AIBU to go to a&e?

[Dagenhamdeb]

I’ve had bad dizziness, nausea and indigestion type symptoms and cold sweats (not prone to any of this) for an hour, I just really don’t feel right at all.

I googled the symptoms and am now worried it’s heart issues. I took an aspirin and called nhs24 in Scotland. They asked if my neck was hot cold wet or dry and I said normal
And they asked if my lips were blue and I said I wasn’t sure I didn’t think so.

They’ve said they will refer me to out of hours doctor and someone will call me back later today.

As I was googling all I kept reading was how womens heart attacks are missed because their symptoms are different.

I’m not a malingerer or dramatic, I tend to just get in with stuff, but something really doesn’t feel right, maybe it’s just vertigo or something but I’m considering just going to a&e, can’t decide if that’s over the top!

I took an aspirin before I called nhs 24 and am sitting on my floor knees bent just now (if I move I’m too dizzy)

Go to A and E OP.

My mum had similar symptoms last night, she's also overweight and in her 50s. 111 sent an ambulance, she got seen and turned out it was gallstones which was a 'relief'.

Don't be a martyr, get yourself checked out.

'I have said before. I think Mumsnet should police this kind of thread more actively. People blithely dismiss potentially deadly medical emergencies on the basis of a few lines of description - the idiocy is truly shocking.'

Totally agree. Imo the 'should I go to A&E' should be deleted as soon as posted.

Nausea and dizziness could be absolutely nothing at all, or it could be something. As soon as someone posts 'should I go to A&E' they should get an automated response saying if it is an accident or emergency yes, if not ring 111 it is what it is for. Yes this op was awaiting a call back but many posters don't even take the logical first step of ringing 111 for advice.

I was with someone when they were having a heart attack and drove them to hospital. The symptoms were indigestion, sweating and chest pain. I would get checked out but don’t drive there.

@TidyOmlette

Just a heads up. You cannot just go to A&E anymore unless it’s a real emergency. They will turn you away at the door and tell you to call nhs24.

It’s been widely publicised so not sure why people don’t know this.

Where has this been widely publicised???

I was a nurse practitioner and have worked in A+E. With an atypical indigestion-type pain plus cold sweats and being over 50 and overweight, I'd be calling 999. They'll do a quick ecg, and you may or may not need follow up in A+E. It could be lots of things, but if one of them is a heart attack you don't want to be messing around. I'd certainly never take not having blue lips as meaning that there's nothing nasty going on! Good luck OP, hopefully you'll be getting back to us later today to say that all is well.

A&E if you have someone who can safely drive you there. Otherwise 999 for an ambulance, tell them you think you might be having a heart attack.

I'm a now-retired Triage Nurse Consultant.

Re A&E being open, I took my dc there recently with a bleeding head injury and was told at the door I should have rung in advance and got a number. I had rung in advance and was put in a call queue for so long that I was already at A&E.

All the clinicians - practising or retired - on the thread are telling OP to get further assessment asap. We don't do this lightly.

Worried about the OP now :(

@TidyOmlette

Just a heads up. You cannot just go to A&E anymore unless it’s a real emergency. They will turn you away at the door and tell you to call nhs24.

It’s been widely publicised so not sure why people don’t know this.

This is just not true.

If you turn up at A and E they will always assess and triage you appropriately. They won’t turn anyone away.

@GraduallyWatermelon, it’s advertised on Scottish TV (‘the way we access urgent care has changed’) but it’s a bit confusing if you don’t look into it and take the message wrongly that you can’t go to A&E without permission/referral from NHSS24, which of course isn’t the case for genuine emergencies .

Nhs website advice

I felt like that, left it, passed out Tuesday so got taken in. I have a kidney infection, always worth getting checked

@krakia it’s not nonsense. The way we access A&E in Scotland has changed. The staff are monitoring the doors and asking people to call nhs24 for an assessment if they do not feel it’s appropriate. The days of turning up for back pain are long gone.

