It's 3 am and I'm awake in a lot of pain

[Echobeachsomeday]

I posted in another section about a swollen finger (swelling had begun to spread ). Fast forward two days and the swelling has spread over most of my hand, and I can't use it normally. I've tried arranging an e- consult with my GP , they didn't call during the time the NHS app had stated. I went to a pharmacy and they said I needed to see a doctor. I tried calling the surgery multiple times when I noticed the symptoms getting worse and didn't get through till 6.15 pm yesterday which was too late to be seen.

I called 111 soon after and they arranged a call back from an out of hours gp , which didn't happen ( I appreciate they are very stretched) .

The swelling is still spreading over the back of my hand and I'm supposed to be working my last night shifts as a carer today and tomorrow and can't use my hand properly.

I feel bad calling in sick on what is supposed to be my last shifts in this job as I am concerned they will think I'm just trying to get out of working 😕.

I would have gone to my local minor injury unit but they've changed their policies and you can only go if you have been given an appointment via 111.

Sorry this is so long , I'm just lying awake thinking lol , I will try again with Gp's around 8 am.

Hope you're doing ok

Hope you’ve been seen OP, sounds like A&E definitely the right call in case of cellulitis/sepsis. Let us know how you are

I'm glad you should have been seen by a doctor by now. I had this myself some years ago & it's potentially very serious. It's extremely painful, giving birth was a breeze in comparison. Mine was Septis. I was in hospital for a few weeks, it was touch & go fir a while, but thankfully I recovered fully & with full use of my hand.

I really hope you are okay & are now being treat & it's either not the same thing, or that you are as lucky as I was. 💐

Hope you have been looked after and are getting some rest.

Hello 🙂 I've had surgery today on my hand to drain the swollen areas as they thought my tendon sheaths were infected due to me not being able to move some of my fingers normally.

I'm a bit woozy (was under general) and my hands heavily bandaged but I'm glad that it was done and hoping that I will be a lot more comfortable now . They've said I will be in for the rest of the weekend to keep being on a iv drip,

Thanks everyone for checking how I am xx

Poor you OP.
I got the shivers when I read your post.
Glad you have been seen and treated, next time please don't delay...
Hope you feel better soon...

Glad you’re being looked after - what an experience! Hope you can get out of hospital and recover ASAP.

@trickyex lesson definitely learnt! Will not wait so long if there's ever a repeat

@foxgoosefinch thank you for your kind words x

I'm so glad for you that you got the call back, and have been looked after, even if rather later than it should have been. Sending good healing vibes.

lesson definitely learnt! Will not wait so long if there's ever a repeat

You did better than me, I waited longer 🥴

Glad to see your update & that you'll be out soon, sounds like you caught it in good time, I left mine a day longer & nearly lost my hand as a result.. thankfully the hospital were fantastic & saved it, but at want point I had to listen to them discussing whether they needed to remove it.

You'll need hand physio when it's healed, on top of the hospital physio, I used those Chines Baoding balls any time I was sitting relaxing. I got full use of my hand back as a result, even though the doctors weren't sure that I would

Good luck 💐

Call 111 ask them to refer you to their approved pharmacy - we did this today and got antibiotics for an ear infection

Sorry didn't read the whole thing - good advice for the future though

I had an infected finger a few weeks ago. I left it all week and it wasn't until the Friday that I thought I maybe should get it looked at.

Luckily antibiotics cleared it up for me. I'm pleased to read you have been seen to and are on the mend

Glad to hear you're ok.

xx

Wow! Great news got it sorted. V impressed with surgery so fast at weekend.. They must have thought urgent, thank God didn't leave any longer.

Wishing a swift recovery OP :)

So glad you are ok. Easier said than done I know, but do take it easy and take care if yourself, no rushing back to work too soon.

@Whatwouldnanado thanks lovely x

@RockinHorseShit wow that must have been scary! Coincidentally the out of hours Gp I spoke to from 111 after seeing pictures of my hand said that I should take penicillin and wait for 5 days! I'm glad I went in when I did!

@Luckingfovely thank you 😊 hopefully be going home today or tomorrow x

@NiceGerbil I know , it was very fast! I'm impressed too! Thanks for checking up on me I appreciate it xx

Glad you're doing well, OP Are you on anti-biotics as well?

@TrevorFountain thank you 😊 , yes I have had about 10 iv bagfuls of antibiotics in the past 36 hours x

@neonorchid
That's good that you were able to get it sorted with antibiotics, thanks for your kind words x

Coincidentally the out of hours Gp I spoke to from 111 after seeing pictures of my hand said that I should take penicillin and wait for 5 days! I'm glad I went in when I did!

Wow that is scary. Admittedly I had no idea how dangerous & potentially life threatening it was, but 111 medics should be better informed. Is raise it as a complaint as their advice could kill someone else who listens 🥴

I showed mine to a chemist & their response was... that's very serious, you need A&E right now, don't wait... I stupidly thought they were overreacting & travelled the length of the country home instead & went to bed. Lesson learnt when my whole hand swelled up like a balloon full of razor blades, because I waited

@RockinHorseShit
That must have been agonising! Im glad they were able to save your hand as that does sound extremely severe xx

my Colleagues at my new job who had seen my hand were telling me to go in on Wednesday and Thursday. I thought the same as you , that they were overreacting, plus I thought I would be wasting Hospital staffs time , and stupidly stayed at home 🤨 🤦🏽‍♀️. I went to one pharmacist who said antibiotics and GP. The second one I went to (for codeine ) did say hospital which helped me make up my mind to go in .

@RockinHorseShit
Regarding the out of hours GP , I can't remember her name , i will have a look and see if there's a way or recording a complaint or query online