Slept for 18 hours yesterday because I couldn’t wake up - GP or A&E?

[Headproblems]

Just looking for some advice because I know the NHS is massively overstretched at the moment and I don’t want to waste resources if this is just a GP thing.

Basically for the past few months I have been experiencing lots of headaches and some dizziness and oversleeping. It hasn’t been consistent so I’ve never really got it checked out because it’s never been enough to cause huge issues.

However this week, every day I have been struggling to wake up and until at least 10am I have been in and out of sleep feeling completely without control, no matter how hard I’ve been trying to stay awake I fall straight back to sleep within minutes and have to force myself to stay awake.

In the middle of this week I walked upstairs and my ears went fuzzy and my head started spinning, it was really scary because for about 3 minutes my ears went in waves and I could barely hear, like I was under water.

I’ve tried earlier nights but nothing has been helping. I have my own business and it’s affecting my work, being unable to concentrate and missing meetings.

Yesterday I slept for 18 hours throughout the day, it was impossible to wake up I was so drowsy, at one point I thought I was awake and I was talking to my partner about ingredients (?) but I was still asleep and apparently all he could hear was muffles, and it got to a point where my head started waving and it felt like I was falling every time I shut my eyes, this lasted for about 10 minutes.

I awoke at 8pm and went back to sleep at 1am, and this morning couldn’t wake up until 11am and had to literally force myself into a cold shower to wake up.

I managed to get up and ready, have come downstairs and I am so dizzy I feel like I’m going to pass out (I haven’t), and my head feels like there is pressure around my temples.

I’ve not taken any new medication and the medication I do take I have been taking the same for about 8 years now, no changes that I can think of in diet, I do feel dehydrated from all the sleep though.

I’m unsure whether to call 111 because I’m feeling shaky and dizzy but not sure if it would be better to wait it out until Monday for an emergency GP appointment.

But not being able to wake up is scaring me and frustrating me, I don’t want to be sleeping the days away, I physically just cannot wake up no matter how hard I try.

Please if anyone can give me some advice or has experienced this before I would really appreciate it

Poor you. Hope you’re on the mend soon. As many people have said blood tests for deficiencies would be a good place to start.

Sorry meant to say ring 111 again or go to a&e this is your health.

Your partner needs to take the morning off work, call the GP first thing and help you get to the appointment.

If the hospital requested a fasting blood glucose from the GP did they say anything about your current blood sugar reading?

@NCTDN not yet still unwell. Had Mri bloods etc over the past 3 months. Been started on medication for menieres disease which has improved symptoms to an extent. I have an appointment with an ear nose and throat specialist next week. Seems the likely cause now will be a vestibular disorder such as menieres disease or similar, which an ENT specialist should be able to diagnosed 🤞

Go to A&E. They have seen you recently and therefore won't dismiss you, they may admit you as a PP said. My father in law had an infection that we did not know had turned into septicaemia. We drove him into hospital (even though he fought us) and it saved his life. Please don't delay if you've deteriorated. They may pick up on why you have deteriorated and it may fast track your investigations. Good luck

Your symptoms are deteriorating. Ring the hospital or ask your partner to do that and pack your bag. They will very likely tell you to go to A&E again. This is not normal OP.
And please ignore trolls, it's your life and it sounds very scary. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you xx

All the best tomorrow

I agree ring 111 again.

You poor thing. I hope you can get the tests you need and get a diagnosis very soon

I would return to A and E

Get your partner to call GP tomorrow morning.X

I would go back to A&E at this point to be honest.

I get like this when my iron levels are low. GP and ask for blood test

Go to A and E op...please don't wait

Something to keep in mind OP is idiopathic intercranial hypotension. If they can't find anything, get them to check your eyes or go to the optician. I can't wake up some days and will not respond to/sleep through 2 or 3 hours worth of alarms every 10 minutes because I'm so tired, and will nap again 2 or 3 hours later. I experience pressure headaches like you do because I have extra spinal fluid/pressure in my brain. You mentioned the pressure headaches which are what I get. These are my symptoms currently which is under control. Yours won't be controlled if that's what this is, which are why your symptoms will be so bad. Though if you have this, it will be seen in the MRI.

Hope you get some answers soon. Sending love

Please go back to hospital

I assume you must have been checked for all types of anaemia?
Is there any possibility it could be cfs/m.e. or post viral/post covid fatigue syndrome?

I've had quite a similar episode recently, still not well, there's a few things going on am still being investigated for some other stuff but at least now know i am anaemic and folic deficient. Just make sure your partner gets you up or rings gp for you in the morning, you need your bloods doing, hopefully you can get them done tomorrow and that will get the ball rolling.

You absolutely did the right thing today. 111 gave you instructions and you correctly followed them.

Good luck with the GP.

I rang 111 and they’ve told me to go straight in and pack a bag. Called my mum because I need her to have my son whilst my partner drives me there and she’s said it’s pathetic and nonsense and if I was that bad an ambulance would be here. Feels so shit to have no support with this. She’s called me lazy for months and just thinks I’m making it up. Im going to go in because I can’t cope

I am glad you’re going.

please ignore you mum. This is the right thing to do.

Hope you get sorted, I've felt similar but probably not has severely when I was anaemic

Hope you are ok OP and sorry to hear your mum is being like that. Sounds like it will be good for you to be in hospital tonight, maybe you need IV antibiotics if you’ve got some kind of infection. Good luck

Your mum sounds ridiculous. No lazy person willingly visits A&E. Praying for you OP x

I hope you get some answers and some kindness from those around you.