What counts as "urgent" for a same day doctor's appointment?

[NovemberRose90]

Fully up for being told that I'm absolutely being unreasonable! I keep getting bad headaches / feeling sick and throwing up, can't look at light and so on, over the last month or so... just rode it out the first few times, but it's really getting to me now. I was trying to get a doctor's appointment, but they are all booked up till next month so I've called a couple of times in case of cancellations. This morning one of the receptionists told me that I could call tomorrow first thing for an urgent appointment if I feel that it's urgent, but I am not sure it is! I don't want to waste appointment time when it really probably is something that could wait, but I'd rather not wait another 3 weeks at the same time! I know I sound a bit overdramatic about a few headaches, but they are getting to me and it's so debilitating!

What do you think- be cheeky and beg an emergency same-day appointment or just wait it out?

I suffer with chronic migraines and cluster headaches, the only thing that even slightly helps is naproxen but even then it's hit and miss. You really need to be seen, especially as this started a month ago and you've had more than one episode since then. It's probably migraines but it might not be too.

The receptionist said I should ring for the same-day appointment if I have the headache again... which makes perfect sense, except that when I have had these headaches the last thing I've felt like doing is going anywhere at all! I might just hope it's not going to happen again and wait for my regular appointment meanwhile...

Thanks though!

Go to the walk in session OP.

The receptionist has been... unhelpful about this. She’s also wrong, as a previous GP admin on the thread has said.

The rule about migraines (anyone who has them should know this, as well) or any headache is first or worst. Either one means you need urgent treatment. Since you’ve never had migraines before, no, you shouldn’t be waiting until November for an appointment.

OP - if the headache returns and it is worse than any of the previous, do not fuck about, go to A&E.

OK, I'm going to take the plunge and go to the walk-in session tomorrow morning!

The worst that can happen, I guess, is that they refuse to see me!

Good call OP. I doubt very much given your symptoms and the fact you can’t see your own GP for a month that they will refuse to see you. Let us know how you get on.