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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:
scoobysnaxx · 27/12/2023 02:10

Stop dillydallying.

CALL 111 now.

She is going to be severely dehydrated and there are majorly serious consequences of this.

Stop being scared to piss off your wife!

yhk · 27/12/2023 02:15

Keep in mind that your GP surgery will likely have more people calling when they open today as they have been shut over Christmas.

My wife is currently in the same boat, albeit not as bad. I called 111 at 22:30 and had an out of hours appointment booked for after midnight.

Considering what you've described, it sounds like she needs to be seen by a doctor.

NotARealWookiie · 27/12/2023 06:08

Sounds like she could have a chest infection and/or a kidney infection.

As people have said, you need to ring 111, the whole point of 111 is that you can ring with exactly this sort of thing. Even if you think it’s low level, that’s the point. They will triage you and give you the right advice.

OP you’ve had really good advice on this thread and given the symptoms you’ve described, you do need medical advice for your wife. Stop trying to soldier on and access the nhs services.

As you appear to not be listening, I’m going to remind you that people actually do die of “just flu” (in winter 2017/18 it was 22500 people who died) so it’s actually not a waste of peoples time to ask for help. You aren’t going to a&e inappropriately, you are getting necessary medical attention. I know someone who died of a sore throat that turned into sepsis - they didn’t see anyone because they didn’t want to waste anyone’s time with “just a sore throat”… please don’t let this be your wife.

Daisies12 · 27/12/2023 06:32

Cal 111, she is likely very dehydrated. Not to make you feel bad but you really should have been insisting she drink more. Why are you so scared of her? She needs some medical help.

feathermucker · 27/12/2023 06:43

Please tell me you've rang 111. Even if it is Covid, it's gone beyond the point where you're able to manage this at home.

As already stated by others, her kidneys are at risk not to mention blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, weakness etc. And the fact that she's struggling to breathe too!

WatchOutMissMarpleIsAbout · 27/12/2023 06:43

Please call 111 I was admitted last year with pneumonia. Being unable to breathe is not a waiting game.

festivepains · 27/12/2023 06:45

What do you mean she won't let you call 111? She doesn't get a say here. You are worried about her, she may need medical assistance. That's like saying she won't let you call an ambulance but you're worried she's having a heart attack.

Get on the phone.

Bestyearever2024 · 27/12/2023 06:49

I really think you should get her triaged by 111

LightSpeeds · 27/12/2023 06:50

If she's struggling to breathe and not drinking then she could be very unwell indeed.

You need to get help/advice NOW!

Call 111.

Barleycat · 27/12/2023 06:50

FGS listen to what people are saying to you, she needs to be assessed, why are you flapping around online and wasting time?

LightSpeeds · 27/12/2023 06:51

Have you taken her temperature?

HateMyselfToo · 27/12/2023 07:05

No wonder the NHS is in such a mess. She may well need medical intervention now, possibly a drip.

WTF is wrong with people when a grown adult doesn't realise that the human body needs to keep hydrated?
Get some fluids into her. Lemonade, ice lollies, whatever it takes. He blood sugar is probably very low too, which won't be helping with the nausea.

tokesqueen · 27/12/2023 07:17

Another misguided person with a potentially seriously ill family member who sits on it for days and then rings the GP after a run of bank holidays!
This is why the service is on its knees and there will be thousands in phone queues this morning looking for appointments and no doubt berating the staff firefighting cases that should have been dealt with over the past four days.
Don't faff about testing for Covid, you need the symptoms treated. Ring 111 immediately.
What's her heart rate?

Peekingovertheparapet · 27/12/2023 07:19

I’d have been very surprised if 111 and/or GP recommended anything other than A&E for someone who was dangerously dehydrated and with breathing difficulties.

I really hope you didn’t leave her all night like this and I really hope she’s ok this morning. She could very well have a nasty infection or even sepsis. Someone who has only drunk that kind of volume in 5 days is in no position to be making decisions about their medical care.

violetcuriosity · 27/12/2023 08:10

Yes, of course she needs to see a doctor! Genuinely can't believe some of these replies.

