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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

When is it appropriate to see the GP

154 replies

ChickensAndChops · 26/12/2023 23:54

My wife has flu/covid/other viruses are available

She has been ill in bed since Friday and is no better. She has only left bed to go to the toilet and has probably only drunk about 500ml of water since then. No food.

Says she feels sick but hasn't been sick, has headache, aches, pain and fatigue. We don't have any covid tests and seems silly to get one now at this stage. I really want her to go to the GP tomorrow once it's open as she is hardly ever ill like this (probably the 2nd or 3rd time in 26 years together). She doesn't want to waste anyone's time but I think that she needs to be checked over.

She has now agreed I can call the GP surgery in the morning who will triage and see if she needs an appointment but is this enough?

YABU leave her be she is fine without intervention
YANBU call the GP in the morning

OP posts:
Hermittrismegistus · 27/12/2023 00:44

About a year ago I had similar symptoms to your wife. Struggling to breathe and literally had less than 300ml fluids in over 5 days. I thought I wasn't too bad as I was still alive.

Turned out I was delirious and had two major infections, one that was affecting my organs. Ended up 12 days in hospital on a couple of IV antibiotic drips. I was at deaths door but too unwell to realise. It was my mother that insisted I call 111 at the very least.

ColourMeBlue · 27/12/2023 00:46

I would phone 111 and be prepared to take her into hospital after advice. Obviously,if your wife refuses,there's nothing you can do,but you have sought medical advice.500ml is very little fluids since Friday,and the struggle to breathe/take a deep breath is concerning.Ring for advice

HP89 · 27/12/2023 00:48

Please do not wait- call 111 now!

Diggerdriverless · 27/12/2023 00:53

Your wife needs to have fluids beside her all the time and you need to be reminding her to drink. She will be seriously dehydrated. Please phone 111 and get some advice. Now.

Original poster
ChickensAndChops · 27/12/2023 00:53

Thanks for the replies. She is still awake and is definitely lucid but has agreed I can call the gp in the morning but if they can't help for whatever reason then I can call 111. So I'll do that and just keep checking on her tonight. I am a bit of a night owl so I don't sleep much anyway so she is in safe hands.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChickensAndChops · 27/12/2023 00:55

Diggerdriverless · 27/12/2023 00:53

Your wife needs to have fluids beside her all the time and you need to be reminding her to drink. She will be seriously dehydrated. Please phone 111 and get some advice. Now.

She has a water bottle full up and refreshed regularly and she also has a separate glass of squash again that I've refreshed. I keep encouraging her but she says she feels too ill to drink. I'll get her to the doctor tomorrow.

OP posts:
RantyAnty · 27/12/2023 00:55

You mean you've only brought her 500ml to drink since Friday?

Fill up a large jug/pitcher of water to keep by her bedside. Like 2 liters have have her sip on it over the next hour or 2 until it's gone.

It really does sound like a she needs to be in hospital for dehydration at minimum.
She could possibly have pneumonia with the sob.

Hermittrismegistus · 27/12/2023 00:58

She is still awake and is definitely lucid but has agreed I can call the gp in the morning but if they can't help for whatever reason then I can call 111.

My DH thought I was mentally fine too but my mother realised I wasn't.

If everything you've said is true then you need to seek medical advice tonight.

Sholkedabemus · 27/12/2023 00:59

I think you should call 111 now, (nurse).

Umtydumpy · 27/12/2023 00:59

Nurse here.. I'd find the lack of fluids very concerning if nothing else, dehydration could be affecting her kidneys and other major organs at this point. I'd most likely call 111 who may well advise her going to hospital, but if she deteriorates further at any point (becomes hard to rouse/not responding appropriately when you speak to her/raised pulse/lower or higher than usual temp) I'd probably just skip the call and take her to a&e yourself. May need a saline drop and possibly antibiotics, an assessment will decide that.

dieselKiller · 27/12/2023 01:01

Sometimes when people are ill you need to give direction, not follow the direction of the person who is ill. Did you read the comment from the doctor earlier and the one from Hermittrismegistus?

