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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I go to A&E or am I being silly?

160 replies

Dumdeedahdumdeedo · 02/05/2022 11:23

I went out on Friday and was attacked in the toilets by a random woman. There was no argument, no build up, she literally just launched herself at me and attacked me

The police came and she was arrested but during the attack she bit me on my knee

She broke the skin on my knee and I have a giant bruise there too. I've woken up today and I'm struggling to bend my knee, it really hurts, all down the back of my knee hurts when I try to bend it.

It doesn't look infected, there's the cut and the bruise but it isn't hot to touch.

I don't k ow if I'm being dramatic or not, I'm starting to worry maybe there's an infection inside my knee that I cannot see.

Would i be dramatic to go to A&E over this or do you think it just hurts to bend because she bit my actual knee cap so there's bound to be some pain?

I'm a single mum I have a 5 year old and 7 year old I don't really want to drag them to A&E but at the same time I'm starting to worry about my knee

I don't know what to do

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 02/05/2022 11:55

Make sure you take photos of the bite and any prescribed medicine OP. Useful for the police /statements etc.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 02/05/2022 11:55

I would go, or call 111 to see if you have a local minor injuries unit open. What a horrible thing to happen to you! I hope she's being charged.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 02/05/2022 11:55

I think we are made to feel guilty (not by NHS staff but by other members of the public) for ever going to A&E to the point it can be dangerous sometimes.

This is 100% an emergency, you were bitten by another human and they broke the skin.

It's absolutely an emergency so you should go today and get checked out.

Let us know how you get on and I'm sorry, it sounds like such a scary thing to happen and must have really shaken you Flowers

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 02/05/2022 11:55

As everyone has said, you need to be seen - the wound will need to be cleaned properly and you'll need antibiotics.

Human bites (like dog and cat bites) are always treated with caution as mouths are such dirty places and infection is so common.

AnybodyAnywhere · 02/05/2022 11:56

I have just got home from having a Tetanus shot at local Minor Injuries. Unless you’re certain yours is up to date it’s worth doing and should be within 48 hours of getting the wound.
All bites, animal or human, that break the skin should be treated along with other high risk wounds…mine was barbed wire on a farm.

Sally872 · 02/05/2022 12:04

I wouldn't go to a and e. I would try pharmacy or phone 111 and hope for an out of hours appointment.

Mangogogogo · 02/05/2022 12:05

What he fuck didn’t the police sort you getting to hospital? We would have absolutely. A human bite needs a tetanus (although you might still be covered from pregnancy) and preventative antibiotics!

lovescats3 · 02/05/2022 12:06

Go to a and e you may need a tetanus injection and antibiotics as a bite is regarded as a dirty wound

lovescats3 · 02/05/2022 12:06

It needs to be examined by a doctor

Original poster
Dumdeedahdumdeedo · 02/05/2022 12:07

Thank you for all the replies. I've just got off the phone to 111 and they said I need to go to A&E. The A&E is a 5 minute taxi ride from my house where as the closest walk in centre is 20 minutes away and I can't afford the taxis there and back so they said A&E is my best option

I feel like I'm being really silly going to A&E, like I'm just being an attention seeker

Thank you for the kind replies, it was such a shock. I just wasn't expecting it. When she was escorted from the premises she was attacking the bouncer and she also tried attacking the police. I ran out of the toilets and ran behind the bar because I was so frightened. The bar staff told me off ( which I completely understand) and once I explained what happened ( through my tears as I was near hysterical) they were really apologetic and got me a glass of water

The police took pictures of my injuries outside the premises and took a statement from me and my friend there and then. My friend witnessed the attack and tried to drag the woman off Me. I'm 5'1 and my friend is 5ft, the woman was a lot bigger and broader than us. It was just so frightening. I keep crying about it which is silly isnt it but it was just so unexpected

I'm just going to make my children some dinner then take us all to A&E

OP posts:
Original poster
Dumdeedahdumdeedo · 02/05/2022 12:10

What he fuck didn’t the police sort you getting to hospital?

