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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder about a&e alternatives and when its quietest

60 replies

Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 21:22

A private GP service have said my symptoms should be assessed f2f and I may need an abdominal xray. They are concerned about a partial bowel obstruction my NHS GP is suggesting an appointment in 2 weeks.

while I vommitwhen Ui eat and my stomach is bloated and hard I feel quite well and can’t face A&E. Anyone know when its likely to be quietest or if anywhere else wghere could get abdomon examined, urine dipped and xray if needed?a To wonder if the is a service better than A&E and if A&E is place to go when it will be quietest

OP posts:
dollyblue01 · 22/09/2025 23:05

Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:03

@Squibblenutssaddly not in an area with the app.

@dollyblue01@Yellowrose225588any sense of if a walk in would assess this? I feel a fraud going to A&E when feeling reasonably ok just verry bloated, vomit when eat and a pain pressure sensation. I am in a new arrea and cant find what services local utc have.

No definitely A & E stop worrying and just go , if you feel that bad go now , if you can manage some sleep and get there early morning then do that, take some drinks and a book , you’ll be in the right place, if they don’t thing it’s something to be concerned about they will send you home and at least you’ll have peace of mind and not worry yourself to death.

Iwrotethelyricstoaxlf · 22/09/2025 23:03

I would go to a and e

Youre probably a day or two away from fecal vomiting which I 100% do not recommend

a bowel blockage can be very serious and go wrong very quickly

Original poster
Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 23:03

Requested a GP appointment this morning that is when was offered an appointment in two weeks time.

in a diferent area I was once told to go to SACU for a specific time by my consultants secretrary. Obviously had to wait but quieter environment than A&E and was seen quicker felt to avoid tests vbeing done twice. I get quite anxious in health settings so wish there were another way. In London am I likely to find a private GP offering f2f appointments. The GP call was through my health insurance. If someone examining and listening would be enough to rule out an obstruction would be worth a cost not to go to A&E.

OP posts:
TheLivelyViper · 22/09/2025 22:59

Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:51

@ArthriticOldLabrador Its vomiting reasonable vollume happens maybe 90 minutes after eating feel shivery and rung out afterwards.

If I dont eat it does not happen.

Last week was every 5 to 10 minutes one day and went yellow green and bile like but given urine results said UTI.

You should go to A&E, it may be a wait but you need to. Mention the colour of your urine, the vomiting and when it happens, the timing or frequency of the pain as well. Also be specific about the things the private GP suggested as well. Also mention your results being positive for protein in your urine, all of that will mean you are seen in reasonable time as certain urgent things need to be ruled out.

Frolie · 22/09/2025 22:57

I think you need to go to A&E. Take a charger, phone and a book. If you can get there early in the morning, hopefully it won’t be too busy. I don’t think it’s worth the risk of not going - you could have a kidney infection or bowel adhesions. I’ve had both and ended up being admitted for 9 days with a serious kidney infection.

mirrorsandlights · 22/09/2025 22:54

Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 21:42

@BMW6 yeasterday. This has been going on for a week and if I eat more than soup or a milkshake I vommit.

I tried some lactulose over the weekend incase liquid when i pooh is overflow arround constipation.

Don’t leave it. A friend was extremely ill with something similar. If it were me I’d go to A&E tonight. I certainly wouldn’t wait two weeks for an appointment.

Yellowrose225588 · 22/09/2025 22:52

Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:41

@Yellowrose225588 WTF were their expectations on the nail.

Its super frustrating there is no other option. Would like somethimg like being able to go down to surgical assessment unit at a preagreed time. While obviously would have to wait would avoid having to go through multiple people I have previously had an open small bowel resection, so likely picture of adhesions. I am not doing the constant vomitting of an obstruction but obviously seems to be something going on. I m passing wind.

There are options like that but you need to be referred in by a GP. If it’s an option you could see the private GP again and tell them about the long wait to see the NHS GP and ask for a referral to the surgeons. Again it does depend on local pathways but might be worth asking.

Original poster
Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:51

@ArthriticOldLabrador Its vomiting reasonable vollume happens maybe 90 minutes after eating feel shivery and rung out afterwards.

If I dont eat it does not happen.

Last week was every 5 to 10 minutes one day and went yellow green and bile like but given urine results said UTI.

OP posts:
CarterBeatsTheDevil · 22/09/2025 22:46

BMW6 · 22/09/2025 21:31

When did you last empty your bowels?

I was told that 4-5am is the quietest time at A&E. Hope it's all sorted soon, OP.

PS I have no idea how I managed to reply to a different poster, sorry. I can't change it via the edit function. New site look malarkey?

TheLivelyViper · 22/09/2025 22:46

Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:41

@Yellowrose225588 WTF were their expectations on the nail.

Its super frustrating there is no other option. Would like somethimg like being able to go down to surgical assessment unit at a preagreed time. While obviously would have to wait would avoid having to go through multiple people I have previously had an open small bowel resection, so likely picture of adhesions. I am not doing the constant vomitting of an obstruction but obviously seems to be something going on. I m passing wind.

You go onto the surgical assessment unit after being in A&E, or perhaps if you have something very serious and you've seen your GP that day, they may call A&E and you can bypass inital triage and go to the surgical assessment unit. Otherwise, they don't pre-arranged appointments in the surgical assessment unit.