Original poster
ChickensAndChops · 27/12/2023 09:05

Thought I'd update. I am not sure why people are doubting the amount she has been drinking - I have no reason to lie and that's the main reason I was concerned. She is coughing up grey/green mucas and the doc have no coverage today so we've phoned 111 and they are calling back within 1 hour or sending an ambulance if not. I understand from the call handler this is a standard response and it's unlikely they actually will send an ambulance. I checked on her throughout the night and she was OK and slept on and off. I convinced her to drink a bit more so I think she has had another 200ml approx overnight. Hopefully she can now be called back and checked out and treated in some way. She did say it feels like her heart is beating fast and she is struggling to breathe deeply. 111 seemed to suspect meningitis but she has a normal temperature. All very strange, they did not seem concerned about covid but more so around dehydration, they said no need to do a covid test at this stage as its been over 5 days.

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 27/12/2023 09:14

I had an absence of thirst with Covid, I took registration sachets and that really helped but had to force myself to. I was very ill, it wasn't like flu or a bad cold, I understand why people end up on hospital with it. I hope your wife feels better soon. Straws help when you're ill and don't want to drink.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 27/12/2023 09:14

I don't test positive until day 4 so you could still test.

Piggywaspushed · 27/12/2023 09:29

Given that you don't seem to be people generally with health issues, I assume you don't have a BP monitor or oximeter but ,if you do, please see what her BP and 02 levels are. A doctor might ask that anyway.

Stop giving her fluid- she can't drink it. Make ice. She can suck the cubes.

lovelyweatherforasleighride · 27/12/2023 09:33

ChickensAndChops · 27/12/2023 09:05

Thought I'd update. I am not sure why people are doubting the amount she has been drinking - I have no reason to lie and that's the main reason I was concerned. She is coughing up grey/green mucas and the doc have no coverage today so we've phoned 111 and they are calling back within 1 hour or sending an ambulance if not. I understand from the call handler this is a standard response and it's unlikely they actually will send an ambulance. I checked on her throughout the night and she was OK and slept on and off. I convinced her to drink a bit more so I think she has had another 200ml approx overnight. Hopefully she can now be called back and checked out and treated in some way. She did say it feels like her heart is beating fast and she is struggling to breathe deeply. 111 seemed to suspect meningitis but she has a normal temperature. All very strange, they did not seem concerned about covid but more so around dehydration, they said no need to do a covid test at this stage as its been over 5 days.

Christ on a bike. Maybe 8 hours after a GP told you they'd recommend taking her to A & E "we" have called 111.

LoreleiG · 27/12/2023 09:38

I would definitely see someone as soon as possible today. I hope she is OK OP.

Original poster
ChickensAndChops · 27/12/2023 09:46

111 doc called back, has prescribed anti sickness tablets that melt on the tongue so that she can then drink and eat. I wasn't really happy with this as an outcome to be honest and I did speak to the doctor and say I feel she needs to be examined and she just said if you want to attend a&e you can but there may be quite a wait. Based on what you've all said I was expecting them to want to see her but the doc just said 'your body will get through this itself' 🤷‍♂️

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 27/12/2023 09:49

Was it Buccastem?
It is good for nausea.

They didn't ask about breathing? If you are not happy with this go to A and E. They do try and put people off telling them about wait times.

I'm a bit surprised...111 tend to err on side of caution.

LightSpeeds · 27/12/2023 09:54

I wouldn't be happy with what the GP has said. Struggling to breathe, coughing up grey/green phlegm and barely having drunk anything for 5 days sounds pretty bad to me.

PACK A BAG for A&E (because it will be akin to a camping trip) just in case you need to make a sudden trip there.

mommatoone · 27/12/2023 09:57

ChickensAndChops · 27/12/2023 09:46

111 doc called back, has prescribed anti sickness tablets that melt on the tongue so that she can then drink and eat. I wasn't really happy with this as an outcome to be honest and I did speak to the doctor and say I feel she needs to be examined and she just said if you want to attend a&e you can but there may be quite a wait. Based on what you've all said I was expecting them to want to see her but the doc just said 'your body will get through this itself' 🤷‍♂️

OP - go to A&E. Yes there might be a wait, yes we know its not best situation.But your wife sounds very unwell and i would not be arsing about any longer. She needs to be seen.

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