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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:
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6
Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 22/05/2023 16:26

SleepyRich · 22/05/2023 11:58

I think what's happened so far is a good example of why several people who claimed to be GPs suggested going to the GP in the first place not A&E. She wasn't fobbed off, she just went to the wrong place to go for assessment so essentially no treatment was provided and just a standard investigations before being signposted to goto her GP who would investigate matters like this. Clinicians can often be blunt because they're busy and whilst we understand it's frustrating for people who don't feel well. For someone to return again despite already being reviewed will have been especially frustrating. A&E is not a place to go to try and be seen quicker or bypass the GP and hospitals are under increasing pressure to turn patients trying to do this away (because it's impacting on emergencies).

And yes 111 haven't helped by suggesting to go back, but this is just a signposting service, they're not medical it just follows a flowchart and they tell you where to go. If you call and say I feel really unwell/can't cope they'll tell you where the nearest A&E is, it's not a clinical assessment where they consider what the cause of your illness is, what assessments are indicated. It doesn't matter to them that you've just come from A&E and been discharged to see GP. Likely if OP called again today they'd again they'd still advise her to return to A&E and the cycle will keep repeating because A&E often will not be as thorough as a GP would in these instances. It could well be that the GP does a more thorough assessment today, identifies a need for a specific test that needs to be done in hospital today and would refer for that to occur if it was indicated.

As to whether to mention more than one problem in this case it's probably worth going through them all and absolutely mention the breast lump, essentially if you're presenting with new lump and unexplained lethargy you should be referred under 2ww for breast screening. As others have said lumps can be many things, and more commonly nothing sinister but important to get checked. Essentially either the lump will be causative or unrelated, but it'll be checked first because if it is a breast cancer this needs to be diagnosed as the priority. If it's shown to be a non-fatty mass/discharged from breast clinic in a few weeks time then you return to the GP to continue work up for other causes of your tiredness.

I can see why people suggest only 1 issue though. If you present with one overriding symptom then this would be the crux of the investigation. If you present with multiple ailments that you've stored up because it can be difficult to see a GP then depending on what's going on then the clinician might just pick the one that's most important to them (not necessarily to you), or the symptom you were actually really worried about gets dismissed since the clinician considers that it might not actually be that bad if you're also wanting to discuss it in the context of lots of other aches and pains/social problems.

This is exactly what I said about 2 weeks ago but got slated for it a&e is not the place for diagnosing chronic conditions. If op had listened to the gps,other medical professionals or people living with chronic conditions who have been through this on this thread then she would have her blood test results by now. If she had gone to the gp 2 and 1/2 months ago she'd potentially have a diagnosis or be on treatment by now. But instead it's pages and pages of people telling op she needs to go straight to a&e because she might have a brain tumour or sepsis. The op clearly struggles with health anxiety and this thread really hasn't been helpful.

Harkonen · 22/05/2023 16:30

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 22/05/2023 16:26

This is exactly what I said about 2 weeks ago but got slated for it a&e is not the place for diagnosing chronic conditions. If op had listened to the gps,other medical professionals or people living with chronic conditions who have been through this on this thread then she would have her blood test results by now. If she had gone to the gp 2 and 1/2 months ago she'd potentially have a diagnosis or be on treatment by now. But instead it's pages and pages of people telling op she needs to go straight to a&e because she might have a brain tumour or sepsis. The op clearly struggles with health anxiety and this thread really hasn't been helpful.

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O M G

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 22/05/2023 16:37

Harkonen · 22/05/2023 16:30

O M G

Show quote history

What your shocked at this but not by some of op claims like nobody is allowed to make an appointment on her behalf or that she has been to a&e twice and her gp surgery hasn't contacted her to book her in for an appointment so she hasn't been able to get 9ne for a whole week. Iv been playing along but cmon

Crikeyalmighty · 22/05/2023 16:46

@Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy I actually agree - I think A&E is actually not a great place to go to diagnose chronic conditions , not because I don't see why people would go there- I totally do when you are frightened/ ( I myself have been there when I was convinced I had a stroke after a very very bad leg weakness and migraine combo) but because A&E is very geared to your vital signs and instant life threatening situations as well as breaks and suchlike (accidents) - if you need a barrage of tests I've personally found unless you are literally having a stroke, heart attack, diabetic incident etc- they will usually deal with any immediate threats and send you home unless your vitals are seriously off (HR, oxygen , able to pee etc

It's one reason I feel we genuinely are missing an intermediate stage of people who really need to see a doctor asap and literally that day but not necessarily A&E unless we change how A&Es operate

SleepyRich · 22/05/2023 19:05

@Crikeyalmighty

That intermediate place/same day appointment is supposed to be the urgent/same day clinic at the GP - the longer appointments are for routine/chronic disease management but same day when symptoms are severe/no longer coping with self care.

