HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Should I go to the ER? *WARNING PRETTY GROSS*

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 9/26/2014 7:56 PM (GMT 0)
Last night when I used the bathroom I was constipated and finally had relief. When I went to flush I noticed my stool had white/yellow stringy stuff all through it. I've never seen anything like it before! There were long strands throughout and then there was a giant glob of white/yellow stringy stuff. My husband and I think it may be a type of intestinal worm. So I did my own research and saw pictures of roundworm or as some of the pictures called it Ascaris Lumbricoides. The pictures looked almost identical to what I had. But I had no symptoms or problems leading up to this. I hadn't had a UC flare for a long long time! It's really gross but we had angel hair pasta for dinner that night and when I used the bathroom that's what it looked like. To make a long story short I called my family doctor today and she said on Tuesday to stop in at the hospital for a stool test and when I called my gastro doctor they said to go to the ER. I live over an hour away from any doctor or ER so I only want to go if it is absolutely necessary. And I don't have any pain or nausea. A little constipation but no big deal. When I went last night it was hard and I had some tearing and blood. Anyway I have no clue what is wrong or what I should do. Any suggestions? Also I'm VERY sorry this was such a gross post! Please help!! sad

I also take Keppra 1750mg twice a day, Lamictal 350mg twice a day, Lialda (forget how much at the moment) and Temazapam at night. (I have Epilepsy too)
Posted 9/26/2014 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
sounds like mucous to me.
Posted 9/26/2014 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
@kazbern I never thought of that! It could be. It just didn't seem like the "normal" mucous I've had. When I wiped there was a little blood but no mucous like stuff on the toilet paper. When I used the bathroom today I didn't have any white/yellow stringy stuff. But the doctor said just because there was nothing in the stool didn't mean they were gone. (IF there was any parasites to begin with) Thank you very much for replying!
Posted 9/26/2014 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
If you aren't having diarrhea, not down for the count with nausea and exhaustion, what can the ER do? You can wait for a stool sample at your DR's office from what you describe.
Posted 9/26/2014 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Exactly I didn't think it made sense to go and most likely just be sent home. Plus I'm really backward about these kind of medical things. I have such a difficult time talking about this stuff lol. But I didn't know if I should or shouldn't go. I was actually looking on Amazon.com and I saw different cleanses. I was thinking about buying one. People who didn't even have parasites or anything used them to detox in case there was anything they were missing. Do you think I should buy one of those?
Posted 9/26/2014 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
NO CLEANSES. Your colon will do it for you. I think it sounds like mucous too, but I can't say I am a worm pro. Mucous is colored when transit time is fast. The brighter the color, the higher up it came from. gallbladder bile is green to yellow. Is is not a noodle tho. I've seen lots of things come out whole, but not spaghetti! Get that stool sample to a lab, and unless symptoms get worse, skip the ER for now.
Posted 9/26/2014 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like mucous to me as well. I would not cleanse!

Get a stool sample to your regular GI.
Posted 9/26/2014 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you very much Katmom and pink1! Like I said I'm feeling fine. I have a good appetite, I feel perfectly normal. Do you guys think that cleanses are bad for you? I never read up much about them. Do you think it is safe to take my fiber vitamin? I've been having some constipation again. Like I don't go for 2 or 3 days. @pink1 how does Humira work for you? It is for Colitis and that kind of thing right?
Posted 9/27/2014 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Yes take your fiber since you are leaning toward constipation. Cleanses can aggravate your gut. I just wouldn't do one.
Posted 9/27/2014 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Definitely get the stool sample done but, um, not to sound gross...but I've totally pooped out recognizable noodles before. Seems like a very big coincidence it happened after you ate the noodles...and then it looked like noodles coming out.
Posted 9/27/2014 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
But don't you chew your noodles?
Posted 9/27/2014 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
noodle cleanse = the latest craze !
Posted 9/27/2014 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
@kazbern Lol! Yes I do chew my noodles. I was just saying it was ironic that they both looked the same. And @toomuchpoopin I always thought there was a possibility that after you eat you can sometimes pass the food you ate. I don't know much about this kind of stuff. But I had two bowel movements and saw nothing. Looked normal. It was still hard to pass though. So I'm taking my fiber vitamins. Thank you for replying!!
Posted 9/28/2014 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I'm still constipated (again sorry to much information) but I mean that's ok right? No need to worry? I started taking my fiber vitamins again. I'm almost thinking it could be a flare up. A little blood. Maybe it was mucus the other night. Constipation and bloating. What do you guys think? Or is there still a possibility it's some form of type of worms?
Posted 9/28/2014 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
It's just mucus...

