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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to consider calling an ambulance

18 replies

thelifeinyouryears · 26/05/2011 02:27

Have been fluctuating between unbearable levels of icy cold and hot sweats for several days now - hard to describe but not a feverish feeling. Saturday night out-of-hours Dr. confirmed it wasn't an infection - which I already knew - and provided no further help. I suspect it's being caused by some sort of hypothalmic interference,I have a brain tumour in this area.

I'm not so much worried about the cause, as can no longer cope with the symptoms. I took sleeping pills on Sunday to sleep then tried to cope without them since, resulting in very little sleep which seems to have caused muscular back and stomach ache. I can't take sleeping pills tonight as (a) it is too late and (b) I have several appointments tomorrow which I don't want to miss, although it's questionable if I will make them. Today, I made it to the loo twice and to the sofa for a couple of hours, in bed the rest of the time.

I just need relief from these hellish symptoms, but don't want to cause a fuss, and be left feeler more unwell, if all they can do is pat my hand.

AIBU to call ambulance? Do you think a hospital could help?

OP posts:

strawberrymewmew · 26/05/2011 02:33

Have you tried phoning NHS 24? However I think if you are feeling extremely ill and can no longer take it, you should get to A+E, if an ambulance is the only way you can do that, then so be it.

I'm sure they will not think you are causing a fuss, far from it.

Librashavinganotherbiscuit · 26/05/2011 02:35

Why haven't u been to your GP?

Parietal · 26/05/2011 02:41

If you need more medical care than is available at home, then yes, call the ambulance. Or a taxi to a&e?

strawberrymewmew · 26/05/2011 02:41

Bump in the hope someone more knowledgeable will know what to do.

QueenStromba · 26/05/2011 02:41

If you want to call and ambulance but are worried that you're making a fuss then you should probably call an ambulance. I've left myself in agony with an impacted bowel for days (which fortunately sorted itself out), didn't do anything when I was running a 40 degree fever every time I stopped constantly drinking water (should have been on an IV, still haven't properly recovered 2 years later), not gone to hospital several times while having a severe asthma attack etc. Each time it was because I didn't want to make a fuss but each time they would have taken it very seriously because these were potentially life threatening situations.

MrsCog · 26/05/2011 03:47

Not sure about ambulance but prob best to go to a&e - taxi?

Original poster

thelifeinyouryears · 26/05/2011 03:59

Thank-you everyone for your advice. My brain had panicked and not thought of NHS Direct strawberrymewmew, I've given them a call now and I'm waiting for a nurse to ring back.

I saw my GP last Thursday Libra, and he knows I have temperature regulation problems, although he does not know the extent to which they have worsened over the last few days. He recommended I see my psychologist in case there was an anxiety angle, she is convinced it is physiological and referred me to my oncologist, who referred me to my endocrinologist. My endocrinologist's secretary and I have shared twice/thrice daily phonecalls this week trying to arrange an appointment, there appears to be some difficulty around the concept of calling me back...

I love the idea of getting a taxi Parietal, but have no cash, and I know I'll begin to get cold & shaky when I leave my bed and couldn't cope with stopping to get cash etc. Great idea though!

I'm sorry to hear you had such bad experiences QueenStromba, but my problem is not a potentially life threatening situation, it is that I know almost for certain that my situation is not life threatening. I suppose my question is, is A&E ever appropriate when your level of discomfort is so high, but not a danger to yourself? Or should you free up the service for the needy, and grin and bear it.

OP posts:

QueenStromba · 26/05/2011 04:10

It's 4am, I don't really see you having any other options for medical care at this time of night and you sound pretty needy to me. I also don't think it will be busy at all at this time on a Thursday morning. NHS direct are almost definitely going to tell you to go to A&E anyway.

QueenStromba · 26/05/2011 04:15

And generally most people in the A&E waiting room don't look like they have a thing wrong with them. I know that not all conditions are immediately obvious but normally you can't see any bleeding, obvious pain or discomfort, difficulty breathing etc. The number of people you see going into triage who look perfectly healthy is ridiculous.

lulalullabye · 26/05/2011 04:48

Queenstromba, you have obviously no concept as to what goes on in A&E. It is the worst time to go to an A&E department and there is very obviously another door than the triage one! You would probably be the person who stands in the waiting room yelling at the triage nurse that there is nobody else waiting to be seen having no concept of what is actually happening behind the other door.

Thelife, you have a definite need to go to A&E. You need to get the pain treated that comes from the other problems and that is what A&E is for in an acute situation. It doesn't have to be a life threatening situation and where I worked you would treated very seriously. As for the ambulance they also would have no moral problems about you calling them

Original poster

thelifeinyouryears · 26/05/2011 04:59

The NHS direct people ran back. Nurse and Dr. both lovely, but said they would put me through to out-of-hours team as they can see medical notes. Out-of-hours Dr. said the only way to warm up cold people is blankets, and there is nothing a hospital can do so I would be wasting their time.

OP posts:

izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 26/05/2011 05:00

Because it seems apparent that you are not the type to make a drama out of crisis or vice versa, IMO you should dial 999 and get yourself transported to A&E

Don't be your own worst enemy - go get some relief now.

izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 26/05/2011 05:06

Do you have thermometer? What is your temperature?

Raeray · 26/05/2011 07:33

Can't believe the oncall doc says the only way to warm someone is blankets!! If you are seriously unwell you can have warmed Iv fluids and a bear hugger blanket(which is kinda like 2 blankets with a hair drier Blowing through the middle- but without the noise and prob far more technical!!). Hope you're feeling better this morning.

strawberrymewmew · 26/05/2011 10:48

I really hope you went to A+E. A very high or low fever can be dangerous!
I had tonisillitis and went to A+E after much faffing about thinking I would be bothering them. They put me on a drip and ambulance rushed me to another hospital!

I really hope you are okay.

QueenStromba · 26/05/2011 12:40

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

ipswichwitch · 26/05/2011 12:59

OP, you mentioned you have a brain tumour in hypothalamus area. do you see a consultant for this, because i would ring him/her. they're the experts in this type of thing and may have more appropriate advice for you, or at least get you in for emergency appt n check you over.

lulalullabye · 26/05/2011 13:20

In reply I did read all your thread and you obviously know that you don't get any medals for being stupid. If you have a life threatening disease you should call 999 and as an asthma sufferer you should know this yourself.
I was pointing out that your advice given to the op was wrong and the thread was not about saying how I'll you are and how brave you were but helping the op!
I was not assuming anything, just going off what you had written.

Thelife, I hope you did go to a&e. As you probably know the hypothalamus is the temperature regulating part of the brain and if the tumour is affecting this area then this can affect your body temp.
I hope you are getting help and feeling warmer

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