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?

Glad you’re being seen

@halloumi1 you've done the right thing going. I hope it's just muscular, but it could be anything. Will DH be at home on Monday?

He needs a talking to as well. When you're I'll order in pain, All he needs to do is look after you and the kids, he doesn't need to 'get on' with anything else. Everything else can bloody well wait!

let us know how you get on 💐

Good luck @halloumi1

Good luck. Please please please make sure they check you for a clot.

Go to a&e without delaying. It sounds like you could have a pulmonary embolism. Don’t wait just go.

Thank god you got here to let OP know

They will test the blood for d dimer levels. If they’re elevated you’ll have a scan to check for a PE. Fingers crossed it isn’t that, but if it is the next steps will depend on the severity. You may be able to go home with blood thinners.

So glad you have gone to A&E. Best of luck

Sounds like pe

Same. I thought if this from the description. It is blindingly painful.
I was wondering if it could be to do with the positions you’ve been in breastfeeding or holding the baby?
I had severe back pain for a while after giving birth too.

Yes definitely go if you are worried.

A&E is under strain because of people misusing it due to going for a little cold or instead of booking a gp appointment (or because they can’t get one).

You aren’t taking the mick by going.

I had the exact same symptoms as you.

I had to ring 111 as I couldn’t drive and I needed to get to work.
It hurt when I breathed, I couldn’t lie down to sleep and could barely do any household activities like cook.
I am not a crier but I cried several times a day because the pain was so bad.

It turned out I had pulled a muscle!
I didn’t realise something so simple could be so painful!

I hope yours is only a pulled muscle too and nothing serious xx

The worst shoulder pain I ever had turned out to be referred pain from a liver infection. You're in the right place.

I believe they did say it was called tendonitis and I’m glad PPs have experienced the pain too and it wasn’t just me!

Glad you're being seen and sorry your partner isn't more supportive. Did you have a C section?

Sounds like a blood clot in your lung ask them to check for this

OP did you have a c-section?

Hope you feel better soon OP and that they get to the bottom of it 💐

No its not. But I'm sure your medical qualification means you know better?

Glad you went. Hope they get to the bottom of it quickly and you're feeling much better soon

I had this too. My baby was a few weeks old and I was picking him up incorrectly and that caused it.

Hope you're okay OP

I’d be seen far, far, far more quickly at my MAU than via A&E. Not sure why you’re advising against it.

111 call handlers aren’t medically trained. They fill out a form and tell you what it says, and they’re wrong far too often. Even my GP surgery (who are the only decent GP surgery I’ve ever come across and I am so grateful to be registered with) tell us not to bother using 111. I don’t know any medical professional who thinks 111 is remotely fit for purpose.

NHS pathways, the actual system the call handlers use, was designed by expert health professionals. There are also expert clinicians on hand.

It's not perfect (it's actually too risk averse by design), but it is useful for ruling out potentially life threatening/ serious conditions like a PE - which it seems to have done in this case.

I'd still trust it 1000x over some of the appalling advice you read on MN too.

Yes I find 111 is too cautious, which you can understand.