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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DM is overreacting and I don't need to go to A&E (Not Coronavirus related)

109 replies

Chaosdragon · 28/03/2020 14:28

Last Monday one of the dogs headbutted me straight in the nose. Horribly painful. almost instantly swelled up to twice its normal size and my vision went blurry. The swelling has mostly gone down now, leaving me with a bruise and its obviously painful to touch but on the whole its OK as long as I don't touch my nose, cheek or eyes.

However, I am still having blurry vision in one eye, and this has worsened into headaches and a sort of dull numbness all over my neck arms and back. I foolishly mentioned this to DM earlier in a phone call , when I said I hadn't driven out to the supermarket as I didn't feel up to driving, and she has obviously been putting my symptoms into the 111 checker as she has sent me a photo of it telling me to ring 999 and since rang me up several times to berate me for not doing so, and says if I don't do something she will call it for me. She does have form for being a bit precious.

Having attempted to duplicate this its obvious to get that result I need to pick this options "head injury in last 7 days" and "blurred vision". I assume the danger is some sort of brain bleed or the like, but surely a headbutt from the dog is not in the list of things that would cause that?

I have half debated compromising going to A&E just to shut her up, but I assume that the hospital has enough to deal with right now and really its not an essential journey.

So AIBU to do nothing despite my "symptoms"?

OP posts:
chocoholico · 28/03/2020 15:31

I am with your mum. go and get seen.

don't bother with 111. even if you get through, they will send you to A&E.

Sewrainbow · 28/03/2020 15:35

Another hcp saying get to hospital! Blurred vision can be serious. Serious injury and illness that isnt covid still needs to be sorted out. I went with my son last weekend with acute abdomen symptoms, if it's any consolation we were actually seen quite quickly!

CanIHaveAPenguinPlease · 28/03/2020 15:35

Hopefully you are being seen...

SunshineCake · 28/03/2020 15:35

You could be stubborn and decide you are right but what if next week you're dying in a hospital of a brain bleed and your mum can't get to you ? Better check and be safe.

Newschapter · 28/03/2020 15:36

I hope you rang? And that all is in hand Flowers

WhatTiggersDoBest · 28/03/2020 15:37

Good luck at A+E! Flowers Let us know how it goes!

browzingss · 28/03/2020 15:40

I went to A&E last week, and recommend you seek medical assistance.

I was worried about catching covid-19 and wasting NHS time. My GP asked me to go & said A&E has a 4-6 hour wait - which didn’t help my nerves. No one wants to be stuck in a hospital waiting room full of ill people for that long if they could avoid being there!

My injury meant I needed to go to A&E for an x ray but it wasn’t serious, so I assumed that I’d be triaged as a low priority so considered not going.

I’m glad I went as they were very stringent about who was allowed into A&E, including temperature checks at the door! This meant that A&E was very quiet, there were 2 other people in the waiting room so I was seen and discharged quite quickly. There was a longer wait to get an X-ray than it was to be seen by a doctor.

LakieLady · 28/03/2020 15:40

Definitely A&E. A head butt is a head injury, and if your vision is affected it needs checking out.

And I'm not one for going to A&E for every little thing. I once went to work for 3 days with a sprained wrist that turned out to be 3 fractures!

Upthehillanddownagain · 28/03/2020 15:41

Just because CV is rife doesn't mean that every other health problem miraculously goes away.

I was due a consultation on Tuesday, nothing at all to do with CV, it was changed from face to face to telephone. Afterwards I got a call on Thursday telling me to go in yesterday for some urgent tests.

Other stuff still happens, get it examined.

Gammeldragz · 28/03/2020 15:44

Another nurse here, please go to A&E as you may need a head CT.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 28/03/2020 15:44

Your mum's right though, the ongoing blurred vision is a bit of a worry. I'd at least ring 111.

Orchidflower1 · 28/03/2020 15:49

@Chaosdragon have you gone to a and e ?

diddl · 28/03/2020 15:49

Sounds as if it's a good job you did mention it to your mum tbh.

Blurred vision for a week & now worsening symptomsHmm

nocoolnamesleft · 28/03/2020 15:51

It might not be your brain that's affected. It might be a traumatic retinal detachment. Of course, untreated that would still leave you at risk of going blind that side.

For pity's sake, covid or no covid this still needs better assessment than we can do over the internet. Seek medical help.

Original poster
Chaosdragon · 28/03/2020 15:55

Well weirdly the 111 nurse has told me to get a doctors appointment on Monday if I don't feel any better.

She said that as it happened on Monday if I had serious concussion I would have deteriorated badly by now and be drowsy and vomiting which I am not. That the situation at hospitals is very serious right now and that from talking to me I sound OK and alert and well enough. Obviously if it continues to worsen then to call 111 back but otherwise to ring my GP on Monday for an appointment.

Ironically I was getting ready to go to A&E when I got the call back from her and now going seems a bit well... I don't really know what to do.

OP posts:
NewName2020 · 28/03/2020 15:55

You'll be on hold for hours trying to get through to 111 and they'll only send you to hospital anyway. Go now.

NewName2020 · 28/03/2020 15:56

Oops cross posted, and proved wrong!

Original poster
Chaosdragon · 28/03/2020 15:58

Ha newname. I didn't ring them. I used their online service to get a call back. It said it would be within 6 hours though so they were exceptionally prompt.

OP posts:
QuestionableMouse · 28/03/2020 16:01

You have had a head injury.

Your symptoms are getting worse.

You have blurred vision.

Yes you need to checked out.

Pentium85 · 28/03/2020 16:01

Blurry vision is very, very concerning.

Please get seen.

annie987 · 28/03/2020 16:02

I’d be tempted to go anyway.

tara66 · 28/03/2020 16:03

What about going to A + E, out patients at an eye hospital if there is one near you - they may still not be dealing with the virus. Like the Moorfield or Western Eye Hospital in central London.

Original poster
Chaosdragon · 28/03/2020 16:04

I was honest with her about blurry vision and the pains in my neck / back and the size of the dog (45kg). I think she just thinks a dog headbutt couldn't do that much damage .. she said if it was a person it would be worth getting checked out as that could do a lot of hidden damage.

It just seems a bit wrong to go to A&E now shes told me not to, so I might see how I get on and it the weirdness in my neck and stuff get worse or my eyes, go straight to A&E.

OP posts:
Alsohuman · 28/03/2020 16:05

Your mum’s absolutely right. What on earth would it take to make you think you should go?

HarrietThePi · 28/03/2020 16:06

Glad you're going to get it checked out op. I'm not the type of person who's constantly down the doctors/a&e but really think this needs to be seen. If they think you can wait until Monday then maybe you can, but don't forget they're under a lot of pressure and probably used to time wasters, so if there's any doubt in your mind about waiting until Monday, I think you should just go to a&e.