... to go to A&E tomorrow?

[weirdtoenail]

I’ve had breathing difficulties in the evenings / at night for a while now, about a month maybe – wheezing, chest tightness, etc. (Doctor recently prescribed me antihistamines, which I subsequently realised I can’t actually take because I’m still breastfeeding my ds2.)

For about 5 months, I’ve had this horizontal ridge on one of my big toenails, which I’ve tonight discovered is called a Beau’s Line. Apparently (and this is all from Dr. Google, so y’know…) it can indicate a lot of serious things, including heart attacks etc. Had assumed for the last 5 months that it was just some weird toenail illness, but then decided to look it up tonight after discovering that another one was developing on one of my other toenails.

So now I’m sitting here wheezing (like every night) and worrying a bit. DH wants me to go to A&E tomorrow. I’d feel like a massive idiot going in because of a weird looking toenail (bear in mind my wheezing will be gone by the morning), and am more in favour of waiting to make a GP appointment on Monday.

But then I also don’t want to have a heart attack and die…!

WWYD?

Is ir an emergency? Because that's the key element to decide whether to visit the Emergency dept

Well, that's the thing. I don't know? I guess I ultimately don't think so, because I've had both these symptoms for at least a month, but I can also see why DH feels otherwise.

If you can wait till tomorrow it ain't an emergency!!!!

Why can't you go now? It would make sense to go whilst you're wheezing. Really though if you're waiting for tomorrow you may as well wait until Monday and see your GP, because if you can wait until tomorrow then it's not really an emergency.

Ring 111. They will tell you if you need an out of hours GP appointment.

If nothing has actually got worse other than your response to Internet search then it can likely safely wait for GP.

Hope you feel better soon

I agree that if you can wait until tomorrow it isn't an emergency.

Please do not be that idiot in A&E. This is not an accident. It's also not an emergency. And people wonder why A&E is the way it is. You have self diagnosed yourself through Google and are now asking strangers on the Internet if you should go to hospital. Do you generally have issues with anxiety because this doesn't sound normal.

If it's only at night it sounds like an allergy. You can get lines on your names for a variety of reasons including stubbing your toe or dropping something on it. You need to work out what's causing the allergy and if possible eliminate it. Do you sleep with your windows open? Do you Hoover your bed mattress? Have feather pillows? For me it's dust or pollens which is hard to avoid completely but it's possible to make it bearable. I know people don't think wheezing is that serious but a severe asthma attack can kill - maybe pump a few bottles worth and take the antihistamines for a while. Also get and take the brown (or purple) inhaler twice a day. There's no need to live with wheezing

You should have went back to the GP, or bought antihistamines that you could take.

Breathing problems are always worse at night and it can be scary (I have on/off lung conditions.

Beau's lines can be from a lot of non serious reasons.

You don't need to go to A&E for this. Sort out some more antihistamines and monitor how you are.

they have these nifty people called out of hours GPs you can see if it isn;t an accident or an emergency and you don't want to wait until the GP is open.

Another clever thing is if you can't take a prescribed med as you are breastfeeding- then call the GP when you realize rather than wheezing away until something else comes along to worry you they can often prescribe something else over the phone if they have just seen you.

Either way I am willing to bet you will still be alive on Monday morning 8am to book an appointment

*toenails not names grrrr

Yes that's what I thought Llamas. I think I will ring 111 tomorrow, and then probably get a GP appointment on Monday.

MrsRyan well yes I do, but at the moment I'm not feeling anxious - more wondering if I was being cavalier with my health, as my DH seems to think.

Are you sure you can't take the antihistamines when breastfeeding? There are some that you can. Check the breast feeding network drugs in breastmilk website or contact their helpline.

No you shouldn't go to A&E, you haven't had an accident and you have no emergency.

Make an appointment and see your GP next week. Your wheezing might be uncomfortable but it's obviously not life-threatening if you've had it a month, already seen the GP then not taken followed up if you couldn't take your antihistamine. Your toenail is far far more likely to be a fungal infection than an underlying heart condition!

Hand your DH a grip from me, it's attitudes like his that cause the massive waiting times at A&E.

Thanks for other helpful responses! Will look into the advice. (Less thankful for the sarky replies, but I know that's how it goes on AIBU...)

Get an appointment with GP on Monday and tell GP what you have written here. So easy to get lead down the wrong path by Google. The fact that the breathing issues are only in the evening, are they just when you are in bed? You haven't recently changed your pillows or bedding? For around 7 years I used to need an inhaler when we stayed over at the in laws, but only in the evenings like you. It was due to feather pillows which I'm badly allergic to, but we didn't know this. Hope you get a satisfactory response and find the two things are linked. Nail bed issues are commonly a sign of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and even anxiety - there are loads of things that can go wrong with our bodies so try not to assume your problems are the worst kind.

I just think that it this doesn't come across as a normal, rational way of thinking. I can't imagine how you would begin to explain showing up at a&e explain you haven't took the medication the gp gave you,oh and by the way I may have a heart attack as I have a dodgy toe. This honestly sounds like someone with health anxiety or something, that's why I asked.

Typo! Hope you find the two things are NOT linked!

Are you asthmatic or do you have known allergies (eg hayfever, cats, dogs etc)?

I've had asthma since I was a kid. Turns out it's allergic asthma and I'm allergic to loads including being seriously allergic to dogs, cats, grass and dust mites (we have a dog).

I went through a period 6 months ago of often waking up in deep sleep, wheezing and gasping for breath. Sometimes I was dreaming I was drowning or being suffocated. I was also totally wiped out in the day as I just wasn't sleeping properly as I couldn't breathe.

One new inhaler (Qvar) and half an antihistamine each night (may be ok if you'd BFing, I don't know) before bed has sorted it completely. I sleep much better and I don't feel knackered each day as even subconsciously the wheezing was really affecting my sleep.

Only you know if it's truly an emergency. But do get an emergency appt on Monday at the very least.

Oh and I have a ridge in one big toenail, it's nearly grown out. I don't worry about it personally, they can happen for lots of reasons.

As we say at work A&E stands for Accident &Emergency , not Anything & Everything!

If you call 111 I bet they send you to hospital, they have to cover their arse.

Also , don't confuse your Google search with a medical degree !!

I hope you feel better soon though .

Some of these replies have been really helpful - thank you! The wheezing does generally start when I lie down in bed, and I do have a cat allergy...

I do have a cat allergy

Do you have a pet cat ?if so does it sleep on your bed ?

Nope. But the mattress I lie on is really old (rental property). Maybe that could cause it?

You don't need A&E .
It's GP out of hours i would call.
Give them your symptoms and see what they say .
A doctor should call you back within the hour.
However,if you feel really un well and your breathing is becoming a problem then you should call a ambulance.
Good Luck