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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to go to a&e

225 replies

Zd24 · 10/01/2025 13:56

Posting for traffic but basically I have been unwell for 4 months, in September I started feeling “dizzy” out of the blue, when I say dizzy I don’t mean spinning, I struggled to explain it to doctors at first. There is 2 ways I would describe the “dizziness” one is being on a boat like when you feel a boat move, it will feel like that for a split second, stop and then after it will happen again, only when I’m outside walking. Another way I could explain it is I’ll just be walking and all of a sudden it feels like the ground has moved beneath my feet for a split second, I went to the gp in September as I had this along with ear pain, doctor said could be labyrinthitis but my ears looked fine and said he didn’t know what it was and to come back if it contuined, I went back to the gp 3 times more within 3 weeks, by the end of the 3 weeks I ended up with a really bad sinus infection so the gp gave me antibiotics and put all my symptoms down to a viral infection turned bacterial. Dizziness eventually went away and then it started again mid October, sinus infection most of the symptoms resolved however I was still having green smelling discharge coming out of my nose every morning so it never fully went away even after course of antibiotics. I’ve been like this since mid October, dizziness some days is better some days worse, I had a viral illness last month and it ended with a severe sinus infection, I went to the pharmacy and had more antibiotics which I finished, but this time the symptoms haven’t got better, on the left side mainly I have pain and popping feelings in my ear, pain around my face where my sinuses are, constant green smelling discharge and a bad smell in my nose even after finishing the antibiotics, I went to the gp yesterday and explained all this and the “dizziness” she said she things it was acute sinusitis now chronic sinusitis, she looked in my nose and said the left side had congestion and most of the pain when touching my face and ear pain is on my left side. She said the next step will be to try steroid nasal spray, I started that yesterday and feel even worse, I had a really bad tension headache last night in the sides of my head, felt ok this morning and dizziness seemed a bit better, but after taking the spray this morning I have so much pressure in my face and loads of green smelling discharge coming out and ear pain, my mum things the spray is starting to work and the infection is coming out but I’m not sure ? Just been in Lidl with my 14 month old and i haven’t felt that “dizzy” before, I have so much pressure in my head and got back into the car and burst into tears, I’ve been dizzy for 4 months and now it’s got worse. I don’t know what to do, it’s genuinely ruining my life, I’m so depressed because of it and I’m scared there is something more that’s wrong or worse.

I’m feeling like I should go to hospital now as no one seems to be taking it seriously, I’ve got pain behind the back of my eyes since this morning and my face hurts to touch, my ears keep hurting and popping and as I said the dizziness has got worse since starting the spray, this can’t be normal how I’m feeling. Would I be unreasonable to go to a&e ? I am really worried this is something serious.

if anyone has been through something like this can you please give me any positive stories or advice? I thought for a long time the dizzziness was stress and anxiety but it’s not just making me physically ill it’s also making me mentally ill, it’s triggered severe panic attacks which I’ve never suffered with.

I just feel so “full” inside my head, nose and ears. I just don’t want to leave it and something bad happening. Honestly don’t know what to do.

OP posts:
RandomButtons · 10/01/2025 13:59

YABU, sounds like typical sinus infection and/or labyrinthitis to me (I get both regularly) Go back to GP and ask for different treatment. A&E isn’t the right place for this.

Bubblemonkey · 10/01/2025 14:01

If it’s been going on for 4 months, is it really an accident or emergency? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Weyohweyoh · 10/01/2025 14:01

Don’t go to a&e. You will sit there for hours and they’ll just send you back to your GP.

Ohshutupsimonyoutwat · 10/01/2025 14:01

YABU this is not a true emergency, it can be dealt with by a GP and possible onward referral for tests. If I were you I would monitor over the next few days with the nasal spray and then see the GP again if worse / no difference. A&E have horrendous wait times at the moment and this is not an appropriate use of the service.

Owwwwwww · 10/01/2025 14:02

That sounds horrendous OP but I don’t think you should go to A&E especially as they are under so much pressure ATM. You will end up waiting hours and then get sent away as it isn’t accident or emergency.
If the spray is making you feel worse, could you contact the doctor who prescribed it to check if that is a recognised side effect or ring 111 and ask them for advice.

Zd24 · 10/01/2025 14:02

It’s the dizziness that’s worrying me not the sinus infection, it’s getting worse and I am struggling to do anything.

OP posts:
LittleRedRidingHoody · 10/01/2025 14:03

Call 111 and get advice. You're not wrong to be frustrated and want answers, but A&E won't do that for you.