I was already an hour late for my babysitter and I was half an hour away from home. ( I was late because of the attack and giving a statement ) I ended up rushing off to get a taxi as my babysitter was asking where I was. My friend was in their police car giving them a statement and I had to leave to get back home

OP posts:
Fleur405 · 02/05/2022 12:11

I’m also surprised police didn’t get you medical attention. Hopefully there’s a minor injuries clinic available near you otherwise yes, do go to a&e

www.nhs.uk/conditions/animal-and-human-bites/

youvegottenminuteslynn · 02/05/2022 12:13

I keep crying about it which is silly isnt it but it was just so unexpected

It's not silly at all lovely, you're in shock and your body is full of adrenaline and trying to process something bizarre and scary that you could never have expected. Your response is completely normal!

Really hope they can help and reassure you at A&E Flowers

Windypants21 · 02/05/2022 12:14

Dont bother with gp ... go to a+e. Aside from anything I'm concurrently watching news report on GPs wanting to cut their hours....and things are bad enough. You need to be seen quickly.

Cakecakecheese · 02/05/2022 12:15

I hope you feel better soon. Hopefully victim support will contact you, please talk to them or a councellor as attacks like that can be quite traumatic.

Longingforatikihut · 02/05/2022 12:18

Go to a&e. Lots can be transmitted through a human bite including hepatitis.

Elseaknows · 02/05/2022 12:18

It's not silly to be upset over being assaulted. She attacked you over nothing. I'd be upset in your position too. It's OK to cry about it. I bet your injury really bloody hurts too! Bites are feral behaviour and of all places to bite someone, the woman sounds unhinged.
I hope the pain eases soon and you get your full range of movement back, especially when you've got little kids to look after.
It's definitely an A&E job, like others have said human bites are normally treated in the same way as animal bites 🤢

Laiste · 02/05/2022 12:19

Good call OP. A&E is the right place for this.

Hopefully they'll sort you out v quickly. (grab a phone charger in case you're in there a while).

Eddielizzard · 02/05/2022 12:21

What a nightmare. Def A&E. And you're not silly, very sensible. Good luck.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 02/05/2022 12:22

do you have minor injuries
are you up to date with tetatnus?

Pieceofpurplesky · 02/05/2022 12:23

Glad you are off to a&e. Take time for yourself to process this too - it must have been such a shock.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 02/05/2022 12:32

NHS website says get it checked. If you have a minor injuries open I'd go there; if you don't know call 111 who can direct you.

When to seek medical advice
If the bite has broken the skin, you should seek immediate medical attention after cleaning the wound.
Do not delay seeking help until symptoms of infection appear.
Minor bites can be treated at your GP surgery, or by staff at your local walk-in centre or minor injuries unit.
For particularly severe bites, visit your local A&E department.
The healthcare professional treating you may:
clean the wound and remove any damaged tissue
prescribe a course of antibiotics to prevent infection
recommend specific treatment to prevent infections such as tetanus if you're felt to be at risk
close the wound with stitches if the risk of infection is thought to be low – high-risk wounds will usually be left open as this means they're easier to keep clean
arrange blood tests to check for infection, or an X-ray to check for any damage to your bones and see if there's anything embedded in your wound, such as a tooth
refer you for an assessment by a specialist if the bite penetrated a joint or there's severe damage, such as damage to bones or nerves – surgery may be needed in these cases
if you're bitten by a person with hepatitis or HIV, there's a tiny chance of the infection spreading if the bite is contaminated with blood, so you may be offered treatment to stop you becoming infected
When you return home, watch out for signs of a possible infection.

tootiredtoocare · 02/05/2022 12:33

A minor illness/injuries unit can do this if you have one nearby, it should be washed out and possibly antibiotic cover just in case. I used to work in one, the nurses always recommended human bites should be cleaned if the skin is broken.

Jupiter92 · 02/05/2022 12:33

I can totally empathise with you. I was attacked by a random woman in a toilet in a bar in London 4 years ago, it stayed with me for a long time. I opened the toilet cubicle door and there she was hitting me and calling me vile names, for no reason! I'd never seen her before, not even in the bar! I couldn't use public toilets on my own for a long time after that.

She walked out after attacking me and stood at the bar as if nothing happened. Then she tried to fight my partner, then tried to fight the bouncer and then was restrained by 6 police officers - turns out she was on drugs.

She spent the night in jail, gave a no comment interview and got charged thankfully!

Take time to process what happened and don't feel silly for your feelings.

Hellospring22 · 02/05/2022 12:36

I’d try 111 first we were able to be booked in for an out of hours appointment today which avoided A and E. Pharmacist may also be able to advise best route of getting help. If it’s a long wait via 111 then it sounds like A and E would be an option.