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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not attend A&E?

89 replies

PassMeAGripPlease · 18/07/2025 13:56

One foot and leg swelled up completely out of the blue the other night, skin indented when pressed. Saw the GP yesterday morning, they measured and said the leg is 3cm larger than the other due to swelling. Recommend A&E. I didn’t attend as severely anxious around lots of people.
Leg seems to have gone down, no indenting or anything this morning. DH really wants me to get it checked out and is bothering me about it.

AIBU to think it was just something random and that it would be time wasting for me to go to A&E today given the symptoms have gone?

OP posts:
cannynotsay · 18/07/2025 20:12

Hope it’s not that long a wait, well done for getting up and out. xx

reversegear · 18/07/2025 20:09

TheFormidableMrsC · 18/07/2025 19:05

Really glad you’ve gone to A&E. Many years ago in my early 20’s I had sudden symptoms of DVT that I only recognised because of a magazine article I had read. I left work and walked into GP who called an ambulance. It saved my life. Had I not gone on that day they said I would have unlikely survived the weekend. It was from the pill. It’s not worth the risk. I hope it turns out to be something less serious for you.

Could you share the signs that you noticed I think I’m in the dark about these.

mintydoggyv · 18/07/2025 19:26

PassMeAGripPlease · 18/07/2025 13:56

One foot and leg swelled up completely out of the blue the other night, skin indented when pressed. Saw the GP yesterday morning, they measured and said the leg is 3cm larger than the other due to swelling. Recommend A&E. I didn’t attend as severely anxious around lots of people.
Leg seems to have gone down, no indenting or anything this morning. DH really wants me to get it checked out and is bothering me about it.

AIBU to think it was just something random and that it would be time wasting for me to go to A&E today given the symptoms have gone?

Hi ya l understand fully , my wife passed in feb with vascular dimentia and at the moment l don't feel like leaving home , but a month ago my leg did swell up and l went to the gp and was told to go to hospital . Well l said l would see but the gp called an ambulance l went . In the end l had a clot and the hospital never operated l had an injection and cleared it , You are very brave if you have mental health issues please try and go , l am certain your hubby loves you and does not want you to leave him ,l hope you are getting help for mental health possibly don't leave it to long before you get help or a check over for your leg please . William

HarrietBond · 18/07/2025 19:05

Notouchingmybhuna · 18/07/2025 19:03

SDEC ( same day emergency care) is part of a long term ‘strategy’ to improve emergency care in England. It is very definitely not available in all A&E units/hospitals.

Show quote history

Ah, I was told it was, but I stand corrected. That's obviously the ambition.

There's one in our not-particularly-distinguished general hospital so at least it's not confined just to the major hospitals.

TheFormidableMrsC · 18/07/2025 19:05

Really glad you’ve gone to A&E. Many years ago in my early 20’s I had sudden symptoms of DVT that I only recognised because of a magazine article I had read. I left work and walked into GP who called an ambulance. It saved my life. Had I not gone on that day they said I would have unlikely survived the weekend. It was from the pill. It’s not worth the risk. I hope it turns out to be something less serious for you.

HollyhockDays · 18/07/2025 19:04

Well done. Hopefully you can be seen quickly.

Notouchingmybhuna · 18/07/2025 19:03

Itsabummer · 18/07/2025 18:56

What is SDEC - what does it stand for?

husband was sent direct to Acute Assessment ward but that was still trolleys and you were still in the A & E queue but at least not in the waiting room. (At least medical staff were close by)

Show quote history

SDEC ( same day emergency care) is part of a long term ‘strategy’ to improve emergency care in England. It is very definitely not available in all A&E units/hospitals.

HarrietBond · 18/07/2025 19:03

SDEC is Same Day Emergency Care: NHS England » Same day emergency care

It's aiming to reduce the number of hospital admissions by running what used to be in-patient tests through what is functionally a temporary admission. In practice it's also a great place to refer people you are sending for specific tests that don't need A&E services - so you free up A&E instead. SDECs are direct entry, far less chaotic than A&E, and very efficient as you are simply sending patients for tests and then reading back the results. They are particularly good for elderly frail patients but our hospital has a separate frailty SDEC too.

In between my tests I had a designated chair to sit in and was given food and drink. The staff were noticeably less frazzled.

monkeysox · 18/07/2025 19:00

monkeysox · 18/07/2025 18:59

Good. Have a big grip.
Dvt does not fuck about. Your next trip out the house may well be in a coffin if you dont go get some help.
Please go. 💐

Show quote history

Well done. Sorry I thought id replied to an earlier message.

monkeysox · 18/07/2025 18:59

PassMeAGripPlease · 18/07/2025 18:30

I’ve managed to make it to A&E. The long wait begins.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement.

