Help. Do I go a and e or not?!

[Imknackeredzzz]

Hi all would really appreciate some advise.

yesteday I woke with a terrible throat, thought nothing of it, got steadily worse.

Today I’ve got a sore chest everything I breathe in and a cough that could wake the dead. My eyes are also sore when I open them and I feel rather sick.

ive take three Covid tests and all negative and I’m now running a temperature of 38.5-39.5. I feel terrible like a weight on my chest and head.

shall I get myself checked out? Or see how I go? Im unsure and on the fence. Don’t want to waste anyone’s time. It’s just come on so suddenly.

111 have said I need a call back but likely not till early Hours

thoughts?

I’m sure it’s probably just viral- but equally may not be

It doesn't sound like you need A&E, although obviously no one here can tell you either way. Sounds like an unpleasant virus but not an emergency situation unless you are having problems breathing. Take some paracetamol and see how you go.

You'll be sitting for hours on a Sat evening too, so unless it really is an emergency I think you'd be better off at home in bed than sitting in a waiting room for hours.

flu? What would hospital actually do? Nothing sounds like it needs hospital care so far. Do you have a sets monitor? If not could you buy one from Amazon?

Hope you feel better soon

Is your breathing affected?

I would just assume covid (negative tests or not) and stay away unless I felt my breathing was affected.

Why on Earth would you go to A&E?

Don't go to a and e, wait for the call back, you can alternate paracetamol and ibruprofen and difflam or similar for your throat

Sounds like a nasty cold flu, unless you’re struggling for breath, Sats drop, blueing o lips I would personally be going to hospital

^sats! And the last thing you want to do is be passing whatever onto other people at hospital.

I hope you're ok OP, sounds awful :(
I would give 111 a call back and tell them things are getting worse and you're struggling before going to A&E and then hopefully they can get you checked over by a GP.

Ok that’s what I thought- don’t know why I thought a and e really just scared myself how bad I felt and so suddenly I guess.

however I’ll ride it out :)

I don't know where you are but in my region the call back from NHS 111 will be quicker than you could be triaged in A&E even if you were sat there now. I would wait for NHS 111. If they were very concerned they would have sent you in on the first call rather than wait for an advanced triage call-back.

Are you actually struggling to breathe?

Can you get to a pharmacy? They will be able to give you something for the sore throat and may be able to give you some advice

Wait for the 111 call. You might need antibiotics and they can prescribe them for you to collect from a pharmacy. A and E isn’t necessary unless you’re literally feeling at deaths door with it or can’t breathe properly.

Coming on suddenly is a definite flu thing

When you're feeling ill like this I think a little bit of panic does take over and you wonder whether you should be seen quickly, I totally get it. But I would stay at home, dose myself up with as many painkillers as I could and try for a good night's sleep. You would be sat in A&E for hours on end and that won't do anything for how you are feeling. Reassess in the morning if you are feeling very unwell and perhaps phone 111 for an out of hours doctors appointment. Hope you're better soon 💐

I wouldn’t to be honest, but I’m not you and don’t know how you feel.
I’d pop a few tablets, ibuprofen and paracetamol and have an early night.

Sounds horrible. If you are struggling to breathe or feel like you can't get enough oxygen in your body, that's an emergency so call 999.

Otherwise, your are better off waiting for the 111 call back and take paracetamol for the fever and pains, also keep your fluids up.

Hope you feel better soon

Sounds horrible but think your being a bit dramatic suggesting you need a&e.

Fluids and rest, with paracetamol/ibuprofen is the best way through most viruses.

However you sound worried, and anxiety can be a symptom in itself. I can't go through the 'red flags' easily, but 111 can. (I used to work in a nurse-led call centre, private but with similar algorithms) Call them and follow their advice if they see something more than generic viral. It's what 111 is for.

Have you swabbed your throat or just your nose?

Unless you’re actually struggling to breathe then no you don’t need a&e.

The long waits at A&E at the moment mean I honestly wouldn't go there unless I felt I was dying. If you're feeling rough, sitting for 10 hours in a plastic chair isn't going to be a nice experience. I'd wait and speak to a GP. A&E only if you start to have trouble breathing or your temp gets dangerously high and won't come down.

Agree with this, swab your throat as well next time you test. Omicron can come on quickly too but seems to show up better on an LFT if you swab your throat.

I’d wait for 111 or find a walk in centre if you have one. It sounds horrid.

Sounds nasty OP.
agree with swabbing the throat. For both me and DS our tests were negative in the nose but blazing pos in the throat and I felt just how you describe.
paracetamol or co-codemol, ibuprofen, lucozade and rest.

Paracetamol to bring down a temperature. Lots of sleep, lots of fluid, get someone to bring soup if they can.