Please tell me I'm not sick enough for A&E again

[Minorityreports]

I just have norovirus or something but it has been going on for 5 days now with no signs of abating. I'm sleeping most of the time, when not vomiting or having diarrhoea. I've slept approx. 20 hours out of the past 24 and I'm still exhausted. Just sitting up is an effort. No pain apart from diarrhoea cramps and burning in my stomach when I drink anything.

But that’s very rare @ClientListQueen. A&E is also full of people who are just fine and could’ve accessed treatment elsewhere

@whatsleep you generally have about 7-8 weeks between noro infections before it gets you again. Spot on about door handles etc, also avoiding touching the face/eyes. I think it can survive about 24 hrs on surfaces.

To be honest, despite lots of people having opinions, mumsnet is not an appropriate place for medical advice. People on here can't see you, assess you or have the right medical training to decide. There is clear instructions from many different sources about when to go to A&E and as previous posters have correctly said, it is for emergencies such as strokes and heart attacks. I don't really understand why people come on mumsnet for medical advice and then just seem to ring 111 anyway. No one on here knows if you are unwell enough to need to go to A&E.

I was in A&E with severe tonsillitis, dehydration and admitted overnight on fluids, steroids and antibiotic drips... All I did was type type type because firstly I couldn't physically speak as my throat was closing over and secondly because it was such a welcome distraction from the pain and fear (health anxiety, hate hospitals) so it's completely ridiculous to say that just because you can type on mumsnet you shouldn't be at A&E 🙄

@Clientlistqueen Cauda Equina is super rare (and horrific, hope you’re ok now) but even with that you have a longer window than something like stroke, AAA, heart attack, and thus you make a bit more sense for a bit longer! I found they didn’t let you do much while they treated aheart attack, what with the wires into arteries and defib strapped to your chest 😑 note to self: don’t do that again.

On my second trip in (unstable angina, another artery about to go bang) the paramedic said I was the sickest patient she’d had in 6 months and hated that she might be delayed getting to something genuinely emergent due to the ambulance misuse that is rampant.

@Bunnyfuller sadly not as rare as they seem to say! I have 4 friends who have had it which is why I always am on here on back pain threads banging on about red flag symptoms because I honestly believe it is a LOT more common than first thought
I worked for the ambulance service for a decade so I get it. It's the OP previous sepsis that is a bit concerning as OP might not have the reserves a "healthy" person would for noro

Im often admitted for "just fluids"

A&E isnt just for strokes and heart attacks.
Thats a stupid thing to say

@Passthecherrycoke

-the op is alone and unable to eat or drink and has been for four days
-she has uncontrolled sickness and diarrhea
-she is recently out of hospital
-111, while a useful thing to have, do not get it right every time.

All of these things say she should seek more medical help. Paramedics can and do assess patients at home and can advise if they need to go to hospital.

My dad had a heart attack a few years ago. His only symptom was indigestion type pain. If we'd listened to 111 he would most likely be dead right now. We didn't and he's fine.

Cauda Equina is super rare

I've known two people have it, so it's not that rare.

Look, I'm not able for the drama, so I'm out for tonight.

@OctoberLovers umm that's why I said "such as" if I'd meant it was only for those two things then I would have said "only for"

111 send you to A&E constantly anyway, I really don't know what the point of them is.

Although it's news to me that A&E is for heart attacks and strokes solely

I've had all sorts of things which required A&E. Pancreatitis, gastritis, sepsis, pneumonia....

Call an ambulance. The underfunding of the NHS is not your fault and, given recent sepsis, you need to be looked at by a clinician tonight. IMO.

I completely get why you're worried given the recent sepsis as it could all be connected. Did the 111 person fully understand that you had recently had sepsis? Is there anyone you can call that can be with you to look out for you for a bit op just to keep an eye on you and be there to get help if you get worse? Completely understand why you don't wanna sit in a&e feeling like you do.

Me too OP....

So many things. Iv been in A&E for and never once have they told me i shouldnt of come.
Viral meningitis. Pneumonia. Plurisy. Flu
Blood clot on the lung. Viral infections that required fluids. Bacteria infections.
Stomach bug.
Enlarged spleen.
Enlarged liver which caused hepatitis.
Stomach pain. Chest pain. Fast heart rate
Dydration. Etc etc

@Minorityreports hugs op. There's nothing worse then being so sick and having no one to look after you.

Could you ring the shop as ask them to drop over the coke and you can pay them at the door?

I really think you should ring 111 again. You've been through the absolute ringer lately by the sounds of it. Sepsis is no joke. Your immune system must be really compromised.

There is nobody I can call.

I’m a nurse and I seriously think you need to be in hospital. It could be a delayed problem from the antibiotics but with the lack of fluid and faecal incontinence I think it’s concerning. I hope you hear back from 111 soon. Worst case scenario call a taxi and put some sanitary pads and towels under you and take a bucket?

I also think you're more than justified to call an ambulance. There's a difference between a one off random bout of nurovirus (which wouldn't usually require medical attention) and nurovirus/sickness/diarrhoea following a recent sepsis diagnosis. That would ring alarm bells to me and I think you need to be really watchful of this as it could be connected.

PLEASE LISTEN TO FAITH

@minorityreports who said it was "solely" for heart attacks and strokes? If this is a reference to my comment, read it again because I said "such as". There is plenty of guidance about what A&E is for and you will see listed examples such as mine. Blimey.

Shop is closed now and I got the coke.

It’s unfair to say if you can type on mumsnet your not A&E worthy. I had pre eclampsia with a bp of 170/230. I felt 100% fantastic. I could have run round the block and looked great. Any moment I could of had a fit , stroke or died. I would have been happier at home and could have walked out and driven home easily.

You can be moments from sudden untimely death and appear fine for lots of conditions. In my case the symtoms was swelling in a seven month pregnant woman. So even that was normal. IF it wasn’t for a routine midwife appointment we would have both died appearing outwardly fine