Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask for a GP appointment today for this?

117 replies

lalalalyra · 03/01/2017 08:55

My surgery does on the day appointments only. Today is going to be manic as they were shut yesterday. They are also not opening phone lines until 9am when it's usually 8.30am.

My right foot is swollen - the top of my foot from the end of my toes to just before my ankle. It looks like I've burnt my foot in hot water or something. There's a perfect red mark on the top of my foot - ankle, sides and toes are normal colour and size - and it's all tight, like when you get sunburn, but it's not sunny, I've not burned it on water and I've not fallen or twisted or anything.

It's not painful, but I've had to take my slipper off because of the swelling so I'm wondering what I do if it keeps going? Or what could possibly have caused it.

I have absolutely no idea what has caused it. I know they'll be struggling for appointments today, but I'm a bit alarmed. It wasn't swollen/red at 5am when I got up (thanks to the baby the day starts early) and I've done nothing to it.

The other thing putting me off going is that I have a cold. I don't want the Dr to think that's why I'm there (it's not that bad, asthma is controlled - absolutely no need ot see them about it) and nor do I want to pass it on.

WTF could it be??

OP posts:
Madeyemoodysmum · 03/01/2017 09:37

Try an anti histamine. Could be an allergic reaction to something (food, bite, medicine). I get hives all the time with out warning. enlarged red area puffy and itchy and tender
If it doesn't go down with anti histamine get that appointment.

MountainPeaks · 03/01/2017 09:38

Hi OP

Does it look like it's spreading? Is it hot to touch?

Please make sure you get an appointment this morning if yes to either of those.

With regards to the receptionists that's awful - ours have a policy of not asking what is wrong - for same day appointments we fill in a form and the GP assesses us.

Pooka · 03/01/2017 09:39

If not GP, then could you try the pharmacist? I find mine very good as a triage really.

Does your GP only offer app ointments in the morning? Ours opens appointments for urgent issues at 8am for the morning and then again at 1pm for the afternoon. Non-urgent appointments are usually available within 7-10days. But I've never not been able to be seen on the day if urgent.

pudcat · 03/01/2017 09:40

Can you go to a walk in clinic or minor injuries?

Madeyemoodysmum · 03/01/2017 09:41

I also get hives if I have a virus and just read you have a bad cold? Last month 20 appeared all over me in the space of 2 hours as I had a bad virus.

Madeyemoodysmum · 03/01/2017 09:41

Good idea to see chemist

JorahsMissus · 03/01/2017 09:44

I would pop and antihistamine while waiting for the drs to answer and then if you don't get an appointment there and the swelling hasn't reduced in about 2 hours time I would be off to A&E but then I've had blood clots before so I am panic stricken at anything that COULD be a clot and probably over react to things like this.

C8H10N4O2 · 03/01/2017 09:46

Is the person triaging you medically qualified (ie practice nurse or one of the GPs)? Ask them if they are a triage nurse or similar. If they are not medically qualified they should not be "assessing" you over the phone based on their own prejudices.

My practice had a receptionist who used to do this -- eventually generated so many complaints that she seemed to disappear from the phones. Fortunately not all of them were like this but it was a bloody pain to get her esp for someone who was ill and not assertive.

DailyFail1 · 03/01/2017 09:47

If you can't get a GP appointment then this actually does warrant A&E. it's likely you will be sent to A&E anyway as they need to do all the tests.

NormaSmuff · 03/01/2017 09:48

i take it you dont have a minor injuries unit op?

Purplebluebird · 03/01/2017 09:50

Yes I would go see my gp. I had this issue many many times when I was 19-20. Was not overweight, had no physical health issues, just a foot that would swell and go red from time to time! Went to the gp and had lots of checks on it, they never found out what was wrong, and after several months it stopped doing it. Very strange!

NavyandWhite · 03/01/2017 09:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ophiotaurus · 03/01/2017 09:55

I had cellulitis in my c-section wound and it was very difficult to get rid of. I had to take four courses of antibiotics. I hope you get an appointment.

