Sorry everyone - it’s a medical ‘what should I do’ one

[Hiphopopotamonster]

Apologies for using AIBU for traffic but I’m genuinely not sure what to do here.

We’ve had a sickness and diarrhoea bug in our house since Thursday. Went round the kids who are now fine and myself and my husband. We were hit way harder than the kids and it was a brutal one. But my husband is now feeling okish, improving each day etc. I thought I was doing ok until last night when I suddenly took a massive downward turn. My temperature keeps spiking up to 39.5+ and I’ve got the most excruciating pains in my stomach and back. Like, they’ve kept me awake all night. I’m feeling so poorly. Paracetamol is bringing my temp down to around 38.8 but that’s it. I’m starting to get a bit panicky that this has become an infection that is going to get septic. Which I know sounds ridiculous but I had sepsis 10 years ago from a uti and I feel so similar now to how I did them. But I also know because of that experience, a high temp makes me panic. I think too, it’s also the fact that I was getting better and then seemed to take a massive downswing.

So what do I do here? Am I being pathetic and it’s just a bug that I need to ride out, or is this a 111 thing?

I would 100% call 111. I hope you feel better soon.

I would phone 111. We had the same bug a couple of weeks ago. Dh and I definitely felt worse than our little one. We had sore stomachs, felt achy, really run down but didn’t have a temp.

The gp said it could take 10 days to leave our little ones system but said if any of us were still being sick after 3-4 days then fo contact them.

No harm In phoning and getting some advice!

Yes definitely phone them, need antibiotics by the sound of it

I’d call 111 or try for a GP appointment, could be a secondary infection that needs treating especially with the temp stilll being so high after meds.

IIRC the threshold for getting further medical attention is lower if you have ever had sepsis.

Full recovery from a D&V but can take several days longer after symptoms have ended, but you would normally expect a gradual improvement, not sudden new symptoms. I also have never had a temperature with a D&V bug (different to throwing up or getting the runs a a a result of a high temperature).

So definitely seek medical help. 111 at the very least, though YWNBU to go straight to A&E now.

Sorry, I agree that if you've previously had sepsis to call 111 and get it checked out.

Is it possible you have a uti now? We had the stomach bug and I landed up with a uti afterwards. Pretty annoying.

If in doubt check it out. There's no harm in calling 111 in a situation like this, even if it turns out to be nothing. There is potential for harm in not calling if it turns out to be something you need treatment for.

Call 111. I no it started as a bug, but it sounds like it’s resulted in a secondary infection so seek help. Not ridiculous at all to worry.

Agree that you should call 111 now or GP if they open at 8. I've definitely been told by a doctor that with infections, you should seek advice if something seems to get better and then gets worse.

If you're dehydrated from the d&v, that could bring on a UTI which could spread to kidneys if pain is in that area. Hope you feel better soon.

Thanks all - phoned 111 and they’re sending the paramedics out. Hopefully just an over precaution but happy it’s been taken seriously. I get so scared when I feel like I’ve got an infection as I just remember it all going so horribly wrong before

Oh I’m glad you’re being looked after op. Get well soon!

Just read this thread and pleased to read your last update- I’m a GP and would definitely want you seeing and assessing properly. Hope everything is okay and you feel better soon.

My daughter just had a bug where her temp was almost 40 with stomach pain so excruciating and vomiting. Kids tend to bounce back so much quicker though.
I hope your on the mend soon op.
Always worth ringing and checking your vital signs too if you can at home (blood pressure machine, count heart rate, monitor weeing)

Oh good. I was going to say that 111 would just tell you to go to a&e, so you might as well cut out the middle man, and just go.

But ambulance coming for you is an excellent outcome. I hope you recover quickly.

How are you doing, @Hiphopopotamonster ?

Apologies for not updating. It’s been a bit of a week and I’m now one appendix down! Turns out the stomach bug was a bit of a red herring, I was triaged by A&E and admitted onto the surgical ward with appendicitis. One keyhole surgery later and I’m back home. So very glad I phoned 111, even if it did take my week in an unexpected direction.

Oh wow, bloody hell. Glad you got the help you needed, best wishes for your recovery.

Glad you got sorted out. Hope you recover well. It's lucky you recognised symptoms as similar to before and that they took you seriously.

Flipping heck. Glad you got sorted. Having had sepsis before you certainly didn't want that bursting and a repeat.

Hope you recover fully soon

Glad you're okay.

You're a shining example of someone who listens to their body and knows when something's not right.

Sepsis kills so many people these days but is not recognised the way it was before antibiotics became widely used. My grandmother would often mention how wonderful antibiotics are and how many lives could have been saved had they been around when she was younger. A simple scratch could kill pre-antibiotics.

There have been some campaigns over recent years trying to highlight how dangerous it can be but it's still frequently missed by younger medical staff as they've not a lot of experience with it. Most infections have been treated successfully with antibiotics so they don't get to the hospital stage. However, reluctance to treat due to antibiotic resistance is causing a new sepsis era.

As a PP mentions, if you've had sepsis previously, you need to be a lot more aware as you're more susceptible to getting it again.