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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

A&E/GP or not?

13 replies

WagtailRobin · 24/11/2019 03:15

Hi,

Wondering if a few people might give me their thoughts on the following (and yes I do realise none of you may be doctors etc)...

For about 8 months I have had extremely loud wheezing, loud to the point it has kept me awake (and others in my household) but has not caused me any difficulty with breathing. On this basis I did keep putting off going to my GP.

Last week I woke with a really bad chest, flu-like symptoms and was struggling to breathe. I got an emergency GP appointment and was prescribed a 5 day course of an antibiotic, a steroid and given an inhaler (a blue one), for what my GP thought was a chest infection.

I finished all of the medication taking the last doses on Monday there but I am no better for the most part; I no longer have a sore throat/ears but I am still wheezing, have a very tight throat, a "hard" cough, nasal/throat congestion and with every cough my head and face absolutely kill, the pain in my forehead, bridge of my nose and cheeks is really quite bad.

I feel I am struggling to breathe, it's hard to explain without sounding dramatic but I feel breathing is an effort and as if there is not enough air going into my lungs. I have been unable to get any of the mucus to come off my chest (at all), I am constantly coughing but nothing has come up, my nose however is producing a lot of thick/clear mucus.

It's the wheezing/feeling I am being starved of air that is concerning me but I am someone who hates going to hospitals/GPs because I worry I will waste their time, I also have an anxiety disorder and therefore I worry about silly things (This is not a panic attack and my anxiety is under very good control).

I have Hypothyroidism (medicated) and also medicated for my anxiety; Can anyone suggest what the wheezing/breathing struggles could possibly be and whether I should see my GP again/go to A&E?

The wheezing is really bad, I sound like a singing train whether I am upright or laid down.

OP posts:
HarrietTheFly · 24/11/2019 03:23

Hey op, could it be an allergy? I had a similar problem about 12 years ago. I ended up in a&e using that breathing machine (sorry can't think of the name) and was given steroid tablets and an inhaler. I was living with a friend at that time and eventually worked out I was allergic to her feather duvet and pillows. As soon as I moved back home I was fine.

Passthecherrycoke · 24/11/2019 03:25

I’d go back to the GP Monday- it’s being going on for ages and you don’t say it’s got worse?

Greyhound22 · 24/11/2019 03:39

I think you should pop up a&e OP if you're struggling to breathe. Have you got someone that can take you? I don't think you're wasting time at all. You really shouldn't have left left the wheezing all that time! Thanks

Shahlalala · 24/11/2019 03:41

Struggling to breathe is not ok! You need to be seen.
Call 111.

Pixxie7 · 24/11/2019 03:43

If your still wheezing it could well be asthma take blue inhaler 4 times a day if breathing deteriorates go to a and e or go you could need some oral steroids.

WagtailRobin · 24/11/2019 03:45

@HarrietTheFly I hadn't thought of an allergy, it could be but it is constant (the wheezing) no matter where I am.

@Passthecherrycoke Sorry yes the wheezing is not getting better and has deteriorated further in the last week or so.

@Greyhound22 Thank you, yes I have someone who could take me.

OP posts:
Makinganewthinghappen · 24/11/2019 03:49

If you are truly struggling to breathe then you need to see someone. Have you tried our of hours gp? Or in a few hours the walk in centres will open? It’s hard to say how urgent it is without knowing what struggling to breathe looks like but either way I hope you feel better soon .

ThePawtriarchy · 24/11/2019 03:52

Pneumonia? 5 days antibiotic might not have been the right one or enough. I would go to A&E because anything breathing related shouldn’t be messed with but also for X-ray purposes.

WagtailRobin · 24/11/2019 04:06

@Makinganewthinghappen Yes I am truly finding breathing difficult; I've just in the last 15 minutes contacted the out of hours GP, we don't have walk-in centres here.

@ThePawtriarchy It was Amoxicillin 500mg 3 times a day and the steroid was Prednisolone, 8 tablets a day. I am going to definitely see someone today about it, waiting on the out of hours doctors returning my call but if they don't I will go to A&E. Thank you everyone.

OP posts:
Makinganewthinghappen · 24/11/2019 04:11

In that case i think if ooh doesn’t call back pretty quickly a and e would be best.

I had pneumonia a few years ago and it needed iv antibiotics. Weirdly I had no cough, or chest symptoms at all - but I never seem to do things “right”.

lotsofstripes · 24/11/2019 05:03

OP I had amoxicillin for a chest infection which didn’t touch it, I like you was sat up in the middle of the night really struggling to breathe. I went to out of hours and got stronger antibiotics. Flowers for you as it is probably one of the most frightening experiences of my life, lying awake having to take those tiny little breaths because it feels like you just can’t get air into your lungs... I really hope you’ve managed to be seen x

ThePawtriarchy · 26/11/2019 06:27

How are you @WagtailRobin

Pixxie7 · 26/11/2019 06:48

If you haven’t responded to oral steroids you really need to go to a and e.

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