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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was I wrong to go to A&E?

48 replies

Glaocoma · 09/05/2023 20:51

I attended a&e recently for a bad headache. I was told it was likely just a tension headache and to follow up with my GP. However I’m unsure if I did the correct thing by going to a&e and just wanted to check.

I had woken up with the pain- it was both a headache and eye ache. My eye was also very red which I was unsure if was from rubbing with the pain when I was sleeping or if it was just like that. I don’t usually get headaches particularly often, but this felt extremely painful and sore and painkillers were not touching it. I decided to go to a&e because I have a history of glaucoma but not the normal type, I was told the type I had was where part of my eye completely closed over and the pressure in my eye was threw the roof. I had several of these attacks despite treatment because of a different eye condition which caused my eye to become inflamed and then it to get closed over. The first attack was in my late 20s and I’m in my early 30s now so I’m fairly young for it. The pain was indescribable

when I woke up with this headache, the pain felt exactly the same, and my eye was red too which happened last time as well. I remember being advised to go to a&e ASAP as the condition can blind you fairly quickly.

so I went to a&e and thankfully it was all fine. My eye wasn’t inflamed and wasn’t blocked. But i felt slightly guilty as it was incredibly busy and I had attended for what turned out to be nothing basically. The doctor I saw was brilliant but I felt silly being around people who were incredibly unwell and I was taking up their time with what ended up being a simple tension headache. I suppose I’m just concerned too about it happening again and being unsure when to get it checked out and when not to because I’m wasting their time for a headache IYSWIM.

OP posts:
TeaKitten · 09/05/2023 20:52

Was it on a weekend when the GP was shut?

ScarlettDarling · 09/05/2023 20:53

Of course you weren’t unreasonable. You have a history of a serious condition which feels much like this headache did. No one would consider it unreasonable to seek urgent medical advice about this.

SaveMeFromForearms · 09/05/2023 20:53

Indescribable head pain? I think you're fine.

Comedycook · 09/05/2023 20:55

I remember being advised to go to a&e ASAP as the condition can blind you fairly quickly

Then you did the right thing surely

Original poster
Glaocoma · 09/05/2023 20:56

SaveMeFromForearms · 09/05/2023 20:53

Indescribable head pain? I think you're fine.

Apologies, I meant the pain during attacks was indescribable.

This pain was bad, and worsening, too though

OP posts:
Doyoumind · 09/05/2023 20:56

TeaKitten · 09/05/2023 20:52

Was it on a weekend when the GP was shut?

So you think if it was a weekday OP could just breeze into the surgery and be seen?

ThinWomansBrain · 09/05/2023 20:57

Got resolved - if I have eye related issues I generally call in to my opticians.

Original poster
Glaocoma · 09/05/2023 20:57

TeaKitten · 09/05/2023 20:52

Was it on a weekend when the GP was shut?

yes, although if I'm being totally honest I wouldn't have called the GP anyway as I did once before and they said they can't do anything to check it

OP posts:
Frabbits · 09/05/2023 20:57

Of course YANBU.

TeaKitten · 09/05/2023 20:58

Doyoumind · 09/05/2023 20:56

So you think if it was a weekday OP could just breeze into the surgery and be seen?

Show quote history

Not sure where you got that idea from, I didn’t suggest anything of the sort. I was asking a follow up question, is that ok with you?

Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 09/05/2023 20:58

Sounds like a cluster headache.

Severe unusual head pain is always an A&E job you absolutely did the right thing

TomatoSandwiches · 09/05/2023 20:58

You've previously been advised to go in, so I think you did the right thing.

Wishawisha · 09/05/2023 20:58

Without your history I think yes you would have been, but you have a history that is highly relevant here and you have been previously instructed to attend A&E in exactly this scenario.. so you did. Non issue.

dammiejodger · 09/05/2023 20:59

You did the right thing

Lovestodrinkmilk · 09/05/2023 20:59

You did the right thing.

TeaKitten · 09/05/2023 20:59

Glaocoma · 09/05/2023 20:57

yes, although if I'm being totally honest I wouldn't have called the GP anyway as I did once before and they said they can't do anything to check it

Show quote history

It sounds like you’ve done the exact right thing and followed the medical advice given to you then to be honest OP, GP isn’t an option, condition can worsen quickly… it’s not worth the risk. Glad it was nothing serious this time though.

Original poster
Glaocoma · 09/05/2023 20:59

I suppose, with hindsight, the pain was bad but wasn't quite as off the scale as it was during attacks. And I could easily read and look at things whereas last time I couldn't as it was so blurry. So with hindsight, maybe I was too cautious and went to a&e too quickly and should have given it a bit longer to see if it worsened or not. But with the pain getting worse I panicked slightly. Hindsight changes everything I suppose!

OP posts:
ExhaustedPigwidgeon · 09/05/2023 21:01

Glaocoma · 09/05/2023 20:56

Apologies, I meant the pain during attacks was indescribable.

This pain was bad, and worsening, too though

Show quote history

I think pp means you’re fine to have gone

Wendysfriend · 09/05/2023 21:02

You did the right thing. You just don't know especially with the head, a very good friend of mine who was generally healthy ignored her head pain and kept taking painkillers thinking it was stress, unfortunately she didn't make it. It's important to get checked out when we have an unusual pain that won't go away.

Hope you're feeling better

LittleMrsPerfect · 09/05/2023 21:04

Not unreasonable given your history, as if it was a glaucoma attack you could have lost your sight, that is a time critical emergency and you would have only known by getting seen by a Dr.

Daisythecat15 · 09/05/2023 21:04

I think with your history you did the right thing. You were advised to go to A&E if you felt the pain again, so you did. Don't overthink it, OP. Glad all is well!

x2boys · 09/05/2023 21:04

Well.clearly you didn't just go for a head ache so yanbu
I took my 16yr old to A&E on Easter Saturday for one episodes of vomiting and chest pain on the face of it unreasonable but just two weeks prior he was discharged from critical care after a four week stay in hospital for acute pancreatitis that was necrotic,after I explained I the A&E Dr h@he was fabulous and did every test possible and concluded it was just the 're!sons of a chest infection ,but totally understood why I took I
Him in view of is very recent histor.

Starplekk · 09/05/2023 21:06

Not at all, please don't put off being seen if needed in the future. You considered your past attacks, your condition and the advice you'd recieved preciously, please make sure you continue to do so. I would say though if you're getting bouts of these cluster type ones might be worth seeing a GP to discuss.

Swingstotheleftslidetotheright · 09/05/2023 21:20

Glaocoma · 09/05/2023 20:59

I suppose, with hindsight, the pain was bad but wasn't quite as off the scale as it was during attacks. And I could easily read and look at things whereas last time I couldn't as it was so blurry. So with hindsight, maybe I was too cautious and went to a&e too quickly and should have given it a bit longer to see if it worsened or not. But with the pain getting worse I panicked slightly. Hindsight changes everything I suppose!

I can read and prefer to be around noise and people during a cluster headache (I need quiet and sleep for a migraine). Please see your GP if they return (they typically escalate in frequency through spring and autumn) as there is preventative medication for them. Sadly no painkiller will help but some trusts prescribe oxygen therapy.

CharlotteFlax · 09/05/2023 21:36

A&E worker here.

You did the right thing.

You weren't wasting anyone's time - remember A&E is there for any person on any day at any time of day and our business is people like you!

(And the GP would probably have told you to go to A&E!)

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