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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you go to A&E

85 replies

Rosebel · 12/02/2023 16:01

DH wants me to go to A&E but I'm not sure. For around a week my legs have been painful. The pain was really bad this morning and reduced me to tears. Sitting hurts, walking hurts but I'm not sure it's actually an A&E thing.
I can't take time off work for a doctors appointment so would have to wait until Friday to see a doctor but I'm in so much pain and can't get back any relief from it.
Would you go to A&E?

OP posts:
Irisheyesareshining · 12/02/2023 16:24

If you have had a pulmonary embolism you absolutely must go to AE. Don’t ignore this! I had a PE these are potentially life threatening.

LIZS · 12/02/2023 16:25

Ah posts crossed, yes a and e

violetglow7 · 12/02/2023 16:28

Mabelface · 12/02/2023 16:04

Yes, go. If nothing else you'll get good pain relief. 111 would send an ambulance.

People like you are the reason folk are lying in hospital corridors for 15 hours following a heart attack.

TheShellBeach · 12/02/2023 16:29

Brilliant drip-feed about clots.
Just get your DH to drive you to A&E.
I don't see how you can work if you're in tears with the pain anyway.

AlotIsntAWord · 12/02/2023 16:30

I can't take time off work for a doctors appointment

This is not a reason to go to A&E. You need to see a GP, take time off work.

MingeofDeath · 12/02/2023 16:31

Phone 111 or do a 111 online assessment and if necessary they will sort an appt out for you. Don't go to A&E, this is not an emergency.

PonkyPonky · 12/02/2023 16:33

Call 111, you might be able to get an out of hours GP appointment today. I did this yesterday for my DS and we were seen within 2hrs. Unfortunately though we still ended up in A&E and let me tell you… if you can avoid it then please try! It was a war zone in there and people were being left for hours and hours on end without being seen. It was so full they ran out of seats and had to take 10 people off to a different waiting room every hour or so. No one was getting triaged or seen, they were just suffering there instead of at home.

TheShellBeach · 12/02/2023 16:34

MingeofDeath · 12/02/2023 16:31

Phone 111 or do a 111 online assessment and if necessary they will sort an appt out for you. Don't go to A&E, this is not an emergency.

It is because she has a history of blood clots.

Blort · 12/02/2023 16:34

A&E yes with your health issues. Hope youre ok.

Original poster
Rosebel · 12/02/2023 16:36

Thanks. I spoke to 111 and they have said A&E.

OP posts:
TomatoSandwiches · 12/02/2023 16:36

You would have been told what to do in the event of a sudden change at discharge after being diagnosed with blood clots on your lungs and an information sheet at least.

You've had new pain for a week, why have you left it so long?

TomatoSandwiches · 12/02/2023 16:38

Good luck at A&E op.

SlipSlidinAway · 12/02/2023 16:38

So you have blood clots on your lungs but you've been experiencing worsening pain in your legs for a week? And you haven't been in touch with your GP all week but are now contemplating A&E. Unbelievable.

YerAWizardHarry · 12/02/2023 16:38

Talk about a drip feed!!! With a history of DVT and PE get straight to A&E! Do not fuck about!

Greenqueen40 · 12/02/2023 16:38

Drip feed of the year! You have known blood clots in the lungs and now have painful legs..

wherearetheturtles · 12/02/2023 16:39

Rosebel · 12/02/2023 16:01

DH wants me to go to A&E but I'm not sure. For around a week my legs have been painful. The pain was really bad this morning and reduced me to tears. Sitting hurts, walking hurts but I'm not sure it's actually an A&E thing.
I can't take time off work for a doctors appointment so would have to wait until Friday to see a doctor but I'm in so much pain and can't get back any relief from it.
Would you go to A&E?

If it's so bad that you would even consider A&E then you can take time off work for a doctors appointment.
Won't be much fun sitting on a hard plastic chair in A&E for hours on end only to (probably) be told to go home and take painkillers.

