Severe chest infection with swollen red face

[dsmama]

My mother-in-law came down with a throat infection two weeks ago, with extreme exhaustion, loss of voice and swollen glands. One week ago she went to the doctor, who said it was a virus and that she should go home and rest, which she did. It seems that on Friday night she went up to bed but failed to change out of her clothes and just lay down. On Saturday evening her neighbour couldn't rouse her and got the police to break her door down. She was found on her bed, very feverish, fully clothed with no memory of anything since Friday night, and she had wet the bed without noticing (this isn't like her. She is a pretty vigorous 70 year old). They called the paramedics, who then called out a GP. Apparently the local hospital is full so they could only take 'life-or-death' patients in. The GP said she has a chest infection and has given her antibiotics, and she's been told to go back to the GP in 4 days if they aren't working. It seems crazy to leave her with no medical care in this state for 4 days. She says her neck and face are so swollen and red that she couldn't go out in public. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing the redness/swelling, and why the GP might have thought it wasn't a worry? Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[AnotherStitchInTime]

Mumps? Glandular fever?

[bellediva]

Anaphylaxis?? Maybe the chest issue is actually an allergy and her face has swelled? Poor lady. Sounds horrendous.

[Redorwhitejusthaveboth]

Can she not be taken to another hospital tonight? Sounds serious

[FannyFifer]

I take it you are not nearby?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

She needs checked ASAP. It does sound like antibiotic allergy.

[dsmama]

thanks for your suggestions. Her GP came out to see her today and says he is mystified, but again said the hospital is too full for it to be a good idea to admit her, and put her on new antibiotics. My husband is on his way to be with her. She is in North Wales.

[ILovedYouYesterday]

If it was my mum, unless she is much better by the morning, I'd be inclined to drive her to A&E at another hospital.

Hope she is OK.

[youngheartsrunfree]

Not wanting to cause you distress, but sometimes lung cancer can present with face and neck swelling (the cancer presses on big veins and stops blood from the head and neck coming back to the heart). She needs to be sorted out asap. www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Livingwithandaftercancer/Symptomssideeffects/Othersymptomssideeffects/Superiorvenacavaobstruction.aspx

[dsmama]

Thanks FabULouse. She still sounds really bad today, with swelling, redness and blisters on her neck and face and a fluid lump under her chin. The GP has seen all of this and said it is fluid. I am trying to persuade my husband to demand blood tests today (the GP said that he would send someone round tomorrow to take bloods if she's not better by then). I just feel she should be in hospital so they can rule out or treat blood poisoning. The GP mentioned a possible 'glandular infection'. Does anyone know what he meant by that? She is on 500mg tablets of Ciprofloxacin.
Unfortunately my husband doesn't drive, so I can't tell him to take her to A&E. I think they would have to go about 50 miles to a hospital in England which would have some beds.

[dsmama]

Apparently the blisters/sores are new this morning, her nose and ears are mis-shapen and she can hardly open her eyes. The GP is about to call back. I hope he has something useful to offer this time.

[Cocolepew]

I would phone an ambulance its sound like a severe reaction, I wouldn't bother waiting for the gp.
Good luck x

[Cocolepew]

999 ambulance no faffing around with 111 or whatever it is.

[scarletforya]

I would take her to a and e. GP sounds useless.

[AnotherStitchInTime]

This needs to be seen at hospital asap, it sounds like a severe reaction or worsening in fection 999 and a complaint about the GP. I can't believe they let it get this bad.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

She needs to stop the cipro and get seen

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

At A and E.

Hope you/she have been already.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

A&E. Your GP is being useless. It could be a severe reaction to the antibiotics.

If there are no beds at the hospital they will admit her into a different hospital if needs be.

She cannot be left like this.

[Cocolepew]

Hope your MIL got the helping she needed