Update / Not Dead / NHS 24
RE: Last night's post on potential internal bleeding
I realised that today is Saturday and that I couldn't go to my GPs. I phoned NHS 24, which (for those who don't know) is a helpline run by the NHS that allows you to talk to a medical professional if you need non-emergency help or aren't sure if it's an emergency, etc. I got through to triage where they asked about symptoms, current medications and potential causes, and was put in a queue to be phoned back by a senior nurse because their lines were currently very busy.
Within 30 minutes I was called back, confirmed and clarified the information I had provided, and was given the OK to not go to A&E. If my symptoms worsen in the meantime, I am to phone NHS 24 again. I was also told that I need to make an appointment with my GP (ASAP), even if this doesn't happen again in the near-future.
I am much relieved, though I am still too scared of pooping (in case it's black) to manage to poop. I think it's unlikely that I would have black poop though, because I'm feeling much better now than I have felt over the past few days.
This has made me even more appreciative of how amazing the NHS is - that I was able to talk to a medical professional on a Saturday morning within 30 minutes (quicker than I probably would have seen a GP if it was a weekday) and be given explicit information on how serious it was*. For free. No faffing around with insurance companies, no panicking about whether I could afford the call and any potential medical visits required.
No wonder the NHS got rated #1 in healthcare provision in the world <3
* turada wanted me to keep them updated and I gave them this summary: "Yes, it's serious so go see your GP on Monday, but no, you probably aren't dying, phone us back if it gets worse."