MingeofDeath · 12/02/2023 16:41

@TheShellBeach

DVT normally develop in one leg only, it would be extremely unusal for her to develop bilateral DVTs. Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness and hardness in the calf. A stabbing pain in the upper back/chest especially on inhalation/coughing, shortness of breath and coughing up blood.
I am a HCP for a 111 provider. Given the posters histrory she should get this looked into further but it is not appropriate for A&E. If 111 can get OP an appt she probably will be assessed quicker than waiting in A&E. Obviously it all depends on sevice availability in the OP's area

Xrays · 12/02/2023 16:43

MingeofDeath · 12/02/2023 16:41

@TheShellBeach

DVT normally develop in one leg only, it would be extremely unusal for her to develop bilateral DVTs. Symptoms include pain, swelling, redness and hardness in the calf. A stabbing pain in the upper back/chest especially on inhalation/coughing, shortness of breath and coughing up blood.
I am a HCP for a 111 provider. Given the posters histrory she should get this looked into further but it is not appropriate for A&E. If 111 can get OP an appt she probably will be assessed quicker than waiting in A&E. Obviously it all depends on sevice availability in the OP's area

111 have literally told her to go to A and E.

MingeofDeath · 12/02/2023 16:45

Some areas have absolutely no services like Walk in centres, Urgent treatment centres and A&E is the only place that people can get seen. It's an absolutely appalling situation. From my understanding Cornwall is really bad for lack of service.

ItchyBillco · 12/02/2023 16:47

I have blood clots on my lungs and it started with leg pain so I do worry.

In light of your history, A&E is obviously the right thing to do. Pulmonary embolism isn’t something to fuck about with.

Coasterfan · 12/02/2023 16:48

I absolutely would.

Over Christmas I had a ‘sore foot’. I was put off going to A and E by the media showing how busy they all were. My foot massively deteriorated and I ended up with infected gaping wounds in my toes. By the time I got a GP appointment they sent me straight to A and E with cellulitis. I have spent three weeks in hospital and lost three weeks income, spent 3 weeks away from DH and the DC. I have had 6 weeks of excruciating agony even oxycodone didn’t hold off for more than two hours at a time. I have had surgery snd could still potentially lose two of my toes. My foot will be dressed for at least six months snd I have no idea when I will be able to drive again.

I understand your condition is different but just get seen as soon as you can whether it’s A and E, 111 or the GP. If I had gone to A and E over the Christmas period I may not have been through the hell of the last six weeks.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 12/02/2023 16:48

Rosebel · 12/02/2023 16:13

I'm going to call 111. Work are short staffed next week due to half term and it's a job where a certain number of staff need to be in or they can't open.
I absolutely won't be doing a lot and DH will have to drive me but I do need to be "in numbers".
I have blood clots on my lungs and it started with leg pain so I do worry.

Please go to A&E if you are prone to blood clots OP. Just go right now, 111 will tell you to given your history!

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 12/02/2023 16:49

Sorry should have RTFT, let us know how you get on OP!

MingeofDeath · 12/02/2023 16:50

When you speak to 111 the first person to deal with you is a health advisor, not an HCP. Again, depends on the services in OPs area, A&E might be the only option. In my arrea if someone was presenting with calf pain, shortness of breath and a stabbing pain in chest/upper back I could get them an appt at an emergency teatment centre, that would not automatically mean A&E.

QueenoftheNimbleFlyingCat · 12/02/2023 16:54

MingeofDeath · 12/02/2023 16:50

When you speak to 111 the first person to deal with you is a health advisor, not an HCP. Again, depends on the services in OPs area, A&E might be the only option. In my arrea if someone was presenting with calf pain, shortness of breath and a stabbing pain in chest/upper back I could get them an appt at an emergency teatment centre, that would not automatically mean A&E.

So someone with potential DVT would not be sent to A&E? Does an emergency treatment centre have the same facilities as A&E so if it did turn out to be DVT and an emergency they would get treated there?