Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

852 replies

Headproblems · 13/05/2023 15:50

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Original poster
Headproblems · 21/05/2023 17:19

Binglebong · 21/05/2023 17:17

When you have tye energy please contact PALS. That treatment is shocking.

When I left I said this is what I would be doing and they said ‘we welcome it’

OP posts:
MsStyles · 21/05/2023 17:19

So sorry they weren’t very helpful. I think sometimes they are so busy they forget there’s someone concerned at the other end of the symptoms. I know how frustrating it can be when you don’t get answers and you know something is wrong, my parent has received treatment the same as you saying nothing was wrong when it clearly was.

best of luck with GP tomorrow. Fingers crossed they work out what it is x

Mirabai · 21/05/2023 17:22

While they weren’t very nice to you, an overnight heart monitor and a CT scan that fast is actually a great result. It’s good to rule out serious brain pathology.

As you clearly have a current infection - did they test your for Covid or glandular fever? - I’ve had both - with Covid my heart rate was similarly fast and with both I could barely stay awake.

Mojo777 · 21/05/2023 17:23

Oh, good grief! 😳 that is so bad! I'm so very sorry that you've been treated this way, @Headproblems . Just because your white cell count has bee up for a few months, doesn't mean its just from that infection (although white blood cell count certainly is raised in the presence of an infection). Surely they should be checking thoroughly to rule out other things.. Hopefully your gp can shed more light on what is happening. If you don't get any answers, or if they still refuse to do a fbc, I would be making a complaint with PALS. But that's just my opinion. I really do sympathise and empathise with you. Keep on pushing them if you can. Hugs and love to you ❤️

Bearpawk · 21/05/2023 17:31

Oh @Headproblems I'm so glad you've been able to update us but sorry they haven't got to the bottom of it yet x

Wheresthebeach · 21/05/2023 17:35

they sound like sulky teenagers not medical professionals. Awful. Sorry you aren’t better OP. If they’re sure there is an infection surely they should be treating it.

Willmafrockfit · 21/05/2023 17:36

oh dear,
so they know you have an infection due to white blood cells being high
but dont offer any treatment?
please perhaps write down everything to tell GP tomorrow.

daretodenim · 21/05/2023 17:41

I'm RAGING on your behalf OP. It's one thing that they couldn't find anything, but it's quite another to speak to you like that.

I have followed since the beginning of the thread but didn't post as I have no idea what's going on. I definitely believe you though.

Oh, and please ignore anything your mother says about your health (and probably a few other things). The laziest person in the world could not make themselves sleep as long as you are. Something's wrong. But at least not immediately life threatening for the moment.

JenWillsiam · 21/05/2023 17:41

Headproblems · 21/05/2023 17:03

Hi everyone, I am so sorry for not coming back to this thread. I wanted to update you all, I’ve been avoiding my phone because I’ve just felt so awful. I can’t believe the amount of you who have checked in and for that I am so grateful and so guilty for not updating sooner.

So. I went to A&E and they took me through straight away. Heart rate was 140 but other obs were fine. I asked whether they were going to take bloods. They refused to because they had taken them the night before. I said I really did need a full blood count and they told me they weren’t doing it and to be quiet. I was put on a bed and could barely stay conscious and then I started struggling to breathe, I couldn’t catch my breath at all and my heart was beating so fast. I called for help very breathlessly and they said that if I could call for help I could obviously breathe and walked off. A nurse took me through to the emergency ward and I asked for some pain relief for my head and they forgot to bring me any. I requested again that I have bloods and they refused again. My heart rate wouldn’t come down, they did three ECGs and ended up putting me on a heart monitor over night. The doctor came to see me and I told him my symptoms. He said they already knew I had an infection but that it’s ‘pretty normal’ for me because my white blood cells have been high on every blood test I’ve had over the last few months, so they weren’t going to do anything about it. They then asked if I could be depressed and I said no. Because I’m not. They ended up giving me a CT scan but there was thankfully nothing on my brain. They said there’s nothing they can do and sent me home the next morning.

I feel really silly because it feels like I’m making stuff up but I’m not, nobody was listening. I couldn’t walk properly leaving the hospital because I was so dizzy.

I couldn’t get a doctors appointment because I kept oversleeping and missing the opportunity, whenever I called it was too late and they said I needed to call at 8am for a same day appointment and that they don’t book in advance. I asked if my partner could book for me and they said no it has to be me. They have listened to me finally after explaining I really have struggled to wake up to call, and they’ve booked me in for Monday to speak with the doctor. My head has been hurting all week and I slept from 10pm last night to 2pm today and I’m still exhausted: I haven’t been able to work this week and I’m self-employed and have lost clients as a result.

I haven’t showered in a week and my hair is matted. I just don’t have any energy at all and all I can do is sleep.

I’m hoping the doctor will set things in motion on Monday because I am scared. But at least I know it’s not immediately life threatening.

i do feel silly coming back here because nothing has been done and it makes me feel like I’m overreacting. But I do appreciate all the well wishes and I will update after the doctors on Monday to tell you what they say.

Oh you poor thing. I really hope they start to take you seriously.

