Can’t decide whether to bother gp

[Iamtheworst]

Yes, I know, Internet strangers aren’t the place to look for help but hear me out.

Cough for a week, annoying but not dr worthy. Totally able to carry on as normal. Then yesterday wheezing which I’ve never done before. By 9.30 at work was getting breathless coming up stairs, like panting for breath after totally normal activity. By 11 finger tips were numb. This scared me so I decided to head home. Work very reasonable.

Gp had no appointments and suggested I call 111 after 6 to see if they could help me. I went to bed and basically slept till 7. Then a whole mess of family crap kicked off and I didn’t call.

Been up since 5 this morning having coughed myself awake. My breathing is crackly and bubbly but it’s been like that for a few days. Still heavy breathing after the stairs. But I didn’t bother calling 111 yesterday so I think I should head to work.

DH thinks I should stay off and see a dr but that’s also because the family nonsense is likely to carry on over the weekend and he wants me to opt out I think.

I’m definitely not struggling to breathe like in need of emergency help. And I had what I felt was a chest infection 4 years ago and the gp didn’t listen to my chest and gave me a dressing down for taking up an appointment with a cough.

Work is mainly sitting in front of a computer with a lot of phone work.

I cannot work out if it’s dr worthy.

I would, with the wheezing you had yesterday and the cough being worse today. Ring them first thing as they open and hopefully they will be able to fit you in.

From what you have explained I think getting checked over would be the most sensible option

Ok. Thanks, it sounds stupid but after the last time when I thought I had genuine need to be there and gp wouldn’t entertain it I don’t trust my judgment.

You're probably not struggling as much this morning, as you've been resting. Go to the Dr's today. If you went to work, you'd probably end up in the same situation as yesterday. Hope you feel better soon.

I don't like the sound of that at all, and your GP has no business scolding you for seeking medical advice.

Ask to see a different GP if it's possible at your practice.

You don’t get any choice about gp and generally I believe a nights sleep and 2 paracetamol cure most things. But I think if I can get an appointment today I’ll be more forceful and insist they listen to my chest (which is probably a placebo or something).

Thanks for the replies. It’s the bubbling/crackling that’s bothering me most because it sounds so weird.

Sometimes I wish there was a designated grown up you ask questions to when you need another opion on things. Mumsnet provides.

@Iamtheworst how did it go?

I went to the gp who said that he would normally be sending me off for chest X-rays and an ecg with my symptoms but that I didn’t seem that ill - which I definitely didn’t.

So home with instructions to look out for severe pain or actually feeling not well.

I felt like I’d wasted everyone’s time but I’ve slept on and off all day and am just up. Kept thinking I was getting a leg cramp too

Thanks for asking though. I’m glad I went.

I’m an A&E consultant and I’d be happy to see you.

Ok, escapingtothecountry I’m taking you at your word. If I’m not any better tomorrow I’ll head off to a and e.

I’ve also briefed DH on what to do if i suddenly get worse cause obviously a grown arse man wouldn’t have a clue.

Just as a warning, when I had pneumonia and plurisy I felt fine when I went to the walk in centre other than a pain in my chest. I was then sent to a and e where I was diagnosed and needed 4 weeks on antibiotics and ended up pretty ill, I nearly ignored it as at that point I had no real symptoms and just went to shut people up! I only avoided being admitted because I (very stupidly in hindsight) said I would discharge myself anyway as it would upset Ds (autistic) too much

It’s definitely weird because I can’t get up a flight of stairs without panting. My finger tips keep getting cause I can’t really feel them. Apparently my throat is really infected too but my glands aren’t up and I only have a nominal temperature.
I’m either awake and frustrated or asleep.
Thanks for all the messages though, makes me feel less like a faker

Sirzy, where was your pain? I've had right side rib pain since Monday. Went to OOH last night because I can't keep on top of the pain, can't take a deep breath/hurts to sneeze, laugh, yawn etc. Dr examined me, no chesty sounds, heart rate was high, stomach and back tender pretty much everywhere, gave me codeine, amoxcillin and lanzoprozole. No change today :-( she advised to go to GP Monday if no better.

Sorry to hijack Iam, hope you feel better soon

That seems a bit odd from your gp, I presumed they listened to your chest?

From experience, chest infections are not something to fuck with. For several days I was very up and down, in bed all day crying, the next waving dh off to work cause I felt fine, until I was delerious and could hardly breathe with the worst pain I've ever felt. Pneumonia and collapsed lung.

He listened to my chest but even I could tell it was fine at that point. Now if I open my mouth it sounds like I’ve been eating popping candy.

I think I have the opposite of white coat syndrome, whenever I’m in front of a dr all my symptoms disappear and I apologise for wasting their time.

I was 100% fine. Went to bed. Woke up with agonising pain I tolerated for two days to be diagnosed with pneumonia and pleurisy. No other symptoms. No cough, no phlegm. Chest xray was so bad weeks later after wheezing and breathlessness I had a ct to check for tumours but it was just a deep infection. Be careful. You may feel OK but it's worth checking out. I literally just felt tired.

OP if you are going today, go early. Best time to go to A&E at the weekend is before 10am, preferably go around 8am, when you have a bunch of fresh new doctors and the queue is shortest.(this applies to all A&Es) If you go after lunch take a picnic, a phone charger and a thick book. Good luck.

You need to go back.

It sounds like it could be a chest infection. Evidently they can present strangely.

I had a fever and rapid heart rate for 3 or 4 days. No cough, no wheeze. Ended up in a&e where they suspected sepsis but could find no infection. Nothing to see in chest X-ray, breathing sounded fine when they listened. But my inflammation markers were sky high in my blood results.

I didn’t have sepsis, I had phnumonia. With no cough until I was 2 days into my hospital stay.

Go back. I spent a week last winter sitting on the sofa crying and coughing and wheezing while 'D'P told me it was nothing and I was making a fuss. I went to see the gp in the end and a lovely doc gave me antibiotics signed me off work and told me not to be so brave next time. Not sepsis or pneumonia but still a week of my life wasted.