit with coffee granule type lumps and blood in stools I know what to look out for. Any of those symptoms can't wait - that was how my hubby presented with a massive bleed which we've subsequently been told was life threatening - A&E wouldn't be too excessive if you were having those symptoms.

Hope it's not that but you do need to be aware, don't ignore it or wait especially with public holidays coming up. Get checked.

Katie

[taar in reply to AyrshireK]

I had the same issue again last night, and I am convinced it is blood. I am making arrangements to go down to A&E now. Will they likely keep me in? For how long? How might/can it be treated?

[AyrshireK in reply to taar]

You will most likely have an endoscopy to check your upper oesophagus for signs of bleeding from varices. If varices are found then they band them to stop the bleeding. That was how my hubby first presented with cirrhosis - we never knew he was even ill at that point. Hubby was in for 3 weeks but that was only because they were doing other tests on his liver to get a diagnosis etc.

Don't let the time you might be in concern you, this needs treating A.S.A.P. Bleeding from varices can be life threatening if left untreated. So do go to A&E today.

Wishing you the very best of luck.

Katie x

[Hidden]

This might be serious, so should go straight to A&E if your not there already by now. Don't wait for an appointment to see your GP. You could very well have internal bleeding, The pain you are feeling may well have nothing to do with posture, but something a lot more serious. Black stools and vomiting dark brown coffee granules are obvious signs and are serious warnings of a condition called Varicies. Get medical help ASAP.

[taar in reply to Hidden]

I appreciate your advice and good sense. I went down to A&E, and was admitted for 4 days, coming home Friday evening. I was well looked after. They didn't get to immediately do an endoscopy due to the New Year, though they did one (my first) on about the 2nd Jan, and found 3 varices, but couldn't find the culprit, they said they couldn't tell which one had bled, so decided not to band any of them.

I had a chest x-ray and ultrasound scan. I had to have 2 units of blood as my haemoglobin was low. They have put me on betablockers and I am now on omeprazole as well. Will be monitored at clinic, and am feeling generally okay. I was told I am about halfway along the liver disease path. Not sue what that will mean for me. I guess the next thing is to see if/when I get any more bleeds? Or are there any more treats in store? I don't think there is much more I can do, or can know when things are going wrong, until I get the physical symptoms, is that about right?

Taar

[Hidden]

Hi tarr and welcome back!

I had a very similar experience to what Katie described but no sick., it was all the other end. Being embarrassed I went on 111 online - I was too much of a scaredy cat to actually speak to someone 😁. It came up with ring 999. So I did. Ambulance arrived in 20 minutes. Started a quick (for these days) sequence of events. So please listen to comments on here and decide what you should do.

I know what I did - give it a try?

🇧🇧

[taar in reply to Hidden]

I had the same issue again last night, and I am convinced it is blood. I am making arrangements to go down to A&E now. Will they likely keep me in? For how long? How might/can it be treated?

[Hidden in reply to taar]

Well taar, I can’t say because it might be something completely different from mine. I didn’t get kept in but had to go to hospital twice the second time this morning for a colonoscopy. From that they said my problem could be fixed with antibiotics but it can return any time. But that’s great news for me, let’s hope you are equally as fortunate! 🤞

Miles

🇧🇧

[taar in reply to Hidden]

I appreciate your advice and good sense. I went down to A&E, and was admitted for 4 days, coming home Friday evening. I was well looked after. They didn't get to immediately do an endoscopy due to the New Year, though they did one (my first) on about the 2nd Jan, and found 3 varices, but couldn't find the culprit, they said they couldn't tell which one had bled, so decided not to band any of them.

I had a chest x-ray and ultrasound scan. I had to have 2 units of blood as my haemoglobin was low. They have put me on betablockers and I am now on omeprazole as well. Will be monitored at clinic, and am feeling generally okay. I was told I am about halfway along the liver disease path. Not sue what that will mean for me. I guess the next thing is to see if/when I get any more bleeds? Or are there any more treats in store? I don't think there is much more I can do, or can know when things are going wrong, until I get the physical symptoms, is that about right?

Taar

[Hidden in reply to taar]

Hi tarr.

Thanks for reply. The fact you were kept in means, I guess, your isses are different from mine! So I am now even more out of my depth thanusual 😁. Hope someone else can comment.

Good luck

Miles

🇧🇧