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Warning-sign checks

Idiopathic chronic erosive gastritis: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency care if you:

    • Vomit red blood or material that resembles coffee grounds
    • Pass black, sticky stools and feel faint, weak, confused, or short of breath
    • Have heavy bleeding, collapse, or severe light-headedness

    These can be signs of significant upper digestive tract bleeding.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent same-day medical advice for black stools even if you otherwise feel well, repeated vomiting, worsening upper abdominal pain, difficulty keeping fluids down, or new marked weakness.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine medical assessment if upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, poor appetite, or early fullness keeps returning or lasts more than a short period.

    Also arrange follow-up for unexplained weight loss, persistent swallowing difficulty, or tiredness that may be caused by anemia.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has a symptom that has lasted more than a couple of weeks without improving

The article also says

Black stools can also occur with iron tablets or medicines containing bismuth.

If you are uncertain about the cause, especially if the change is new, seek medical advice rather than assuming it is harmless.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Idiopathic chronic erosive gastritis. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.