Is this 111/A&E worthy?

[RandomBanto]

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

@Coldhouseflowers it's perfectly valid advice. I don't need to detail my training nor qualifications here to you - the advice I gave is common sense

Echoing the comments that that the hysterical reactions on this thread to an obvious, bog standard virus, are absolutely absurd.

I assume these are the same posters who tell pregnant women to "go and get checked out" when they haven't felt the baby move for several hours at about 20 weeks pregnant...

That being said, there is clearly an educational piece here that needs addressing as clearly a lot of people don't know what is "normal" with a virus, and maybe also because of "successful campaigns around signs of sepsis etc.

I live in Canada, where flu and resp viruses are absolutely ravaging us right now, particularly children. Last week there was a radio phone-in (on our version of the BBC) with a pediatrician, who went over the normal progression of flu and discussed signs to watch out for. It really was incredibly helpful and interesting in giving specific information about when to seek further help.

And this is why Mumsnet is not the place to go for medical advice.

How is he today op

Can you take his temp without waking him? If it’s down, I’d watch and wait.

agree with overs, it could be Covid, symptoms can be different with each episode.

@Thekormachameleon I repeat if you’re not medically trained you should NOT be giving medical advice especially if you work within call handling of the NHS. If the OP husband is as sick as she states he should be checked over . Your number of calls is totally insignificant. My husband is a hospital consultant and would advise he gets checked out with these red flag symptoms.

@Coldhouseflowers - red flag symptoms? Honestly - I have Covid and had all those symptoms last week. I've also had all those symptoms at various points in my life when I've come down with flu, viruses etc.

I don't believe any medical professional would say anything other than rest, fluids, paracetamol, monitor etc and see how things go. Certainly not advise someone to go off to A&E where they'd probably have to wait all night to be seen and then be told to go home and rest, fluids, paracetamol etc etc. And infect a few dozen others in the process.

I don't think the NHS can afford the luxury of checking out everyone with covid/flu symptoms during Covid/flu season.

Hi he slept last night, woke up about 4am for more Paracetamol, sweat loads and is now downstairs with a temp hovering at 37.8 eating toast. I call flu as he says he aches all over too but is coping fine.

AM I understanding this correctly? You want to go to A&E/ call 111 because and adult has had a high fever for not even 24 hr and has gone to sleep?

EndlessRain · Today 13:04
AM I understanding this correctly? You want to go to A&E/ call 111 because and adult has had a high fever for not even 24 hr and has gone to sleep?“

Rude. High temp is one of the symptoms listed on the Sepsis pathway.

Glad to hear he's improving op. These things can be very worrying - I was alarmed to see my temperature pushing 40 last week. And they can come on very quickly.

@StrawberryPot who advised him to go to AE??? I said he should be checked /assessed via a medically trained person ! These threads are ridiculous, taking advice off amateur randoms on mumsnet who think they know every illness under the sun just because they have had it 😂

Flu is the only thing that has come on that suddenly for me. Covid seems to come on a bit more gradually. Flu I went from hero to zero in about 2 hours. Pole axed for a week after.

@Coldhouseflowers - where else are you going to find a medically qualified person at 8pm other than in A&E?

@StrawberryPot if he was as sick as the OP stated 111 should have been contacted and they should make the decision whether he needs to be seen or not. Very sadly two people we know have been affected by sepsis , their symptoms were flu like . One died, other lost their legs . Medical professionals should make diagnosis , that’s why they spend years training etc.

You used to get home visits from GPs in the evening and at weekends.

It is true that people are more likely to go to A and E now than in the past. But I also think it is dangerous to tell someone who is only typing on an internet, not to go to A and E.

I used to read a paramedic's blog. He said you would respond to a call about a child having difficulty breathing and find the child happily running around the house laughing. Then you would respond to a call from someone who felt slightly unwell, and turn up and find they had massive chest pain and were on heart medication. People do not always accurately describe what is happening even when asked.

Coldhouseflowers · Today 13:34
@StrawberryPot if he was as sick as the OP stated 111 should have been contacted and they should make the decision whether he needs to be seen or not. Very sadly two people we know have been affected by sepsis , their symptoms were flu like . One died, other lost their legs . Medical professionals should make diagnosis , that’s why they spend years training etc“

hear, hear. My husband has recovered from sepsis, twice. I thank our lucky stars because many die or are left disabled.

If everyone who got a fever went to A&E it would be carnage. Especially this time of year.

@CColdhouseflowers and I repeat - you have no idea about my training nor qualifications. Your husband is a Dr- that doesn't qualify YOU to give advice does it

@Coldhouseflowers - that's very sad. But are you suggesting that everyone with flu like symptoms seeks medical advice? In my experience 111 are worse than useless and would probably suggest A&E.

Haven't read the full thread but the way it came on suddenly it's most likely flu, it hits you like a bus. I've never been so ill as I was when I had flu, it's a really nasty illness. Glad he seems abit better today 👍🏻

Has he had chickenpox OP? Only because when I caught it as an adult the fever and feeling unwell hit me like a bus. It was so sudden and the spots didn't come for a while after. Just something I thought of.

I would say it definitely sounds like flu!

@Thekormachameleon snap! If you’re such an expert with all the calls you take each day you should be the last person to suggest the OP’s husband not to seek medical advice where he has symptoms which could suggest viral meningitis ! Hopefully it’s just a virus but people should always use PROPER medical advise !!