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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this 111/A&E worthy?

155 replies

RandomBanto · 27/11/2022 20:28

My husband is hardly ever ill. We're talking never been in hospital, only been to the doc a handful of times in the 20 years we've been together and generally hardly ever gets a sniffle.

He's come home from work today saying he's freezing, then said he was boiling, aches all over, shivering, feels slightly sick, aversion to light and has a headache. Checked his temp which was 40 degrees and have given him Paracetamol and he's gone to sleep (he never take tablets etc hence me giving them to him, he doesn't need mothering!(

He said all this came on suddenly about 3pm and before that he felt absolutely fine and had his lunch which was just a basic marmite wrap and crisps and fruit so can't be food poisoning etc.

He said it doesn't feel like covid as he's had that before.

I'm really worried as Paracetamol hasn't brought his temp down but he is asleep as seems OK at the moment. His mum says I should take him to a&e or call 111. AIBU to let him sleep?

YABU wake him up and call 111
YANBU leave him be he's ok

OP posts:
Randomeggs56 · 27/11/2022 21:06

Definitely call 111 for an assessment, he'll need to be awake in order to do it though even if you're the one talking

Neurotic90 · 27/11/2022 21:08

My dad had these exact symptoms and it was meningitis, 111 at a minimum I'd say.

If you're worried enough to ask it's already playing on your mind it's not how he normally reacts to illness, trust your gut. It could be flu, but no harm in getting checked out with the symptoms he has.

YetAnotherNameChange52 · 27/11/2022 21:12

I would, as other people have said, phone 111. Yes, the symptoms could potentially be meningitis, but meningitis in adults his age is fairly rare so it's more likely to be flu and he may then pass it on to any number of vulnerable people while he's sitting in A & E.

Nottodaty · 27/11/2022 21:12

This was me last Tuesday night. Still feeling rough now but the first two days were awful! Hot , shivering generally quite poorly. I also had a very high heart rate due to the high temperature.

Check in with 111 but to be honest bed rest sleep plenty of fluids and medicine.

Daisylily · 27/11/2022 21:12

Aversion to light is a meningitis symptom. Definitely get checked out.

Bpdqueen · 27/11/2022 21:12

Loads going round at the moment. Sounds like covid that's exactly how i was with it. I'd say just keep an eye on him plenty of fluids and paracetamol every 4 hrs and see how he goes

EmmaAgain22 · 27/11/2022 21:13

Margaret "Can he bend his neck enough to kiss his knee?"

I can barely do that!

OP obviously your call, but I had a severe ear infection which came in suddenly, became photosensitivity etc in a couple of hours. Luckily I had a nearby walk-in, they gave me very strong antibiotics and my doc signed me off work for a fortnight. It was very rapid onset. Ideally you'd get an emergency GP appt but it depends on your area, maybe A&E is the only way. I don't know if OOH GP exists now.

Bpdqueen · 27/11/2022 21:13

Daisylily · 27/11/2022 21:12

Aversion to light is a meningitis symptom. Definitely get checked out.

It's also a covid and flu symptom

CaffeineMama · 27/11/2022 21:13

.... 111 online have said to call 999
I dont understand why you're still faffing about on this thread. It seems wrong to wake him up? But it seems right to leave him when you now know there is a chance he could be very unwell ?

That doesn't make sense. Call 999 or 111 but don't just leave him.

antelopevalley · 27/11/2022 21:16

OP ring 111.
Feeling cold is very common with flu, but can also be a symptom of other things. I felt freezing when I had flu.
Aversion to light can be concerning, or just a sign of painful eyes causes by mucus in sinuses.
Just ring and check. Do not go to A and E unless it obviously warrants it. Sitting in A and E with what is probably flu would feel just awful.
Be aware proper flu can make you really ill. It shocked me just how ill I felt.

Grumpybutfunny · 27/11/2022 21:16

If it wasn't for the aversion to light I would say let him sleep it off but aversion to light needs seeing ASAP. It's likely nothing but better to be safe

antelopevalley · 27/11/2022 21:17

Ring 111 rather doing it online. You can get to speak to a qualified medic. An online checker is always going to be basic.

