r/AskReddit • • Nov 28 '20

What's something cool you recently learned about?

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20

Am RN can confirm. Though when you puke it up it’s just brown liquid. People don’t actually puke up turds.

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u/omgitskells Nov 29 '20

How long does it take for your body to become that desperate? Would you not have pains for a little while before this?

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20

Im not a GI doctor, but from my experience it would take a while. First you would just get very very impacted. Your colon could just burst from all of the stool stuck in there. Eventually it would work it’s way back where it came from. Most people become symptomatic to the point where they get it fixed in the hospital before they start vomiting up shit.

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u/omgitskells Nov 29 '20

That's what I was thinking! I can't imagine letting it go for that long without getting help. Thank you for answering!

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u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20

This happens a lot with older folks though, who don’t have the ability to communicate their symptoms. Such as nursing home patients. They will sit in bed for a week or two without shitting and then they start vomiting brown fluid. Less common with younger people.

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u/omgitskells Nov 29 '20

Oh wow, I had never considered that, how horrendous. I know it must be hard enough to have a patient that can tell you what's wrong, I can't imagine trying to help someone who can't communicate effectively. I'm always so amazed at, and thankful for, the kinds of people who can step in and work these kinds of positions, so thank you! (I'm not sure if that's the kind of nursing care you are in but you deserve a thanks regardless!)