Infection help

[hotdogsjumpingfrogs]

Hi! Hoping someone can give me some pointers as my GP is being useless.

I feel like I've got a serious infection, I think it started from some eczema on the back of my head.

More and more of my skill is super tender to the touch, I'm struggling to concentrate as in so much pain, i don't register as having a temperature but I'm sometimes shivering, sometimes sweating, zero appetite. Lymph glands in head and neck are swollen.

First GP said I must have pulled a muscle in my neck, and maybe had covid if I felt ill. Offered a referral for a cancer check if I was worried about lumps. I said I felt like I had an infection, and wanted antibiotics as I'm feeling so terrible. She said ' oh we don't give antibiotics for covid' (lft is negative, I don't have any covid symptoms)

Still felt dreadful 2 days later so asked for a second opinion. Second gp also seemed confused by my, asked how my mood was want if things were ok at home. Finally agreed to send me for some blood tests.

Rang surgery today to ask for results of blood test, they said it showed higher lenders off crt (164 if that means anything) and asked me to go back in a week for another blood test.

I just don't think I can cope with feeling this ill for 2 weeks, should they not be trying some kind of medication? It feels like the gp doesn't know what is wrong so they are just hoping a get better by myself.

It may also be worth noting that my resting pulse is 98, which they say is fine, but I'm a runner so it's generally 50-60... is this helping them misunderstand?

Has the GP seen the patch of skin you think is infected? Is it weeping etc?

You could go to the pharmacist and have them look, or speak go a GP online, or call 111 as alternatives. Otherwise if worried I would directly ask the GP again why they do not believe you have an infection, and what the plan of treatment is for your symptoms and bloodwork, ask them to explain them again.

I'm not sure what 'higher lenders of CRT' refers to, are you sure this is correct? Have you got a copy of these results you can refer to? I would ask for one and then you can satisfy yourself. 'CRP' levels are often tested for to ascertain inflammation, along with ESR and then a blood culture done to identify if a bacteria is present. Presumably these were also tested and came back ok?

It is impossible to say unfortunately OP, what measurement is this '164' in? That number seems at odds with the system of measurement which is a range of markers under 1mg/L to over 3mg/L at a highest risk range for CRP, last I checked.

It may well be viral, sinusitis, virus etc rather than bacterial which would mean all there is to do is wait but that doesn't mean you can't ask for pain relief or try OTC meds. I hope you feel better soon.

Sorry! Yes, higher levels of Crp, I found this on the internet

Levels above 100 mg/L are severely elevated and almost always a sign of severe bacterial infection.

And I'm on the maximum dose of ibuprofen.

They've requested I wait a week, I guess they are planning to do the blood culture then? If I'm still feeling ill?

That doesn’t sound right, call 111 and explain your symptoms and how ill you feel. CRP level plus your symptoms is suggestive of infection, what does the infected area look like?

It's on my scalp so they couldn't really see anything

Thank you for this help! I do really appreciate it!

Thank you! Rang 111 who sent me to an out of hours gp who gave me antibiotics! Hopefully will get better soon now

Quick update! Now home after 5 days in the HDU ward at the hospital, as infection was so advanced by the time I had any treatment.

I will be changing my GP surgery to one that doesn't try to kill me.

I hope you put a complaint in. It's disgusting that you were dismissed like that. It's not uncommon for women to be treated like this though.

Thanks @BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation

I've already requested my records as a starting point for a complaint...

@hotdogsjumpingfrogs

Quick update! Now home after 5 days in the HDU ward at the hospital, as infection was so advanced by the time I had any treatment.

I will be changing my GP surgery to one that doesn't try to kill me.

Thats medical malpractice and you should record and report both incidents formally and request an explanation in writing. You could have had sepsis. So sorry. Hope you are well.

That's disgusting. I'm so sorry you were dismissed like that. Definitely put in a formal complaint. So was it infected excema?

Yeah, I'd been digging over flower beds in one of our dodgier parks a few days before I started to feel ill, so I suspect I got some manky soil in a cut which led to the infection...

You need to report for malpractice, that's so awful I'm glad you called 111. Hope you are feeling better.

The level of care is awful right now.

Yes, I think I will add myself to the 'mumsnet saved my life' list.

If @user842 hadn't told me to try again with the medical treatment, who knows what would have happened!

I’m so glad you are doing better, but what an awful experience for you. I think you are absolutely right to put in a complaint x

Bloody hell OP. I am so glad you are ok now. I also had a GP question my mental health when I was trying to get sinusitis treated so I am livid reading you had a similar experience. I hope you have formally complained to your practice?

Sorry, I missed the parts where you said you are complaining. Good for you.