At no point did I say they were closed, they never have been closed.

If NHS24 had thought it was appropriate for A&E they would have advised that, they obviously don’t which is why she’s waiting for an OOH GP to call back.

Nah take some paracetamol and go to bed. Ring 111 if you think u need gp. Prob a stomach ulcer and you need lansoprazole

@GraduallyWatermelon it’s on television, radio and posters in every GP surgery, pharmacy etc. They changed it because of covid to try and reduce the amount of people waiting. There is also an appointment system now within A&E if it’s suitable.

@NeverDropYourMooncup

Phone 999.

Ambulance comes, they check if you're having a heart attack, you get treatment or reassurance.

Shocking advice 999 ambulance service is currently under huge demand, it’s not a mobile reassurance service for the worried in the community . Only call an ambulance when there’s a clear emergency

@Bagelsandbrie when was the last time you went to a&e? It’s been this way for at least 6 months. One of the first things they ask when you arrive is ‘have you contacted nhs24?’

Obviously if you come in via ambulance it’s different.

@Dagenhamdeb
Hi, have you got someone there with you while you are waiting for the call? Someone who could call Emergency if necessary, e.g. if you pass out or fall?

If not, I would call a friend or a neighbour, explain the situation.

You say you're sitting on the floor because you feel dizzy if you move? Try to get yourself to a bed or a sofa, and lay down, so your head isn't elevated and so that the blood can reach it.

My brother has problems with dizzy spells and sudden low blood pressure, we know that in his case it isn't heart related, so I give him a pack of salted crisps - the salt help raise his BP to more normal levels. I also make sure he's hydrated, with water. This might not be suitable for someone whose dizziness is caused by different issues, e.g. the heart, but at least you could ask the doctor what to take or do when he/she calls you.

Also, start thinking what happened before you started feeling dizzy and nauseous. What did you have to eat or drink? Were you resting beforehand? Why did you take an aspirin - were you in pain?

Do be careful not to fall and injure yourself while feeling light headed. If I were you, I'd call a friend to come over.

If it gets worse, call 111 again, tell them how it's changed.

Here's a very useful website for dizziness: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/symptoms-causes/syc-20371787
Have a loot at two tabs: "Symptoms and causes" and Diagnoses and Treatment". It will list questions the doctor will have for you, and the questions you can ask the doctor.

Also, stay calm, but don't take risks like standing up suddenly and quickly. I hope you feel better soon.

[quote TidyOmlette]@krakia it’s not nonsense. The way we access A&E in Scotland has changed. The staff are monitoring the doors and asking people to call nhs24 for an assessment if they do not feel it’s appropriate. The days of turning up for back pain are long gone.

At no point did I say they were closed, they never have been closed.

If NHS24 had thought it was appropriate for A&E they would have advised that, they obviously don’t which is why she’s waiting for an OOH GP to call back.[/quote]
You are incorrect with how things are operating. I’m in a&e now, the out of hours dr called an ambulance but cancelled it as my husband drove me and we live minutes away from the hospital. The out of hours doctor was horrified that nhs 24 didn’t call an ambulance as I have all the classic symptoms of a heart attack. Thankfully my ecg looks fine I’m awaiting blood teat results. So thankfully it doesn’t seem as though it’s heart related.

There is no staff waiting at the doors or turning anyone away, people are walking in and being seen. The a&e drs are also horrified that I wasn’t sent directly here

Thanks for everyone’s advice

Hope you are ok OP and getting seen.

My tuppenceworth - In Scotland and had cause to attend A&E last month for a possible fracture - straight in, not turned away (had previously tried calling 111 but got cut off and a message stating only dealing with Covid related enqs).

xpost

thanks for the update OP, wishing you well!

Been following--glad you went, OP.

Good news OP!
You’re in the right place!
Hope you get your answers soon.

So glad you are being seen. I had the same symptoms, same age, same extra weight... yes mine was a heart attack. Not much to see on ecg but blood tests confirmed it, was glad I went to a and e...