VerticalSausages · 27/12/2023 01:03

You need to take control of this situation and stop pussyfooting around your wife for fear of her being offended. Call 111 now. I think your GP would also advise she needs to go to hospital. How is she going to get to the GP if she is too unwell to drink anything.

Rattenbury · 27/12/2023 01:09

I would be calling 111 now if I were in your position. Best to be safe than sorry - not drinking/struggling to breathe are massive red flags.

lovelyweatherforasleighride · 27/12/2023 01:13

You're supposed to be the adult in this situation. Your wife is too dehydrated and ill to be thinking clearly. Yet you won't call 111, will wait till morning to call the GP who won't necessarily be free to see her tomorrow, and won't waste money on a covid test as "it's too late now" and you've had it before and it wasn't like this, as if variants don't have different effects. Call 111.

Original poster
ChickensAndChops · 27/12/2023 01:13

RantyAnty · 27/12/2023 00:55

You mean you've only brought her 500ml to drink since Friday?

Fill up a large jug/pitcher of water to keep by her bedside. Like 2 liters have have her sip on it over the next hour or 2 until it's gone.

It really does sound like a she needs to be in hospital for dehydration at minimum.
She could possibly have pneumonia with the sob.

No you've mis read. I've calculated from when I've taken her bottle/glasses away to refresh them thats all she has been drinking.

OP posts:
Diggerdriverless · 27/12/2023 01:22

You are not wasting anyone's time if you call 111. You won't be taking medical attention from an emergency. Honestly.

MumblesParty · 27/12/2023 01:22

If she has genuinely only drunk 500mls of fluid in 5 days then the GP will tell her to go to A&E. No matter how she is clinically, she’ll need urgent blood tests to check for renal failure. Urgent blood tests can’t be done by GPs, has to be in hospital. I’m a GP and I’m working tomorrow and if this call came through I would advise A&E.
However, if she is passing urine then I suspect she is drinking more than you think.

Mostlyoblivious · 27/12/2023 01:41

You have had very sound advice from a nurse, a doctor and someone who was similarly very unwell which it seems you’re ignoring.

Overwhelmingly the consensus is that YOU need to ring 111 - not ask if she’s okay with that, YOU need to get advice from 111 now.

Your question was when is it appropriate to contact the GP however you are past that point now.

PHONE 111. Now.

brainworms · 27/12/2023 01:44

TEST FOR COVID.

Christ. Why are people being so bloody selfish about this? If you're potentially going to be around other people, BOTH of you should test.

If it's covid then you have the answer and treat appropriately. If it's not then you rethink.

Sharpness19 · 27/12/2023 01:48

From someone who works on 111 who has had a quite stressful run of shifts over the festive period, I am absolutely begging you to call the service right now based on what you have said here.

Wateroverwine · 27/12/2023 01:52

Not eating and barely drinking is not something I would ignore. People go to the GP for a chat or rash..this seems like something more serious try get a COVID test tho as likely is that..

TheShellBeach · 27/12/2023 01:56

A GP can do nothing except advise hospital. They can't take urgent bloods or treat renal failure.

I implore you to ring 111 right now. That's what it's there for.
(Nurse here)

Sageseashells · 27/12/2023 02:01

I was similarly unwell last year, I was alone and bedbound for 4 days with the same bottle of water that I was too weak and sore to drink. After day 4 the fever improved and after 2 more weeks the cough went. I didn't see any doctor and the fatigue hung around for a while longer. I hope your wife is OK and feels better soon.

QuestionableMouse · 27/12/2023 02:04

Very unwell people can't make decisions for themselves. Just ring 111 for goodness' sake.

coxesorangepippin · 27/12/2023 02:08

Not exactly sure about the fluid intake, but if shes only drunk half a liter of water since Friday, then, yes, ffs, she needs seeing.