It can be long and stringy and intertwined through stool, or globs or both , or have blood in it, or be yellowish and foul smelling or just simply clear... Clear is good old plain mucus, yellowish is a sign of infection and is really more of a "pus"... and bad smelling so more so a sign of infection or ulceration.

Fun stuff... freaks everybody out the first time I think. I've had mucus bowel movements for 12 odd years so I'm pretty good at identifying all the disgusting different kinds as I think I've had them all at one point. I freaked myself out when I first became ill thinking it was some sort of worm and all that... haha
Posted 9/28/2014 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
If you are seeing a lot of mucus, then it could be the 1st sign that a uc flareup is starting. Mucus normally is on the surface of your intestinal wall. If you are pooping a lot of mucus then the intestinal walls are irritated, likely due to uc inflammation. Seeing occasional, small amounts of mucus is fine; happens to me sometimes. Sounds like it is more than that for you though.

Ibd goes on of two ways: you get diarrhea or you get constipation. You know what's normal for you and your typical bms. Sounds like something weird is happening, talk to or visit your gi. As it is best to nip-it-in-the-bud, before you're dealing with a full blown uc flareup.
Posted 9/28/2014 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
@Canada Mark I really appreciate your response! Thank you. @iPoop I am definitely going to nip-this-in-the-bud. My gi doctor gave me a enema that I am suppose to take during a flare, but I asked him if I could take it now and he said no. They were the ones trying to send me to the hospital. Bad thing is I live a hour and half away from the nearest hospital or doctor. So when I speak with the doctor it's hard to reach a conclusion without being seen. Anyway since this "incident" I have had no mucus or anything. Just really difficult bowel movements. Thanks again for all of the responses! It is super helpful and it puts my mind at ease.
Posted 9/28/2014 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Sadly mucous comes in many forms, I've had globby to stringy, to flakey, to white, to light brown and dark brown colored mucous...my guess is you had a lot of mucous as well. Never cleanse though, the body cleanses itself naturally and you really disturb things by doing cleanses, same with douching, women should really never douche as our vagina's are "self-cleaning" as well and douching messes up the natural bacterial balance in both areas.
Posted 9/28/2014 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
@pb4 Thank you for the response! It has been very helpful with all these responses and I'm pretty sure it was mucous. I haven't had any so called looking "worms" like I thought I had lol. But I cannot get over this constipation so I guess I'm having a flare... I haven't had one in months! But my doctor won't let me take my prescribed enema until I get a stool sample. So in the mean time what should I do?
Posted 9/28/2014 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
So, he doesn't want you to start the enema until he's sure you don't have a parasite? Miralax is my best friend when a flare triggers constipation. Maybe you can get enough in you to encourage a movement so you can get that sample out of the way. It's not a stimulant, so it won't trigger painful spasms. Drink a lot of water, walk at a good clip for 1/2 hour twice a day and go to bed as early as you can so you can get in some good rest before the morning discomfort kicks in. That's my routine when I'm getting into trouble.

If I'm being honest, I'd add that I'd probably use the enema if I had it in my possession. I'm naughty that way, though. If I was confident I was dealing with a flare, I'd do what I could to get ahead of it and apologize later. I'm naughty that way, though. I'm not sure what the health consequences would be if it's not a flare.
Posted 9/28/2014 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
If you're not on any rectal meds Katy then you could try that for your flare symptoms...it's always a vicious circle when it comes to IBD in general...safe to say that most of us have all been there or are there suffering together currently with the same types of issues.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply