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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to expect a bit more urgency from gp out of hours?

145 replies

ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 20:23

First time ever starting a thread.

Fully aware I could be being unreasonable.

Anyway, on Thursday I started burning up, fever of 40°c, shaking uncontrollably all night, thought it was the flu.

This morning, after a really rough night, could not swallow etc, I looked in my mouth and noticed my tonsils covered in white pus.

I rang out of hours at 8.30 am this morning and I am STILL waiting for a call back 12 hours later.

I have put in a terrible day, have barely lifted my head off the pillow, sweating then freezing, cannot eat, forcing myself to drink but is very painful.

I understand that there may be more urgent calls than mine but surely if there is anything much more urgent they should go to A&E?????

I do not mind waiting but it's been 12 hours and I could cry with the pain I am in Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 20:45

Eastmid, they have known this from 830am. She could barely make me out on the phone because my tonsils are swollen and I cannot speak properly and it hurts too.

They've been informed of all of it from temp to pus on tonsils, etc but I'm still waiting. Maybe I will just head to A&e will give them another hour and if no call then I'll just have to.

I can't stick this all night again Sad

OP posts:
Passthecherrycoke · 23/11/2019 20:45

The worst thing is you probably only need a quick prescription and you’ll start to feel better later tomorrow if you get it soon. So frustrating

Kaykay066 · 23/11/2019 20:46

You can get neurofen with codeine which is very good OR co codamol might be better short term and difflam spray if someone can go to get these until you can be seen. Also drink as much as is possible whilst your painkillers are on board.

Tonsillitis is fricking awful I hope you get seen and feel better very soon

aibutohavethisusername · 23/11/2019 20:47

If your to tonsils are really bad go to the hospital as you may need IV antibiotics.

Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 20:47

I have rang before for my son and partner for tonsilitis and they were seen quicker but apparently today there is a lot more life threatening issues before me. So much so that it's taken this long.

OP posts:
HelloDulling · 23/11/2019 20:47

Go to A&E. You need drugs.

MindyStClaire · 23/11/2019 20:48

I've had a similar wait on NI out of hours when my asthma was bad once. Our NHS is in a terrible state over here. I hope you get a call soon OP.

Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 20:49

Tonsilitis really is the devil. I have never felt so run to the ground and sore EVERYWHERE. Partners says he will ring out of hours one more time and see what going on.

Thanks to all you lovely people for replies.
At least I know I'm not being unreasonable to expect a bit more urgency.

OP posts:
RoomR0613 · 23/11/2019 20:51

I had this a few weeks ago.

I've given birth twice with no pain relief and I'm the sort of person who likes to be well groomed. I'm not a wimp, but I took more painkillers in that 4 days than I have taken in 10 years.

It was so bad I drove to a supermarket pharmacy 16 miles away in my pyjamas at 8.30pm having not showered for 24 hours. They gave me co-codamol and tyrozets (which I think I have an antibiotic in them) and advised me to take one co-codamol every two hours and two ibuprofen every 4. I also sucked lozenges in between all this.

THE RELIEF and by tea time the next day I was starting to feel back to normal again.

NoSauce · 23/11/2019 20:53

You poor thing. It’s so awful. Have you tried the throat spray? It helps a bit. Hope you get sorted soon OP.

Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 20:54

Funny, I was saying earlier to partner this is worse than labour. !!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 20:55

Yes tried a numbing throat spray and think I got all of ten mins to get fluids into me.

He's through to out of hours now and they are quizzing him yet again instead of just getting me a bloody call back Angry

OP posts:
1Morewineplease · 23/11/2019 20:57

Does your local hospital have an out of hours GP surgery at A&E ?

RoomR0613 · 23/11/2019 20:57

I forgot the throat spray. Yes I had that too but it was a very temporary relief. The tyrozets and proper painkillers were more effective.

In desperation at one point I semi gargled bonjela. That was good, I think that's what got me pain free enough to get to the pharmacy Grin

Passthecherrycoke · 23/11/2019 20:57

I feel so frustrated for you. Antibiotics are sitting in every pharmacy waiting and cost the NHs like 13p. It’s not like you need convoluted care or anything Angry

Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 21:01

So he got through to out of hours gp again.

I have now got 20 calls in front of me and they are still taking more urgent calls as they come in.... she says it will be early hours of the morning before I hear from them. Not quite sure why I pay national insurance at this rate....

Morewine..... the gp out of hours I have rung is the one at the a&e and only accessible through appt which is what I have been waiting for

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 23/11/2019 21:01

My ds has been I'll for over 2 months now with a chest cough, sore throat & aching, every time I have taken him to the doctors I have been told to not waste their time last week he started being ill again, he has a raging temperature, aches all over, horrific cough, can't eat, I have tried today to get him seen at out of hours or a home visit but couldn't get him seen, I'm getting him to the our of hours clinic early tomorrow morning. He should be starting his GCSE mocks on Monday but unless there is a miracle I can't see him being well enough, I'm fully expecting him to be on high dose antibiotics or even to be admitted for iv antibiotics. I don't want to knock the NHS but when children are really poorly they can go downhill so fast.

RoomR0613 · 23/11/2019 21:01

I've just had a quick google and you can get Tyrozets over the pharmacy counter in NI too... send him for some and some proper pain relief it might be a better use of his time?

middlemuddle · 23/11/2019 21:04

Do you not have an out of hours place you can go to? We have something called Mastercall here and 111 usually send the referral for you over to them so you don't have to go to A&E.

Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 21:04

nat that is awful.

I just think it dreadful the way the NHS is going. I would much rather stop paying nat ins and just go private!!!

I really hope you get him sorted and his exams go well.

OP posts:
JenniferM1989 · 23/11/2019 21:05

I had bad tonsillitis when I was younger, about 8 years old. The doctor came out to me as my mum called them up and said I couldn't lift my head, I was crying most of the time in pain trying to swallow my own saliva and I hadn't eaten for 2 days. Oh and that I hadn't pooped either due to all the calpol she had to give me. The doctor came and got me to gargle with crushed paracetamol (foul) then gave me antibiotics. I got better quickly after that. I still remember the pain, it was worse than labour!

middlemuddle · 23/11/2019 21:05

Sorry ignore my comment OP just realised you are ringing OOH not 111 doh. Hope you get seen/spoke to soon!

Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 21:06

Middle muddle

Over here we have a&e and out of hours gp. That's it really. So if we need a doctor and prescription we contact out of hrs gp, you get through to receptionist, they put you down for a call back, the doctor SHOULD then ring you and speak with you and then give you an appointment.

OP posts:
Original poster
ginforthewin4 · 23/11/2019 21:07

Jennifer..... labour over this any day. And I never thought I would say that about anything.

I'm 27 and I think it's worse as you get older, I had it as a child too but never to this extent.

OP posts:
acatcalledjohn · 23/11/2019 21:08

My DP almost got blue lighted to A&E by the OOH nurse at the local walk in with exactly what you describe. It took me some convincing her to get her to allow me to drive him myself. This was after he'd seen an OOH GP who prescribed him meds and told him off for not seeing his GP sooner. The meds took longer than expected to kick in, hence the nurse's concern.

I would go to A&E. The puss indicates bacterial, so you need ABs. If 111 are leaving you that long then you may as well bypass them.