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

140 is a very high heart rate unless you've been exercising or exerting yourself in some way.

Hope you're ok Op & at least you're getting seen.

Not just aimed at you op but always seems to happen on here people are ill for weeks/months and then all of a sudden on a Saturday when their gps are closed decide they need help and then everyone wonders why a&e is always packed

I knew someone who did this. It was 'just' stress.

I've had anaemia though, that was awful.

140 is higher then average and indicates an issue that needs sorting but it's not dangerously high or an emergency its only an issue if your hr is sustained at 220 minus your age or higher for a period of time.

Op I get a type of migraine without the headache but similar symptoms your describing

Best of luck OP. Do you let us know what they find x

I haven’t had periods for two years I have PCOS. Also regarding coming to A&E on a weekend, I can’t help that things got really bad on a Saturday.

I didn't say it was dangerously high or an emergency @Ionlydrinkondaysendinginy , just that it is a very high heart rate.

Get them to check thyroid also, I had a very high heart rate and similar symptoms of extreme tiredness then extreme hyperactivity and I ended up with Graves’ disease.

40 years ago, a friend had similar symptoms, just before his wedding, after a few days of being sleepy and dizzy, he almost got run over, stumbling about half asleep. He had been given a wrong prescription for an ear infection, the pharmacist misread it and gave him sleeping pills instead of what the doctor had prescribed, but the dose was far more than anyone would have been given anyway. I believe the pharmacist was sacked after an inquiry into how it had happened.

My son slept and slept before he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

OP you know of something is not right. Trust your instinct and don't wait for things to get worse.
Really hope you're ok and feeling better soon!

I'm no doctor, but you definitely need a full blood panel ran. Sounds either like autoimmune or something like B-12 deficiency, especially with the sounds in your ears and the extreme fatigue.

You have no reason to justify yourself to random strangers on the internet while you're unwell.

The fact you got there and have been seen immediately means you're in the right place. Hope you get to the bottom of it and get well soon.

Mine book me a slot it needed.
It saves the long wait.
It is standard here and 111 have arranged it for me several times.

That sounds very difficult Op. I hope that you get some relief.

Sometimes PCOS can make you susceptible to insulin resistance.

All the people saying they have booked slots in a&e is it actually a&e or is it ooh gp or urgent care based in a&e. Genuinely curious as never heard if this for actual
a&e

This.

Op please ignore the idiots on here saying “this isn’t an emergency” “why does this have to happen on a Saturday, no wonder A&E are packed” “wait for the gp Monday”

the symptoms you have described especially with it being the past few months really isn’t normal! Things like this being left can be very serious!

i had similar issues to what you described only due to people like on here that are simple minded I also didn’t want to become a nuisance by going to hospital so due to the pressure in my temples to I booked the optician assuming it was my glasses! Turns out I had swelling behind my eyes (due to the pressure) and they sent me straight up to the eye hospital same day, they checked the pressure and sent me straight up to A&E for an emergency MRI scan to rule out a blood clot/bleed or tumour on the brain. Ended up needing a lumbar puncture and now I’m on medication to see if the swelling will stay down!

you’ve done completely the right thing by going to the hospital! What’s the point in having a service for people to use if people are just going to criticise anyone who needs to go there 🤔, your health is your main priority!

you’ll always get the dicks on here saying you should of waited until Monday, bet that rule doesn’t apply to them tho if they were in this position 😊!

I hope you get answers today or tomorrow as to why this has been happening, push for an MRI to be safe! (I’m sure they’ll offer one anyway probably) you’re in the best place now to get better! Hope your feeling better soon xx

A&E. They ask you what is a realistic time to get there and then book you in. You then head to reception and tell them you're there.

Honestly sounds like b12 issues and or vitamin d
google to see if any meds you take inhibit absorption such as acid reflux for instance…maybe thyroid?

i have episodes like this about once a year that last for 2-3 weeks. I was diagnosed with autism as a result, it’s autistic burnout for me. My heart rate is always very elevated as my sympathetic nervous system is in overdrive

100% this.

That's so odd in my opinion for a&e as its really for people with emergencies like breathing issues, heavy bleeding, heart attacks, strokes ect. I just couldn't imagine in an emergency situation having to wait for a time slot before being allowed to go to a&e