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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DH says I’m wasting NHS time. AIBU?

448 replies

Tulipelle · 14/03/2022 11:45

For the past two weeks I’ve had a persistent headache which is absolutely relentless. It’s an excruciating sharp shooting pain in one side of my head which just will not go with OTC painkillers and it’s been present non stop all this time. Contacted my GP last week who thought it could be a migraine (no other migraine symptoms, not made better by darkness etc) but the maximum dose of migraine medication doesn’t touch it either. Noticed the pain is getting more intense over time and tried my GP again, who can’t fit me in for another appointment for another week. I’ve barely had headaches before and certainly not a persistent one for this length of time and I’m seriously concerned about the fact it’s getting worse rather than better and is impacting me both mentally and with my work (I’ve barely been able to work since this came on 2 weeks ago).

Spoke to DP this morning as I’m at my wits end and considering contacting 111 for some urgent help/investigation. DP says it’s clearly a migraine and I shouldn’t waste time contacting an emergency number and should wait out my GP appointment. Would appreciate your thoughts, I don’t want to waste anyones time but I really am at my wits end with this pain Sad, surely this isn’t normal?

OP posts:
S4RA · 14/03/2022 14:01

Go to your local hospital this needs investigating ASAP Shock

Satsumaeater · 14/03/2022 14:01

I hope you get it sorted OP, please do come back and update.

I also wanted to suggest going to an optician as well.

I had a series of bad headaches a few weeks ago and had a routine opticians appointment coming up anyway, he just said I needed glasses and I got myself a separate screen so I am not squinting at a laptop. I also had a neck and shoulder massage and have also been taking sage complex in case it's my age/peri-menopause. It has been much better, I just thought I would try to deal with any possible triggers. Pain-killers weren't working for me, either.

candycane222 · 14/03/2022 14:02

Why does it matter what your dh days op? Your body, your decision. He can offervan opinion if you are interested. He doesn't get to tell you what to do, or be unpleasant to you, unless he thinks you are in immediate danger ie if you weren't taking it seriously enough. He does not get to "tell you" not to seek medical advice, or to be a twat about it when you do.

Does he often make your life uneccesarily difficult by being a twat?

Satsumaeater · 14/03/2022 14:02

(I get migraines anyway but they go away with iboprofen and a can of cola - these headaches weren't)

Branleuse · 14/03/2022 14:03

If seeking medical attention for unrelenting debilitating pain for weeks is wasting NHS time, then what is it for

Satsumaeater · 14/03/2022 14:03

Does he often make your life uneccesarily difficult by being a twat

and this. I wish people wouldn't act as if using the NHS should be a last resort. We pay a lot of money for it!

veevee04 · 14/03/2022 14:04

Please ignore your DH and phone 111/ go to A&E . Even if it turns out to be nothing it's better than if it's something serious that has been ignored.

AryaStarkWolf · 14/03/2022 14:07

@FinallyFluid

My DH was similar, I ignored him, I had head and neck cancer.

Not saying this is on the same level, but IGNORE him.

Jesus, I bet he felt like a cunt after your got that diagnosis. I hope you're OK
Inkyblue123 · 14/03/2022 14:08

Have you tried the opticians? I had a family
Member fobbed off by the GP and he went to Boots for an emergency appointment/ they spotted mini strokes. I’m not suggesting that’s what you have - but it is another checkup you might want to consider.

rach2713 · 14/03/2022 14:13

I hope you get your headache sorted. I suffer with migraines and they aint nice at all.

bozzabollix · 14/03/2022 14:14

My husband is a medical professional and would be packing me off to the doctors with that. Hope all is well.

Denny53 · 14/03/2022 14:14

Same symptoms. Just had a brain tumour removed. So you are not wasting Any one’s time. I went to A&E they scanned me. Told me diagnosis that afternoon was admitted Thursday had surgery Friday and allowed home hopefully weekend.

me4real · 14/03/2022 14:21

YANBU, it needs checking out. If you regularly had migraines or whatever it'd be different, but you don't.

endofthelinefinally · 14/03/2022 14:21

@implantreplace

A medical colleague of mine was actually at work when he was diagnosed with a CSF leak. He was complaining about a nasal drip and a headache. We were all pretty surprised.

OP, either A&E, or failing that, your local optician can do some basic checks and, more importantly, can send you to A&E with a letter. Mine sent me off to A&E on a Friday afternoon and I am extremely grateful as I am still having treatment and follow up a year on.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 14/03/2022 14:23

You likely just need some heavy duty analgesic to hit it on its head (sorry) and which your GP has dismally failed to provide

Original poster
Tulipelle · 14/03/2022 14:29

Thanks everyone. As an update, I spoke to 111 and they are arranging for a GP to call me back today. Really hope something can be done today so I don’t have to go another night with this pain Sad

OP posts:
SNUG2022 · 14/03/2022 14:38

Good luck.

TravellingFrom · 14/03/2022 14:42

I've had a similar issues in January @Tulipelle
The first resaction from my GP was to ask me to come for a face to face appointment. They cjecked ky blood pressure, the back of my eyes and reflexes. Basically they check if there wasn't any brain issues going on.

It's only then that we started to talk abouyt other ways to deal with the pain.

You need to see by your GP again and yes 111 seems a good bet.

Fwiw my headaches that didnt go away with any OTC medication (or only with cocodamol if taken early enough) when away with high dose of magnesium plus aspirin.

Juniper68 · 14/03/2022 14:42

I hope you get something to help.

TravellingFrom · 14/03/2022 14:43

xpost @Tulipelle.

My advice would be to make a list kf all your symptoms, how long they have been there and what you have done (incl what hasn't worked!)
It will make it easier for the GP to get a full picture quickly.

Htotheizzo · 14/03/2022 14:45

@caringcarer

I don't want to frighten you but DH had a brain tumour, now roved, that started with excutiating headache that would not go away. Get to GP. DP was sent for scan that showed tumour growing and pressing on optic nerves.
Snap!
JingsMahBucket · 14/03/2022 14:47

@caringcarer I was going to mention tumor as well. @Tulipelle please take this seriously and go to the doctor. Ignore your jerk of a husband.

PortalooSunset · 14/03/2022 14:50

Your dh is massively wrong. I had a 2 week long headache once. My GP was horrified I'd left it that long without seeing anyone about it. I only went because I got to the stage where as well as max otc doses of cocodamol and ibuprofen I'd begun rubbing voltarol gel into my scalp in an attempt to get some relief!
He sent me straight to the assessment unit at the hospital - turned out to be viral meningitis. Had post viral fatigue for a couple of years after. Not saying that to worry you but to reassure you getting checked out sooner rather than later is A Good Thing.
Take care of yourself Flowers

Tiredmum100 · 14/03/2022 14:50

Yanbu to seek help. I'm a nurse I remember when I worked on a medical assessment unit we had a patient come in with a headache for a few days. It was a bleed on the brain and they had to be transferred to another hospital for surgery. GP had apparently been quite dismissive and it was only because the patient went back to the GP they referred them for further investigation. I'm not saying that's whats happened to you but it certainly needs investigating.

LookItsMeAgain · 14/03/2022 14:52

Your "D" H is clearly a prick with no sympathetic bone in his body. Bet he's the type that if he develops a runny nose, he takes to his bed and claims he has 'man' flu!

Hope you're getting sorted now @Tulipelle.

Next time your DH complains about anything aching or hurting him, tell him to buck up and just get on with things!