Pegsandsunshine · 21/05/2023 17:43

Headproblems · 21/05/2023 17:19

When I left I said this is what I would be doing and they said ‘we welcome it’

Show quote history

What the actual...
Do complain, please. Any chance you can try a different hospital?

HairyKitty · 21/05/2023 17:45

Well the care you received was appalling but a clear CT and clear ECGs are very reassuring indeed.
Can you remember what happened when your symptoms started? What was the onset like?
If you feel like it could you look at the symptoms for cfs/m.e as it sounds very very similar, especially with the clear scan.
Someone I know was sleeping 20 hours a day for 6 months until the GP was forced to refer for cfs

IMustDoMoreExercise · 21/05/2023 17:48

I am not a medical person, but I think that I have mild myocarditis so I have looked in to the symptoms a lot.

Have they ruled this out for you?

Mirabai · 21/05/2023 17:48

Just seen that your white blood cells have been elevated for months not weeks - presumably your GP is aware of this?

GP needs to refer you for further testing, it’s not something that can be done in A&E.

ukgot2pot · 21/05/2023 17:48

Your symptoms sound like mine when I have a very bad hashimotos flare up. (Thankfully they are rare, but when they happen I am honestly wiped out and can't function at all).

When you have some energy, contact PALS. The treatment you have received is awful (sadly, not surprising with the state of the NHS) but still no excuse. You really do need a full blood count done.

AnythingMuppetTM · 21/05/2023 17:52

I’m really sorry OP.

I was sleeping my life away. I have elevated white blood cells and they have been like that for years. I’ve autoimmune diseases, low thyroid and Primary Biliary choliangitas (pbc) .

uncomfortablydumb53 · 21/05/2023 18:04

Oh I'm sorry for the way the hospital treated you( or rather non treatment)
You are obviously very unwell and ok, it's a relief to know it's nothing life threatening it's bewildering too
Do not feel guilty
It seems only those who shout the loudest, are heard now and it's understandable that you can't when you're feeling so unwell
I do hope your GP is proactive tomorrow

MeandT · 21/05/2023 18:11

Oh @Headproblems so sorry to hear that. I've been lurking & wondering if you're ok too.

Glad they've been able to rule out brain tumour etc but just gobsmacked that they'll discharge you a 2nd time with an active infection and such a high heart rate without any further investigation to find out what it is!

If nothing else, it sounds like it could even be sepsis, but who knows? I'm astounded they'd be so dismissive without further testing, never mind discharging you 😢

Do get DP to support you through reporting the way this has been handled & really hoping the GP can come good quickly to help you get the the bottom of what on earth is going on!

CuriousMama · 21/05/2023 18:19

Bloody hell that's shocking. I'm glad you're reporting them.
Very best wishes for tomorrow I hope you get heard? 🙏

GarlicGrace · 21/05/2023 18:25

Whoa, what a disappointing outcome Sad ... although not, as you now know you're not having a heart attack, stroke or brain disease. Well done on getting a GP slot!

There are a number of common viruses that can cause your symptoms. There are other things like heart failure, ME-CFS, various autoimmune diseases, that also present similarly. You may be facing a battery of further tests ... please make sure to explain to the various clinics, etc, that you can't make morning appointments (I have to do this; they're surprisingly kind about it!)

Fingers crossed for you. Don't forget to eat food. x

rebeccachoc · 21/05/2023 18:53

If this wasn't an anonymous place I'd be asking for your gp's phone number and screaming down the phone at them until they saw you that minute. And obviously waking you, brushing your hair and taking you in and advocating for you. And kicking your partner's ass in to touch how the hell is your hair matted when you have him?!! But as I can't do any of that I'll just send you the biggest virtual hugs and tell you keep fighting for yourself, you deserve better!

holaholiday · 21/05/2023 19:05

@Headproblems may I suggest a couple of things? Firstly can you and your partner start keeping a detailed symptom diary? Secondly, at the moment it may not be worth fighting the fatigue…in an ideal world you would be trying to maintain some sort of sleep-wake routine but it might be an idea to see if some sort of pattern emerges. As a person with long standing auto-immune/CFS issues and all the challenges and prejudice that this sort of issue can bring up , I can recommend trying to get some more info that you can show to the GP when you next see them.

Rosieposey91 · 21/05/2023 19:16

That’s really bad of them to send you home. 140 at rest could be doing damage to your heart.

Original poster
Headproblems · 21/05/2023 19:35

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the support because I certainly don’t have it at the moment from my family apart from my partner. It’s comforting to come on here and have these symptoms and my feelings validated.

I’m not sure if this is out of context or connected at all but last night I found a hard lump on my left breast too. Should I bring this up in the appointment? I know it could just be a cyst or a fatty lump but have never had one before and only noticed last night.

OP posts:
lilybloom2 · 21/05/2023 19:36

I've been lurking and thinking of you

Yes tell everything to the doctor including the lump

Sometimes the thing we feel is insignificant puts the pieces in place xx

Hope it all works out for you x

KrasiTime · 21/05/2023 19:55

I’ve been thinking of you. Maybe a list of everything you want to say at the appointment & good luck 💐

Swipe left for the next trending thread