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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sensible advice please - unwell and not sure what to do

111 replies

QuestionableMouse · 25/12/2022 08:44

I've woken up feeling awful - sore throat, sore mouth, blocked nose, horrible productive chesty cough, sore chest (from coughing) and bad fatigue. Normally I'd just treat it as a viral bug but I've had a couple of moments with palpitations (where I'm really aware of my heartbeat.) I am feeling pretty dry at the moment so sipping water.

Pulse and o2 is fine per my monitor but it's freaking me out. On hold to 111 currently but I'm not sure if I should just head through to the local walk in.

I do have some health anxiety and I'm not sure how much that's playing into this!

Thank you!

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 25/12/2022 08:48

Seriously
Walk in centre
On phone to 111
Take 2 paracetamol and go back to bed for an hour

CrunchyCarrot · 25/12/2022 08:50

Try not to worry too much, back to bed, keep warm and well hydrated. Palpitations can happen but are harmless. Hope you feel better soon!

KangarooKenny · 25/12/2022 08:50

Ive got very similar to you right now, the heart beating out of my chest feels unnerving at times. I rang 111 this morning but no call back yet and it’s been over 2 hours, I imagine I’ll actually get phoned back in the new year !
My DS had bronchitis recently, and this feels like what he had. The Dr said it was viral so no need for antibiotics.

KangarooKenny · 25/12/2022 08:50

It’s not just a few palpitations, it’s constant heart beating out of your chest.

Supernormative · 25/12/2022 08:50

Sorry to hear you are so poorly but it sounds like you have a bad cold. Why would you phone 111 or go to a walk in and spread your virus to others? Nearly everyone has had this virus this year. Have a Lemsip, go back to bed and rest up. Take care OP and merry Christmas.

Oysterbabe · 25/12/2022 08:51

I think you're being a but dramatic. As pp says, painkillers and back to bed.

jetadore · 25/12/2022 08:52

I’ve had the same or a very similar thing this past week. It’s the most ill I’ve been in a long time and wiped me out for good few days. Paracetamol/cocodamol/night nurse, plenty of fluids and bed rest will get you through. Also affected my mood quite badly which might explain why causing anxiety. Unless you have an underlying heart problem then I’d say medical intervention is unnecessary.

MakeMineALarge1 · 25/12/2022 08:54

Oh and ditch the pulse and sats monitor
You don't understand the results and it's playing to your anxiety which you need to learn to manage

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 25/12/2022 08:57

Rang 111 because I'm coughing up browny gunk which was pneumonia for me last year. I'm also alone and pretty freaked out by the palpitations!

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 25/12/2022 08:59

You're alone
So go back to bed with 2 paracetamol and sleep it off

keepaweatheredeye · 25/12/2022 08:59

You shouldn't be checking your own stats. Unless you are a qualified and trained medical professional. It sounds like you have a bad cold. Back to bed and plenty of fluids. 111 will most likely call an ambulance if you say you are having "heart problems". Do you think you need an ambulance??

KangarooKenny · 25/12/2022 09:00

If you are worried you are right to ring, you’ve already acknowledged your health anxiety.
Alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen, increase your fluids and rest.

Lenald · 25/12/2022 09:03

Oh lovely you’ve just got anxiety 😟. Maybe a chest infection but this is nothing emergent. Try some meditation to relax you, speak to 111 (they may prescribe antibiotics because of what you’re coughing up) but I don’t think there’s any real cause for worry.

PPs extreme anxiety is terrifying and the fear is very real. OP is scared, be kind, there’s a real person on the other end of these posts.

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 25/12/2022 09:07

I've had both paracetamol and ibuprofen today and they're not really helping. My mouth and throat feel like I've sandblasted them. 🙁🙁

I'm not going to say "heart problems" to 111. I'd be honest and say "palpitations" which isn't the same thing. I'm pretty sure I need antibiotics for the cough/chest gunk!

OP posts:
Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 25/12/2022 09:08

Just been cut off by 111 after 30 mins on hold! 🙁

OP posts:
MakeMineALarge1 · 25/12/2022 09:11

Do yourself a favour and go back to sleep
Read a book
Watch a film

SoSweetAndSalty · 25/12/2022 09:11

That sounds rough. Do you get palpitations at other times? Could it just be you panicking?

astronewt · 25/12/2022 09:12

Honestly. You just need to stay in bed and rest.

Diverging · 25/12/2022 09:13

Do you normally get palpitations or ectopic beats?

trailrunner85 · 25/12/2022 09:14

Calm down and go back to bed. Seriously. I know you're anxious, but this sounds exactly like the bad cold that everyone seems to have had this year.
And please don't go to the walk in centre and potentially cause a delay to someone who really needs help.

Lolacat1234 · 25/12/2022 09:15

I have this too exact same symptoms. First time I have had a temperature in 10 years I think, not even with Covid! In the nicest possible way, I think you are being a bit dramatic, post Covid world, people seem to have forgotten than colds can be very bad and not everything needs a walk in centre diagnosis. Take some paracetamol and go back to bed xx

Southwig22 · 25/12/2022 09:16

QuestionableMouse · 25/12/2022 09:07

I've had both paracetamol and ibuprofen today and they're not really helping. My mouth and throat feel like I've sandblasted them. 🙁🙁

I'm not going to say "heart problems" to 111. I'd be honest and say "palpitations" which isn't the same thing. I'm pretty sure I need antibiotics for the cough/chest gunk!

You are very unlikely to need antibiotics for your (viral) cold.

Do you usually get palpitations when you're anxious?

It's horrible being ill over Christmas (2nd year in a row for me!) But there's no need to over stretch and already stretched NHS over it.

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 25/12/2022 09:17

Diverging · 25/12/2022 09:13

Do you normally get palpitations or ectopic beats?

Occasionally - probably as part of Long Covid though my GP isn't interested!

OP posts:
baffledcoconut · 25/12/2022 09:17

How long have you felt poorly for? I’d give it some time before seeing the GP- give your body time to fight it itself.

MakeMineALarge1 · 25/12/2022 09:19

Lenald · 25/12/2022 09:03

Oh lovely you’ve just got anxiety 😟. Maybe a chest infection but this is nothing emergent. Try some meditation to relax you, speak to 111 (they may prescribe antibiotics because of what you’re coughing up) but I don’t think there’s any real cause for worry.

PPs extreme anxiety is terrifying and the fear is very real. OP is scared, be kind, there’s a real person on the other end of these posts.

I'm sorry but pandering isn't going to make the situation better
Maybe if someone had been a little bit more honest in the first place the OP would not be in the situation she is now ringing 111 over a bloody cold

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