Anyone around... scared

[DarkSuitsSadSongs]

I'm home alone with my 12 year old twins as my husband is working away and not due back until tomorrow evening. He's about 6 hours away.

Over the last few days I've had a painful boil under my boob. I saw the GP today as it doubled in size overnight. There is a red circle around it. She prescribed doxycycline (2 a day) and said to phone back if it gets worse.

I've been getting more and more unwell. My left arm has started tingling, I'm sweating with cold hands and feet, the pain is indescribable and I'm exhausted. I slept for 6 hours this afternoon and I'm still utterly exhausted and all my joints hurt.

I've had to phone my father in law who is an hour away to come through to sit with the twins. I'm on hold to 111 but a 45 minute wait to call answer as a minimum they said.

I'm not sure whether just to call a taxi when FIL gets here to go straight to accident and emergency.

I'm a little freaked out at how unwell I feel.

I would definitely go to A&E when your FIL arrives. You’re clearly not well at all. What’s your temperature?

You really need to just get yourself to a&e, sounds like you might need IV antibiotics

Just go straight to A&E. I hope you feel better soon

How far away is your FIL? Do you have a neighbour who can come be with you now? Have you told your children you are unwell and what to do if you become worse?

You can also do 111 online and they’ll call you back. https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-symptoms

Temp is 38.1 but it's not the most reliable thermometer.

Father in law is a 45 minute to an hour drive. He left about 25 minutes ago.

I have explained to the children. DD is autistic but my DS knows what to do.

This doesn't sound great OP. I am not at all usually advocating for A&E but you do sound quite unwell so I think it would be sensible to get seen this evening. To be honest with those symptoms if you rang 999 you'd likely get an ambulance (I say that as someone who has worked for an ambulance service in the past - admin, not clinical - so don't say it lightly).

Edited to add - sorry read that back and sounds like I'm trying to scare you. I hope you're able to speak to someone quickly and get seen tonight.

You don't sound well enough to drive. Can you FIL drive you to A&E when he arrives?

How long will the taxi take to get to you? I think I would ring the ambulance.

Ex A&E nurse here. Go to A&E. Some of your symptoms may indicate sepsis and you may need IV antibiotics. You need to be seen tonight

Also agree you need A and E. Keep us updated, I really hope they get you sorted swiftly.

I was thinking sepsis too (I've had it, I honestly thought I was dying, I've never felt so ill). If you feel like you're rapidly declining, definitely phone 999.

She's already said that there's a 45 minute wait for her first call to be answered.

Just go to A&E either by cab or if your DD would be able to tolerate going in the car with all of you to drop you off. It is that important.

Get a bag ready; water, phone charger, essentials. Take the meds with you from the GP. Comfy clothes on. Have a plan for your children for the next 24 hours just in case. Get yourself in as soon as you can. Is your taxi service good enough? Should you just be getting in the car with FIL as soon as he arrives?

If they are 12 and have a phone I'd leave them for the half hour or ask a neighbour to come over to stay with them, and I would go to a&e now. I hope you are ok and feeling better soon

It could be a reaction to the antibiotic. I had horrendous pain shooting through my body and joint pain. It turned out it was serum sickness and within 12 hours I was fine again. Best to get checked out though.

Thinking of you, OP!
I hope you can get to a hospital soon, and that everything will be OK.

Maybe FIL can meet you at the hospital? And then take the kids back home from there? I know you don't want to freak them out, esp the autistic one. But it would be good to get yourself sorted.

Taxi is likely to be a lot quicker than an ambulance. I’d go straight to A&E when your FIL arrives

The call handler is just getting a nurse to join the call.

I will take a taxi to accident and emergency if I need to.

I have just had a similar experience… mine started with a UTI and I got very ill over about 24 hours (aching joints, high temp, racing pulse). Went to Urgent Care expecting stronger antibiotics and was placed on the sepsis pathway. I did know I needed help but hadn’t appreciated how ill I was. Best go to A&E asap.

I’m a nurse and agree you need to be seen. Don’t wait for 111 or even 999. Ambulance service is massively stretched. I’d suggest calling for a taxi to come in 15 minutes so it should arrive by the time FIL gets there.
Agree you should pack a small bag with a phone charger, change of clothes, PJs, any regular medications plus the antibiotics.
Hope you get seen quickly.

Good luck @DarkSuitsSadSongs , sounds like an awful infection has taken over.
I hope FIL arrives and you get seen very soon.

Are the kids still awake? Get them to help you get some bits together. Charge your phone now and grab a power bank if you have one.

Sounds like cellulitis or sepsis. Ring and book a taxi.

Grab anything you might need to take overnight and jump into a taxi. Just to warn you that 111 may send you to out of hours instead of A&E.

Hope you feel better soon