You can Google or go on the NHS website and find the closest urgent care clinic to you. Or call 111 to get an out of hours appointment or do an emergency request tomorrow morning for an appointment with your GP. You can also do an online triage form with 111, if you just search 111 online form and at the end it will give you the list of places it thinks you should go to, so A&E, or wait for a call back or whatever, or the location of a clinic etc to go to, so if you dant find an urgent care etc it will tell you where you should go.

Original poster
Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:45

@Bushmillsbabe Hope you are feeling better. That is quick to get treatment!

OP posts:
ArthriticOldLabrador · 22/09/2025 22:42

Are you vomiting or regurgitating because the 2 are not the same and may help them decide how ill you are.
Regurgitation happens very soon after eating with minimal retching and abdominal contraction.
Vomiting happens after a while and there’s usually lots of active heaving to get everything up.
gutscharity.org.uk/2024/02/vomiting-and-regurgitation-when-should-i-seek-help/

Original poster
Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:41

@Yellowrose225588 WTF were their expectations on the nail.

Its super frustrating there is no other option. Would like somethimg like being able to go down to surgical assessment unit at a preagreed time. While obviously would have to wait would avoid having to go through multiple people I have previously had an open small bowel resection, so likely picture of adhesions. I am not doing the constant vomitting of an obstruction but obviously seems to be something going on. I m passing wind.

OP posts:
Bushmillsbabe · 22/09/2025 22:35

I would go to a and e. If they don't think you are in need of their care then will just send you home. Some are very quick.
GP advised me to go in on Friday. Arrived about 10.30 am. By 12 I had been triaged, was on a bed in a and e, had bloods taken and seen a Dr. By 2pm I had had a CT scan. By 3 bloods and scan results back, given meds and plan agreed with Dr.

Croakymccroakyvoice · 22/09/2025 22:24

Cynic17 · 22/09/2025 22:18

It's neither an accident, nor an emergency, so you don't waste anyone's time at A&E! If you're not prepared to wait for NHS tests, then just pay to go privately again. It's very simple.

How do you know it is not an emergency?

Croakymccroakyvoice · 22/09/2025 22:24

I would go to A&E first thing in the morning. As early as you can manage. I am not a medic but I do think it sounds like you need an urgent assessment. If, once you've been seen, they are happy for you to wait for a referral then so be it but it does sound like you may need more urgent intervention.

bigfire · 22/09/2025 22:18

OP, I would urge you back to the GP for a CT scan referral and a colonoscopy. A blockage could be a tumour and you really need to have this checked out.

Cynic17 · 22/09/2025 22:18

It's neither an accident, nor an emergency, so you don't waste anyone's time at A&E! If you're not prepared to wait for NHS tests, then just pay to go privately again. It's very simple.

Octavia64 · 22/09/2025 22:15

We have a walk in near us and they wouldn’t see this, they’d send you on to a and e.

doesn’t sound like ibs to me (I have ibs).

Yellowrose225588 · 22/09/2025 22:12

Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:03

@Squibblenutssaddly not in an area with the app.

@dollyblue01@Yellowrose225588any sense of if a walk in would assess this? I feel a fraud going to A&E when feeling reasonably ok just verry bloated, vomit when eat and a pain pressure sensation. I am in a new arrea and cant find what services local utc have.

It varies depending on your area, but in my experience this is not walk-in centre type of thing. They are usually for minor illnesses and injuries (often they do limb x-rays only).

A private GP has exactly the same qualifications as an NHS GP so I would listen and go to A&E.

It’s not the most minor thing A&E have seen by a long shot, probably won’t even be the most minor of that day (I saw a person with a broken nail once). I suggest if you feel silly then “I was advised to come by the GP” should be your opening line. However that said be prepared to wait because it’s not imminently life threatening and other people will go in front of you.

Original poster
Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 22:03

@Squibblenutssaddly not in an area with the app.

@dollyblue01@Yellowrose225588any sense of if a walk in would assess this? I feel a fraud going to A&E when feeling reasonably ok just verry bloated, vomit when eat and a pain pressure sensation. I am in a new arrea and cant find what services local utc have.

OP posts:
Original poster
Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 21:57

@GrumpyInsomniacthanks yes tried my GP online appointment request today. Its usually really good but when the receptionist called said GP thinks probably IBs. Which does not seem consistent with quite how little have eaten.

OP posts:
Original poster
Eatinghurts · 22/09/2025 21:51

@Negroany. Will try 111 I am not expecting A&E to be a quick permenent fix. I am waiting on gastro for this. Its more tests to check nothing urgent is going on. A urine test the other day showed protein in my urine so want to rule out that vomitting is kidney related and someone to have a feel of my tummy to see if the hard bloatedness is normal.

OP posts:
Yellowrose225588 · 22/09/2025 21:49

Having worked there, early morning like 4-5am, definitely midweek not a weekend, and ideally when it’s been beautifully warm and sunny the day before. You go and get triaged and then hopefully gradually bump up the list over the next couple of hours. Then the nurses changeover at 7 and the pace picks up a bit and hopefully got get seen pretty quickly.

SunnyDolly · 22/09/2025 21:47

My friends husband works in an A&E dept and says around 4am is it’s quietest time.

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