Feel so ill I’m scared

[Daffodils9]

Started Tues just gone. Can’t type much as so exhausted but frightened now. I’ve been seriously ill (hospital) twice before in my life and this feels like that but I can’t point to why exactly.
Fever, chills, intermittent muscle and joint pain, stomach pain, sore chest, breathlessness, cough, nausea and vomiting. Vomiting had stopped after the first couple of days but has come back today even though I’ve eaten virtually nothing for five days (handful of dry cereal, a cracker, etc.)
So completely exhausted and weak. Can’t sit up.

I’ve done three covid tests and they’re all negative. I’m vaxxed and boosted. The constant fever is worrying me - it comes down to 38/37.9 with paracetamol but never lower and never for more than half an hour so I am raging with it day and night.

I feel utterly desperate. We decided not to ring 111 today as I simply couldn’t cope with travelling an hour to our out of hours. We live rurally. I’m trying to make it to morning and hoping more local gp can see me.

Husband is worried and he doesn’t get worried by stuff like this usually. I don’t know how much longer I can go on like this. If flu how long before there is some respite? If not that then what? I am wondering about pneumonia or something?

Ok thank you, I had no idea of the feeling of doom is a red flag. Very informative and good to know. I have two very young relatives who died of meningitis, noone’s fault but wish someone had known of the signs. They are important.

You're totally welcome. I agree, knowing the key signs for things like this is so important. The fact that a feeling of fear/doom/"like you're going to die" as it's often worded is a red flag for sepsis has always stayed with me. It can be tricky when lots of viral/infection symptoms can overlap in how they present, but the key red flags for different conditions can be the thing that clues you in that it's serious as opposed to simply a nasty but normal illness.

I sincerely hope OP is accessing medical help right now.

Please go to A&E, you might have sepsis. Your feeling of impending doom, ongoing fever and feeling frightened are all possible signs. I know you feel unwell to travel but please go. I am medically trained. Go to A&E right now, get someone to drive you there.

Oh op I’m so sorry you’re feeling so ill. I’ve only once in my life felt like that and it turned out I had double pneumonia. You need to be checked out and it probably isn’t a good idea to wait until the morning…. these things always get worse overnight.
Give 111 a ring. I know you’re exhausted and ill but it’s really important.

Hi, I’m a nurse and I hope by now you’ve dialled 999. You sound very unwell.

temperatures are always higher at night because the body’s cortisol is lower at night (so your temp will be harder to keep down overnight)

the feeling scared can be a red flag for sepsis (feeling of doom/fear)

chest pain = always 999!

Me too, and thanks again. I agree this is incredibly important.

You lost two, that’s awful! I’m so sorry.

So many of these scary illness threads lately! Please get help op!

Sending hand hold OP, it sounds awful. As others have said, better to get checked out. I really hope you’re on the mend soon.

This is a 999 jobby.

Honestly go to a&e Ignore rude drs and complain to PALS afterwards if it happens, , the blood tests will show if there infection markers and you probably need IV antibiotics. Don't becme very seriously ill or die because you are worried about a rude or an ignorant DR.

sore chest and breathlessness= go to hospital.

I had similar symptoms last year but with no sickness tempt that would come and go for days then suddenly re-appear, I was still working but barley have 2 young kids and couldn't physically look after them, one afternoon I was so poorly I genuinely thought that it was it I was going to die dh said that it's you have to go to a&e, he was right had sever pneumonia and sepsis. still makes me feel ill thinking what would have happened if I had left it a few more days, was in hospital for a week and made full recovery but was really scary at the time. Wouldn't hesitate to go and been seen now and always urge others to get it checked out

Yes, one 17 and one 12. It went so so quickly.

Get yourself to hospital OP. Hope you feel better soon x

I hope you’re seen quickly in hospital OP good luck

I hope you've at least rung 111 by now. Hope you're on the mend soon

A&E isn’t the nicest place to go but if you’re unwell then it’s the best place to be.

The last thing you want to do is go to bed and have to get out in the middle of the night.

The earlier you go, the earlier you can go home.
Take a bottle of water, snacks, phone charger, cash and a good book.

If you’re too unwell to drive then DH can take a blanket and sleep in the car whilst you’re waiting.
Then he’s close by if you need to go home, need things collecting from home or need extra support.

@Daffodils9 I can only agree with previous posters. Your symptoms are strongly associated with sepsis. The feeling of just wanting it to all go away so you can sleep and feeling like you could die are very typical.

You can't afford to wait for 111. You either need to be driven to your nearest A&E, or call 999. Sepsis is a medical emergency and in your situation, with your symptoms, it's sepsis until it's shown that it isn't.

100% agree.

I expect we won't hear back from OP till she's had some treatment and feeling a bit better. Hopefully she feels all of our support and care through her screen when she checks back!

Hopefully OP has got help by now !

I had similar symptoms recently & turned out it was food poisoning- very scary .

Is the 'feeling of doom' actually a real symptom though? Why sepsis and not flu? Genuine question.

I felt like I was going to die when I had covid, both times

That’s awful.