Bunnyfuller · 03/01/2017 10:02

Not read whole thread but sounds like cellulitis - emergency appt with GP definitely.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 03/01/2017 10:03

Yes I'd get into the docs with sudden swelling. I suffered cellulitis for months once after getting bitten doing the gardening a few years back. Didn't even know until I needed routine blood tests and the nurse pointed out my feet were infected (was wearing open topped shoes). I'd been to the GPs the week before with the redness and itching and a different nurse had told me it was just my eczema and to use more moisturiser. Could have been a lot worse.

You definitely need seeing asap with the sudden swelling to rule out anything serious. My Mums leg once ballooned in size within hours. Was down AAU by the evening and being put on thinners for a DVT.

Original poster
lalalalyra · 03/01/2017 10:04

Still not got through. Giving it ten minutes then I think I'll be going to A&E as it's swollen more. The redness isn't spreading - it's still just the top of my foot, but my foot is now so swollen I'm having to really think about what show to wear.

No minor injuries locally and the treatment room in the surgery also closed a while back. It's basically GP or A&E.

Pooka They offer appointments "on the day, every day". In reality they offer appointment to the first however many people can get through between 8.30 & 9.30 (or 9 & 10 today I'd imagine - I'm still trying). There's no booking in advance - not even when you see the doctor and they say "come back in 2 weeks".

The receptionists triage on the instruction of the practise. One is very good at it - she quite quickly books you in with the right person or organises whatever needs done without an appointment if possible. The other - well you might as well be trying to access the NHS's top medical professional for a touch of a cold as far as she's concerned. They are however swamped by patients because another practise locally shut and they've lost three GP's to retirement and haven't been able to replace them so I do sympathise - it's just an asbolute pain in the arse.

I already take anti-histimine each day so I'm not sure if I can take more.

There's no point going into the surgery - if you don't have an appointment they won't see you.

OP posts:
ScarlettDarling · 03/01/2017 10:09

I'm not a medical professional but when my brother had cellulitis it started very much like this, rapid swelling and redness. You really do need to be seen as soon as possible. If it is cellulitis you need to be put on antibiotics asap. Hope it turns out to be nothing though.

MountainPeaks · 03/01/2017 10:12

DO you have a walk in rather than A and E?

Or call 111 for advice and they may be able to get you a GP appointment... ?

MountainPeaks · 03/01/2017 10:13

Sorry just read your update about no minor injuries locally.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 03/01/2017 10:13

Wouldn't cellulitis be very panful though?

Good luck OP.
The GP appointments' game is a real disgrace.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 03/01/2017 10:14

I've always been off the impression that the receptionists asks what's wrong because they need to triage ? Confused

Ie. Patient with chest pains needs seeing in the morning.

Patient with sore throat can wait until the evening type of thing.

Also I didn't know until before Christmas, some patients will need seeing in the morning as they need to send samples off by a certain time.
DD has recurrent bad ear infections. Got her an after school appointment before Christmas and she was put on ABs. Nurse told me to make sure she gets a morning appointment next time as she will need to send an ear swab off. I stupidly asked why they'd need to do it in the morning until it was gently pointed out to me the samples have to be sent off to the lab by a certain time! Grin.

OP if you get through and the receptionists think you're exaggerating ask for a call back. Can you draw round the swelling now in case it swells even further?

Lilaclily · 03/01/2017 10:14

I just rang my gp to make an appointment and all I could get was Friday morning Shock

galaxygirl45 · 03/01/2017 10:15

Sounds like cellulitis and you really need to get on antibiotics as soon as possible. You don't need to go to A & E but you really need to see a Dr today and insist upon it.

AwaywiththePixies27 · 03/01/2017 10:15

Wouldn't cellulitis be very painful though?

Not necessarily. Mine was initially just very very itchy with no other symptoms hence the first nurse telling me it was an eczema flareup. It was incredibly painful once the infection properly set in though.

ophiotaurus · 03/01/2017 10:16

I forgot to say our gp is like this in the mornings and is a nightmare to get through to.
I use BT ring back. When you hear the engaged tone you press 5 and as soon as the phone is hung up at the surgery it rings at your end and you pick up the phone and it's automatically ringing them.
Not sure if you have a BT line but if you do it's an add on
This might be helpful for the future?