Good. Have a big grip.
Dvt does not fuck about. Your next trip out the house may well be in a coffin if you dont go get some help.
Please go. 💐

Itsabummer · 18/07/2025 18:56

HarrietBond · 18/07/2025 18:51

I hope the wait isn't as bad as you fear, @PassMeAGripPlease.

For anyone else in this situation, I'd suggest asking your GP or 111 for an SDEC referral. It's a new provision in every hospital with an A&E and is essentially direct admission to a temporary 'ward' which enables the hospital to run tests on you quickly. This is exactly the sort of thing it's perfect for and it's a shame all GPs aren't using it. I was referred for a D Dimer recently with a mysterious pain I thought was a pulled muscle in my chest (and indeed luckily that was all it was). From filling in the online GP triage form asking for pain relief, to being called straight in to see them face to face, to being sent to SDEC, blood test, chest x-ray, ECG, consultant read out, codeine prescribed and handed to me, and home again, was under four hours in total.

What is SDEC - what does it stand for?

husband was sent direct to Acute Assessment ward but that was still trolleys and you were still in the A & E queue but at least not in the waiting room. (At least medical staff were close by)

rainbowruthie · 18/07/2025 18:56

PassMeAGripPlease · 18/07/2025 18:30

I’ve managed to make it to A&E. The long wait begins.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement.

Well done, hope that the wait is not too long.

ninjahamster · 18/07/2025 18:55

PassMeAGripPlease · 18/07/2025 18:30

I’ve managed to make it to A&E. The long wait begins.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement.

Well done. I suffer severe anxiety and only leave the house for scheduled health appointments. I understand how difficult this will have been to do. I hope your wait isnt too long and distressing x

ButterCrackers · 18/07/2025 18:53

PassMeAGripPlease · 18/07/2025 18:30

I’ve managed to make it to A&E. The long wait begins.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement.

I hope that all will be ok. It’s good that you are there. Fingers crossed for you.

HarrietBond · 18/07/2025 18:51

I hope the wait isn't as bad as you fear, @PassMeAGripPlease.

For anyone else in this situation, I'd suggest asking your GP or 111 for an SDEC referral. It's a new provision in every hospital with an A&E and is essentially direct admission to a temporary 'ward' which enables the hospital to run tests on you quickly. This is exactly the sort of thing it's perfect for and it's a shame all GPs aren't using it. I was referred for a D Dimer recently with a mysterious pain I thought was a pulled muscle in my chest (and indeed luckily that was all it was). From filling in the online GP triage form asking for pain relief, to being called straight in to see them face to face, to being sent to SDEC, blood test, chest x-ray, ECG, consultant read out, codeine prescribed and handed to me, and home again, was under four hours in total.

CheeriosOrFrosties · 18/07/2025 18:47

Well done OP, so glad you have managed to go to A&E. Hope everything is ok.

findmeaunicorn · 18/07/2025 18:43

I would, as others have said could be dvt, cellulitis, or even heart related x

Fleetheart · 18/07/2025 18:38

Well done! 👍🏻 Hope the wait is not too long

FlyingUnicornWings · 18/07/2025 18:38

Well done OP. I hope you’re ok, let us know how you’re getting on.

Wolfiefan · 18/07/2025 18:36

You absolute superstar. Well done. Hopefully you’ll be home and sorted before too long. Have you got anything to distract you?

AnneShirleysNewDress · 18/07/2025 18:34

Well done for getting there OP. Hope your wait isn’t too long.

Notouchingmybhuna · 18/07/2025 18:31

PassMeAGripPlease · 18/07/2025 18:30

I’ve managed to make it to A&E. The long wait begins.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement.

Brilliant-you’ve done absolutely the right thing.

Original poster
PassMeAGripPlease · 18/07/2025 18:30

I’ve managed to make it to A&E. The long wait begins.

Thank you everyone for your encouragement.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 18/07/2025 18:00

Really hope you’re on your way. I had a blood clot in my leg. For weeks. (Initially GP thought it was cellulitis). I was so lucky. What can you do to manage your anxiety? Can you have someone sit with you? Stay in a corner seat? What exactly is scary??
And yes. Back to GP after this to sort out your MH.

ButterCrackers · 18/07/2025 17:48

Go to A&E right now. Your doctor has told you to go to A&E.

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