As someone who works in these clinics the majority of the patients we see, who've insisted they really need a same day appointment really should have just picked self care - i.e. child with fever noticed the night before but bouncing around the clinic the picture of health - just like him to be checked out just in case (pretty pointless as this early on a simple upper respiratory infection would present the same in the patient who wont need any treatment versus the patient who'll later develop sepsis/meningitis so you're just telling them to return if they actually become persistently unwell, or for conditions that they could have got over the counter medication for but they've booked the appointment as they get free scripts and they don't want to pay the £5 or so for whatever it was (we're no longer allowed to do this so they end up as frustrated as we are), and things which they've made absolutely no attempt at self care - 'i've had diarrhoea for 2 days, not taken any paracetamol or tried to drink more now i feel terrible....

I'm frustrated at the above not because they're difficult to deal with, because it's just regurgitating standard self care advice which is available on the nhs choices website and very easy, i'm frustrated because I'm well aware that they're taking up the slots from the people who've been trying to manage with self care but despite this continuing to worsen and no longer coping, or have really severe symptoms which do need a medical assessment as to whether treatment is required or if it's something that would settle itself.

Yes it would be lovely if we have enough resources to see everyone, but we don't by a long shot and the worried well often have the strength and persistence to make sure they get the majority of the appointments. It's frustrating when people come in with new mild symptoms at the drop of a hat without trying normal self care first.

SleepyRich · 22/05/2023 19:06

@Crikeyalmighty Obviously completely agreeing with your sentiment though wasn't meant to come across as arguing against you which rereading possible does!! Sorry!

Itmustbenaptime · 22/05/2023 19:18

Hello,
I hope you feel better soon!
Just to say I can really sympathise - lots of your experiences sound familiar.
I'm not saying this is your issue, but I have long Covid and most of us with long Covid had times when we were acutely ill enough for A&E, but nothing except fast heartrate shows up and we get sent home. It doesn't mean we should stop pursuing medical treatment/tests though, as until doctors are happy to give up, as symptoms can mean so many things including some that are important to treat. In my case, long Covid got a lot easier over time, despite not having much luck with the NHS for a while...
I have postural tachycardia syndrome with the long Covid which means my heart goes really high when I sit/stand up. It often doesn't get picked up for ages but there are some excellent ways to manage it once you pin it down. When it first hit me I just thought I was too ill to get out of bed - took me a while to realise that the position my legs relative to my heart was causing the problem.

Itmustbenaptime · 22/05/2023 19:23

Also, there's a kind of breathlessness that comes when your heart is going really fast, and I think it's a bit different from the kind you get with lung problems, but still feels awful. It is horrible that a medical person dismissed your breathless feeling. I think most people would be uncomfortably breathless with heartrate at 140!

glowfrog · 22/05/2023 21:26

So sorry you're going through this, OP, and not even getting support or listened to from the medical professionals. I hope you get the answers you need soon.

SpicyMoth · 22/05/2023 21:34

Didn't realise mentioning my own families experiences with not being taken seriously when it turned out to actually be serious would be an issue to be honest?
Also not sure why I'm being zoned in on specifically when I think I've commented all of twice aside from just checking in to hope OP is alright?
At no point did I suggest OP definitely had the same thing - just that symptoms were similar and my mum was ignored so it's not worth to chance it if OP literally could not get a GP appointment and was in immense pain

Sorry I think...??? :S

bellac11 · 22/05/2023 22:01

ADHDDDDDDDBOOM · 22/05/2023 13:22

My GP surgery very clearly states that it's one issue per appointment.

Your GP asking "is there anything else I can help you with" is probably their way of asking why you haven't left their room yet 😉

Show quote history

Yep, Im not allowed to ask about other things, get told that every time when I try to tag something else on. Was told very bluntly by a GP over the phone one time that I had gone over my 6 minutes, was in agony in pain, later admitted to hospital with a bowel infection. Nice one.

NCTDN · 22/05/2023 22:08

Hope you've got some answers op

comfyfeet · 22/05/2023 22:10

Gosh op you have really been through it.
Big hugs.

I suggest you write a list of your symptoms to take with you for the gp. Even slight symptoms.

You know they are real so keep on telling people someone will listen.

Can you take your partner? Glad they support you and sounds like you need a bit of an advocate to help fight your corner.

Thank you for updating.

cathyandclare · 22/05/2023 22:13

It's madness to leave out symptoms in a consultation- most people will have no clue that certain symptoms can be linked, particularly in multi-organ conditions.

I'd list everything but try and be succinct, if possible.

Crikeyalmighty · 22/05/2023 23:00

@SleepyRich Yep- and I totally agree with you too that some people have a complete lack of common sense when it comes to basic self care and common ailments - which is almost why I think it needs kind of an intermediate thing where (like A&E) it's triaged at the door!!

Mojo777 · 23/05/2023 03:21

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.

Aahhh, this sounds familiar now that you mention a hard breast lump. Get the gp to refer you to your local hospitals breast clinic asap. Ask your gp to examine you, they should send for a fast track appointment. I've had breast cancer, and the fatigue I suffered in the months running up to finding the lump was awful. Despite looking after my 3 kids and working 3 split shifts a day at my kid's school, I had to nap after my dinner time shift every single day. I just couldn't keep my eyes open. They should get you seen ASAP now. Good wishes. xo

Mojo777 · 23/05/2023 03:26

By the way, try not to panic because I mentioned bc. It just seems to fit with symptoms I had that ran up to my diagnosis. Sorry, If I made you panic, it's not intended. Hugs to you. xxx

elliesmummy19 · 23/05/2023 08:16

How did the GP appointment go, OP?

