WIBU to go to A&E?

[halloumi1]

Hi,

I woke up in the early hours a couple of days ago (2 week old newborn!) with a sharp pain in my shoulder when I rolled onto that side. It seemed manageable throughout the day though.
Yesterday, I woke up in excruciating pain with it - my DH had to manoeuvre me out of bed as even sitting up was sickeningly painful. All day I had horrendous pain in that shoulder which was also in my chest when I tried to take anything other than a shallow breath. It was there constantly even when I was just sitting. It started going across my back too and is like a shooting, stabbing pain.
It brought me to tears many a time and physically stopped me from eating or moving at times as swallowing seemed to make it worse. I’ve given birth twice with no pain relief and that was nothing compared to this.

Any sneezes, sniffs etc caused an extra stab of pain and it was impossible for me to hold my newborn as it felt like my chest was going to cave in and I panicked feeling like I couldn’t breathe. She’s been really unsettled from last night into this morning and it’s incredibly distressing because I physically can’t do anything to comfort her. DH is trying but he’s just getting increasingly frustrated - there’s lots of swearing and he’s saying he can’t look after me or get on with anything else he needs to and voicing his frustration that I need to do something.

I’ve tried strong painkillers but nothing makes any difference. I can’t get comfortable in any position and today it’s still no better. It feels like it’s moving into the side of my breast now as well and painful to stand up straight.
I did ring 111 yesterday, explained how painful it was but they just told me they were referring me to a pharmacy and put it down as referral for shoulder pain. The pharmacy rang me and just told me there’s nothing they can do as they can’t give me anything stronger than what I’ve already had.

I’m well aware the NHS is under strain and don’t want to be one of those people that just waste everyone’s time when there’s people that seriously need them. I don’t understand what they could do for me or what’s causing this but at the same time, can’t continue in this pain.
We have a walk in centre near us but there’s no facilities there so I don’t know what they could do. I physically can’t move or care for my 2 children (have a 2 year old too) without excruciating pain and can’t go on feeling like this. WIBU to go and sit in A&E to try and get seen?

Good luck at A&E. I hope you get seen quickly.
When I had pleurisy, it hurt to breathe in, and the pain wast mostly in my back/shoulder, stabbing pain and I could only take shallow breaths.

I would definitely be going to A&E with these symptoms.

When I had pneumonia I ended up in hospital as had problems with oxygen levels also & it hurt so much to breath.

I had the same @babasaclover , glad you’re getting it checked OP but if it’s any reassurance it could be this, it is really painful

I had Tendonitis in my shoulder, and it felt very much like this. It’s was so painful to move, like a horrible stabbing pain, and it hurt to breathe deep, as it moved the shoulder muscles. It wore off after a few days of rest, and anti-inflammatory. It was horrible debilitating whilst it lasted though

It could be muscular, or it could be extremely serious.
Glad you're off to A&E, OP.
Hope it turns out to be minor.

I would be cautious incase it’s a pulmonary embolism especially as you recently have given birth . With the symptoms you describe about breathing I would go to AE to be on the safe side . I have had a PE and some of the symptoms you describe were the same.

Did you have a c section? It could be referred pain or related to a post cesarean complication associated with the vagus nerve.

I hope the staff at A&E are able to help.

I'm glad you are getting seen. This is one of few threads where I feel a&e is warranted!

I hope you are in A&E and get seen quickly. Hopefully it isn’t a PE, but a structural problem like a tendon. (Issues with tendons in the shoulder can be shockingly painful) . As pps have said though, a PE is a possible cause and needs to be checked.

PE was my first thought too.

As a few others have said, my concern would be a pulmonary embolism too. Please go to A&E or contact your maternity triage or postnatal ward with a plan to be seen ASAP.

Nobody should be recommending anything other than A&E. The difference between a PE and a minor shoulder complaint is death. A&E would rather gladly confirm a minor condition than miss a PE, which can be life threatening or lead to life-long disability.

You need to go to a&e now. My sil just had a baby and she has a blood clot her friend also had one and it traveled to her lung and the pain sounds remarkably similar to what you are describing. It might be nothing but it could be very serious. Please get seen now!

YABU to not go the urgent care/ walk in centre.
Mine were able to sort out being seen quickly at A&E and when needed (and that saved me from sepsis at the last minute), in a different one I was given a box of antibiotics straight away. They have tested me for UTI and given a prescription. My child was in a huge amount of pain similar to yours (woke up with it) and they pulled his dislocated shoulder back into socket.

A&E is like a torture chamber in comparison with 14h waits... The last time I was there I was seen only when I collapsed trying to make my way to the loo - I had been sitting there 6pm to 4:30 am when I should have been lying down. Anything to avoid A&E, though sometimes it's impossible.

I hope the service is better where you are!

Just to add, I do think the symptoms are bad enough to warrant being seen quickly - unfortunately the A&E does not equal quickly...

I hope you've gone to A&E.

I hope you are in A&E right now.
Let is know how you get on.

Yes I would go to A+E, you are at a heightened risk of blood clots after having a baby (I had one after my first). Always best to go get it checked out!

I had a similar pain 8 days after the birth of one of the DC. I was still under midwife care at home at that time and she told me to go straight to the maternity triage. She had phoned ahead so they were expecting me. She had worried it was a PE, but it turned out to be pneumonia.

I’m normally the first person to say don’t waste time.

but in this case, go. For sure.

I hope you’ve gone to a&e OP. I would have with those symptoms

Thank you everyone for the advice and comments.
I’m at A&E - had bloods taken and an ECG so just waiting to see what they might want to do next

A and E

Great to hear you are being looked after. Fingers crossed it is something that is easily sorted.