Bpdqueen · 27/11/2022 21:17

CaffeineMama · 27/11/2022 21:13

.... 111 online have said to call 999
I dont understand why you're still faffing about on this thread. It seems wrong to wake him up? But it seems right to leave him when you now know there is a chance he could be very unwell ?

That doesn't make sense. Call 999 or 111 but don't just leave him.

111 literally tells everyone to call an ambulance thats why there is usually about a 7 hour wait for one. 111 are very dramatic

Muchtoomuchtodo · 27/11/2022 21:18

If you ring 111 they will want to talk to him, they won’t accept talking to you.

QueenCamilla · 27/11/2022 21:18

How severe is the headache?? Surely it would be awful with something like meningitis!
I had these exact symptoms with Covid. Cold under the duvet in the heatwave, fever (the first one since I was five years old) headache, back ache, no appetite, blinds down and asleep for three days.

CaffeineMama · 27/11/2022 21:20

Bpdqueen · 27/11/2022 21:17

111 literally tells everyone to call an ambulance thats why there is usually about a 7 hour wait for one. 111 are very dramatic

Show quote history

I've used 111 several times and never been advised to call am ambulance. Also there's a large wait due to chronic underfunding, not because 111 are dramatic.

But even if OP doesn't call 999, they've had advice to seek medical help and MN isn't the place for that...

Bpdqueen · 27/11/2022 21:20

QueenCamilla · 27/11/2022 21:18

How severe is the headache?? Surely it would be awful with something like meningitis!
I had these exact symptoms with Covid. Cold under the duvet in the heatwave, fever (the first one since I was five years old) headache, back ache, no appetite, blinds down and asleep for three days.

Same covid gave me a horrific headache had to be in a dark room

WhoWants2Know · 27/11/2022 21:20

If he's had a sore throat for a couple days, it could well be tonsillitis. If he has white patches on the back of his throat, it's a dead giveaway--but if he does then you need to get him seen for antibiotics

Bpdqueen · 27/11/2022 21:22

CaffeineMama · 27/11/2022 21:20

I've used 111 several times and never been advised to call am ambulance. Also there's a large wait due to chronic underfunding, not because 111 are dramatic.

But even if OP doesn't call 999, they've had advice to seek medical help and MN isn't the place for that...

Show quote history

They've tried to send an ambulance every single time for me its ridiculous. If I'm breathing and conscious I can get there myself

BlessedBeTheFruitCake · 27/11/2022 21:24

Chances are it’s flu but I’d try to see if you can wake him to get an update on his symptoms and ring 111 for advice.

Original poster
RandomBanto · 27/11/2022 21:26

Ok I woke him up, he can touch his chin to chest,no white spots in throat, no rashes or sepsis symptoms like blotchy skin etc, no ear aches or anything. He reckons its flu too and I used my phone torch and he could just about put up with. So I've told him I'm waking him up again in 3 hours for more Paracetamol and to check his temp and he's OK with that thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Bpdqueen · 27/11/2022 21:27

Hope he feels better soon. Take care

QueenCamilla · 27/11/2022 21:28

I've had septicaemia twice. People queueing in A&E with a bout of man-flu (and similar) could cost someone like me life. I wasn't seen for more than 10h the last time.
The pain in the site of the infection (even though not obvious to the eye) was so severe I wasn't able to get to the loo unaided.

Thekormachameleon · 27/11/2022 21:28

Reading these threads it seems everyone has lost the ability and common sense to practice self care before ringng for help

Yes he has symptoms that could indicate several different illnesses but honestly, it's flu season, he hasn't been vaccinated, his temp has come down with paracetamol and all his symptoms are common features of pyrexia which is a normal feature of flu/virus

Paracetamol, fluids, rest and reassess tomorrow

I deal with people every day ringing 999 because they have a fever - a fever is not an emergency and can, 99% of the time be perfectly managed at home with self care

ChocChipOwl · 27/11/2022 21:29

I agree with @Thekormachameleon honestly, does nobody just have a virus these days?