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 23/05/2023 09:51

Mojo777 · 23/05/2023 03:21

Aahhh, this sounds familiar now that you mention a hard breast lump. Get the gp to refer you to your local hospitals breast clinic asap. Ask your gp to examine you, they should send for a fast track appointment. I've had breast cancer, and the fatigue I suffered in the months running up to finding the lump was awful. Despite looking after my 3 kids and working 3 split shifts a day at my kid's school, I had to nap after my dinner time shift every single day. I just couldn't keep my eyes open. They should get you seen ASAP now. Good wishes. xo

Show quote history

Considering most breast lumps are nothing and the op is gonna have to wait 2 weeks to find out your post really isn't helpful and this is the point I keep saying about people repeatedly diagnosing op with brain tumours, cancer and a million other things. I am assuming the reason op family is not supportive and that drs have been dismissive is because they know exactly what op is like so causing more unnecessary anxiety is disgusting

Kennykenkencat · 23/05/2023 11:07

cathyandclare · 22/05/2023 22:13

It's madness to leave out symptoms in a consultation- most people will have no clue that certain symptoms can be linked, particularly in multi-organ conditions.

I'd list everything but try and be succinct, if possible.

I agree it is madness but my gp says you have to book a double appointment if you want to discuss 2 symptoms

3 symptoms and that blows their minds.
One dr stuck his fingers in his ears and said he wasn’t listening.

one symptom at a time:

My gf went to the doctor about indigestion, a pain in his chest a left arm that was numb and had pins and needles. He said one symptom at a time and gave him a prescription for antacids. 6 hours later my gf died from a heart attack

GarlicGrace · 23/05/2023 15:27

As I have a couple of long-term, serious but boring conditions, I email my GP before seeing them. Having to put everything in bullet points clarifies my own thinking and allows the doctor to focus on what seems important. Before everyone did emails, I used to send a letter.

@Kennykenkencat, I'm terribly sorry about your grandfather. This does support what previous posters have said about self-care and using the system as intended. Had he phoned 111, he would have been flagged as a possible heart attack and received more urgent attention.

He could even have used an online symptom checker (or someone could on his behalf) and then presented to A&E. He wasn't an emergency at that time, but he'd have been in the right place when it became critical - the triage team would've identified that (one hopes!)

cathyandclare · 23/05/2023 15:41

@GarlicGrace - This was an absolute emergency at the time of presentation. Any GP should follow up on chest/ upper abdo pain with further questions to exclude a heart attack, let alone shut down a patient who is trying to explain their symptoms. The GP should have called an ambulance, or done an ECG> The whole pandemic seems to have excused some ( a minority I hope ) doctors from the most basic medical care.

Self-care is about managing minor and self-limiting ailments It’s absurd to expect a patient to go through a symptom checker for a serious condition but excuse a doctor for not doing the same.

cathyandclare · 23/05/2023 15:43

GarlicGrace · 23/05/2023 15:27

As I have a couple of long-term, serious but boring conditions, I email my GP before seeing them. Having to put everything in bullet points clarifies my own thinking and allows the doctor to focus on what seems important. Before everyone did emails, I used to send a letter.

@Kennykenkencat, I'm terribly sorry about your grandfather. This does support what previous posters have said about self-care and using the system as intended. Had he phoned 111, he would have been flagged as a possible heart attack and received more urgent attention.

He could even have used an online symptom checker (or someone could on his behalf) and then presented to A&E. He wasn't an emergency at that time, but he'd have been in the right place when it became critical - the triage team would've identified that (one hopes!)

Sorry, not having a go at you- just railing against the system. I’ve just been battling with my parents’ GP and this hit a nerve!

GarlicGrace · 23/05/2023 15:49

@cathyandclare, Yes, I get that Flowers

Original poster
Headproblems · 23/05/2023 17:19

Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy · 23/05/2023 09:51

Considering most breast lumps are nothing and the op is gonna have to wait 2 weeks to find out your post really isn't helpful and this is the point I keep saying about people repeatedly diagnosing op with brain tumours, cancer and a million other things. I am assuming the reason op family is not supportive and that drs have been dismissive is because they know exactly what op is like so causing more unnecessary anxiety is disgusting

Show quote history

I’m unsure why you’re certain I have health anxiety, when I don’t. I had concerning symptoms that were worsening, I had previously dismissed them as burn out and didn’t want to burden anyone. It’s horrible to hear ‘they know what OP is like’, you don’t have a clue what I’m like to keep your rude opinions to yourself. I asked for help during a time I needed it, not to be diagnosed with mental health issues by yourself, thanks.

You’ll be happy to know, I’m sure, that I saw my GP who has examined my bloods from A&E, saw that my iron is fine and that I have no vitamin deficiencies, that I do have consistent high white blood cells, and has done urgent bloods to test me for diabetes, before looking at other chronic conditions.

Please don’t reply because I don’t need your opinion on the state of my ‘anxiety’. Thanks.

OP posts: