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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I go to a&e with this? Am I a timewaster?

133 replies

Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 22:20

Hi, genuinely cannot think straight and can’t tell if I should go to a&e or wait for the gp in the morning

basically I had plastic surgery on the skin at the top face 3 days ago. I had all the normal post surgery pain and tightness and I’ve to wear a compression bandage around my forehead which isn’t particularly comfortable either. But all within the expected amount for after surgery. My post op aftercares were all fine and they said the pain/tightness was normal

but tonight it’s taken a different turn and there’s no out of hours number for the private surgery company to ask. I’ve got a sharp pain at the right side top of my head/scalp (about 3 inches above the area of surgery). It’s excruciating and worse when I move my head especially turning it to the right. But weirdly, as a result of the surgery, I have absolutely no sensation in the top of my scalp at all (I knew this was an after effect of it for up to 6 months) but it’s weird because the area that’s sore is the area that I have no sensation in. Like I can touch the area and am not aware I’m even touching it, but yet I can feel an excruciating pain so I don’t know how that works. I also keep getting a really weird sensation like a cold dribble feeling as if it’s spurting blood and it’s dribbling down my head but there’s absolutely nothing. I can tolerate that but the pain is getting worse and it feels totally different to the other pain/tightness I’ve had which was normal. It started 2 hours ago, cocodomol isn’t helping it at all whereas it was helping the other normal post surgery pain but that all felt sort of achey whereas this is like a sharp stabbing pain.

I can just about get myself positioned in a way that it doesn’t hurt but I had a short nap and I woke up and it still wasn’t better. It’s not particularly swollen or red or hot and I’ve been taking antibiotics after the surgery but I’m just worried about the pain. As I’m typing I’ve got myself into that position that it doesn’t hurt too much but as soon as I move it’s like there’s a knife through my head.

would I be unreasonable to go to A&E for this when I’m otherwise fine? I just don’t know if this pain is normal post op but they don’t have an out of hours number to call and ask and I’m worried about it getting worse and no painkillers is helping it. But since it’s a private surgery, if it is something wrong it’s my own fault for getting the surgery and not a true accident or emergency so not sure if it’s ok to go to A&E for this? I don’t want to be a timewaster but it’s really, really sore. Or is this the kind of thing that you power through and call the private surgery number in the morning and maybe see the GP if necessary in the morning?

sorry, I’m absolutely exhausted after the last few days and can’t think straight so any help would be appreciated x

OP posts:
Flyawayhomeee · 25/10/2023 22:46

Do you have someone who can get you there? Hope you're ok OP. Better to get it checked.

Longingforthesummer · 25/10/2023 22:47

GO TO A& E...You are not wasting anyones time. If cocodomol. Isnt touching it, you need to get someone to assess. You dont know whats going on inside. Please go get checked over and let us know OP

Hiddenvoice · 25/10/2023 22:51

You should go and get checked, definitely not wasting anyone’s time. You could try phone 111 and discuss it first if you want but it might take a little while to get through.

Fluffyhoglets · 25/10/2023 22:54

You could go but you might be waiting so long to be seen that the private clinic is open in the morning for you to speak to before you get treated - if your A&E is anything like i experienced in our local one with a family member the other night anyway.

Rosecoffeecup · 25/10/2023 22:54

I'd wait until the morning and call the surgeon then tbh. How quickly is cocodamol supposed to work, you said the pain has come on in the last 2 hours?

Original poster
Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 22:58

Yeah I can get a lift up, I’ll call my parents ask but it’ll be a while before they can get here so I might call 111 in the meantime just to check im doing the right thing (I don’t know how I even forgot about that! Hopefully they can maybe sort it with an out of hours gp appointment although that’s at the same hospital as the A&E so I’ll call my parents and ask for a lift regardless as it’s the same hospital

OP posts:
Original poster
Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:00

Rosecoffeecup · 25/10/2023 22:54

I'd wait until the morning and call the surgeon then tbh. How quickly is cocodamol supposed to work, you said the pain has come on in the last 2 hours?

as I’m looking at the clock it’s actually 3 hours but yeah it’s still very recent. I was taking cocodamol for the general ache around the surgery site which is absolutely fine with cocodamol but hasn’t touched this pain at all. It’s fine lying with my head against a pillow in a certain position but as soon as I move it it’s like I’ve got a knife through my skull

OP posts:
Original poster
Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:01

not sure how long cocodamol should take to kick in but when taking it for the general surgery ache it’s been kicking in after about 15 minutes I would say, that’s when I’ve noticed an improvement in the pain. I last took it around 8 ish I think and it’s not made any difference to this pain

OP posts:
Original poster
Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:01

I’m going to call my parents and NHS24 in the meantime, thanks so much everyone x

OP posts:
HomiesAlone · 25/10/2023 23:03

Forget about the fact this was private now, what's done us done. If you need medical help, please access it. I hope you feel better soon.

MrsMoastyToasty · 25/10/2023 23:05

It might be normal post operative pain but then again it might be sepsis. Go to A&E.

Pinkpinkplonk · 25/10/2023 23:06

@HomiesAlone
Private is irrelevant! A and E is there for those in medical need.

LovedmyRaleighChopper · 25/10/2023 23:15

If you’re not used to taking medication and are now taking co codamol regularly it could be the co codamol that is causing this head pain. Ever heard of a rebound headache?

FloofCloud · 25/10/2023 23:21

Phone non emergency for advice. Good luck! Unfortunately private / non uk operations can come with lack of 24 hour support ... they reap the money and good old NHS cop for the post surgical problems, however you need advice ... best of luck

connu · 25/10/2023 23:31

If it is nerve damage as @Flyawayhomeee said it is not worthy of an A&E trip.

18 years after a c section I can still not feel the top layer of skin above the incision. I can feel the lower fat and tissue but not the skin. I was once told nerves grow at 1mm a year but I'm assuming that was not true as they've never rejoined.

Original poster
Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:34

Phoned nhs 24 and just waiting on a call back. I just tried to sit up and it was fine for about 2 seconds and it started throbbing again really badly so I had to lie back down in that specific position again

OP posts:
Original poster
Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:36

Tbh I did wonder if it could be a rebound headache, but i haven’t been taking it that often (although still more than usual) I’ve just been taking it for the acheyness at the surgery site- i took it around 8 ish and I think before that I took it at about lunchtime, then before that I had taken it during the night. So I’m not taking it regularly every 4 hours but I’m still taking it more than usual so maybe that x

OP posts:
Tigertigertigertiger · 25/10/2023 23:40

Could you tell us what the surgery was ? There may be medics on here who can give informed advice.

Sugarcube84 · 25/10/2023 23:44

Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 22:38

Thank you (and to everyone else)

I think I was just especially worried because it was a private operation IYSWIM and was worried it was cheeky to go to A&E and use the NHS for this because it’s not fair for them to have to pay for it (probably massively overthinking it but I’m so tired and miserable and my brain is mush)

Show quote history

Don’t worry about the private/nhs thing, I’ve had surgery today privately and they said if pain is unbearable go straight to A&E as they are best equipped to deal with me

Fummymummy · 25/10/2023 23:45

Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:34

Phoned nhs 24 and just waiting on a call back. I just tried to sit up and it was fine for about 2 seconds and it started throbbing again really badly so I had to lie back down in that specific position again

Tbh you'll be waiting all night for a callback, I'd have just gone straight in. Hope you're ok and get it sorted soon. It sounds awful! Pain that requires you to lay down or you otherwise can't function I would say definitely needs out of hrs or A+E at the very least just for pain relief that's effective, but hopefully they can also rule out any other complications. Don't feel guilty that it's a result of a private surgery - the NHS is for those at point of need, and regardless of the cause! How many people do you see there as a result of getting drunk or doing other stupid things! This is sudden, genuine debilitating pain that was not an expected side effect of your surgery!

Original poster
Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:49

Sorry I just realised I didn’t even explain it! I had my hairline lowered down x

OP posts:
Original poster
Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:50

Thanks so much everyone, feel a lot better about it as part of me was feeling so guilty about getting help because it was a complication of a private thing. My parents are on their way over now too so hopefully this will be fixed soon x

OP posts:
porridgeisbae · 26/10/2023 00:38

But since it’s a private surgery, if it is something wrong it’s my own fault for getting the surgery and not a true accident or emergency

Whatever the cause is, is irrelevant- if you need A&E you need A&E.

Feel better soon OP, please keep us updated x

Cropcycle · 26/10/2023 00:44

Good luck OP. I hope you get it looked at soon.
It would be your fault if you broke a leg skateboarding or tripped and dislocated something when you’d had a couple of drinks. That wouldn’t be any reason not to go to A&E. The fact that your pain is after a cosmetic procedure is irrelevant . Hope you are feeling much more comfortable soon

NumberTheory · 26/10/2023 01:59

Vanillacheesecake1 · 25/10/2023 23:50

Thanks so much everyone, feel a lot better about it as part of me was feeling so guilty about getting help because it was a complication of a private thing. My parents are on their way over now too so hopefully this will be fixed soon x

The NHS is freely available regardless of how you came about needing it. People do all sorts of things that they don’t have to that can result in needing medical care on the NHS. Boxing injuries, or just fighting in the street. Injury from drink or drugs. Jackass style dares. Getting a dildo stuck up your arse. It’s all covered and complications from cosmetic surgery are not less deserving!

Hope you get relief soon, OP.