TomatoSandwiches · 10/01/2025 14:04

It sounds horrible but it is neither an accident nor an emergency, sorry.
I would complete your current treatment and then go back to your GP and ask for a referral to ENT.

Ohshutupsimonyoutwat · 10/01/2025 14:05

But a sinus infection will cause you to be dizzy, what will going to A&E achieve? This is why it is such a mess because people clog it up with ailments that can be treated in primary care. As above you need to give the newly prescribed treatment time to work and then seek help if it hasn't made a difference after a few days.

TomatoSandwiches · 10/01/2025 14:07

The Sinus infection will be causing your dizziness, trust me, I paid a lot to find that out after developing an instance of this during a flight to NY.

CheshireCat1 · 10/01/2025 14:07

Go back to the GP if it’s not improving and don’t drive if you’re dizzy.

Vaxtable · 10/01/2025 14:07

I think your mums right. Medication is starting to work and clearing it all out

if you are concerned then go back to the GP, or do you have a local walk in clinic?

RandomButtons · 10/01/2025 14:07

Dizziness is very common with sinus issues. A lot of what the GP prescribed never helps me.

Get yourself a netipot ASAP, and get some sinutab tablets from your pharmacy. You need to irrigate your sinuses daily.

Then take serious consideration as to if something is triggering you - mould or dust mites in the house is a massive culprit. Seasonal hayfever (mould spores in the autumn) too.

For the dizziness you can try antisickness tablets from your pharmacy- the type given to people who get car sickness. Helped me loads.

If none of this works and it carries on it’s worth asking for ENT referral.

Sitting in A&E will get you nowhere, and you’ll probably sit for 24 hours and catch flu to boot.

www.superdrug.com/health/cough-cold-flu/cold-remedies/nasal-spray/neilmed-sinus-rinse-kit/p/645755?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADp4mz8ZocysfkniirTQmA4kDE9qZ&gclid=CjwKCAiAp4O8BhAkEiwAqv2UqFmfiV9a6gvJWzddH6IAL66xBT8HISfMXj6ZBbbx8g2sAnGXz2r7PBoCv-8QAvD_BwE

MyDeepZebra · 10/01/2025 14:07

It's not an accident or an emergency and A&E is at breaking point. You could literally be there for 24+ hours with no resolution.

You'd be better calling 111 for advice or attending your local Walk In Centre as both could arrange for you to see a doctor. It sounds like you need better GP care, referral to ENT.

I had this 20 years ago, it was a long term sinus infection causing Labrynthitis and improved once I was under the care of ENT and on the right course of treatment.

Zd24 · 10/01/2025 14:07

I know, I asked here to get advice first before deciding to go or not.
i just feel awful and with 3 young kids one being 14 months, and a husband who is never home,

ive been dizzy for 4 months which is the main concern and it’s got to the point where I can’t do anything because of it, I’ve been to the gp so many times and it’s not being taken seriously.

i know sinus infections can make you feel dizzy but can it make you dizzy for 4 months ?

it’s suddenly just got so much worse since yesterday and now I’ve got symptoms of pain behind my eyes and bad headache.
i don’t know if it’s the steroid nasal spray working if it’s a more severe infection now.

OP posts:
Owwwwwww · 10/01/2025 14:08

I’ve had labyrinthitis many times, at its most severe I couldn’t move my head a millimetre without the room spinning and throwing up. I think a lot of conditions connected with ENT can be really debilitating without being serious so you do need to continue with your treatment and go back to the GP for further investigation if the symptoms persist.

rebmacesrevda · 10/01/2025 14:08

You don't need A&E, and you'll be sat in the waiting room for a VERY long time if you go there. Have you taken painkillers? If you can take ibuprofen, it's anti-inflammatory; I find it's the only medication that helps with sinusitis as it reduces the internal swelling in the sinuses.

Also, have been trying nasal irrigation? It's a bit gross, but it sounds as though you're very congested and if you can flush some of it out you'd feel a lot better.

MyDeepZebra · 10/01/2025 14:08

And I'd agree with RandomButtons that a neti pot was lifechanging for me and stopped a life time of recurrent sinus infections.

MyDeepZebra · 10/01/2025 14:09

Zd24 · 10/01/2025 14:07

I know, I asked here to get advice first before deciding to go or not.
i just feel awful and with 3 young kids one being 14 months, and a husband who is never home,

ive been dizzy for 4 months which is the main concern and it’s got to the point where I can’t do anything because of it, I’ve been to the gp so many times and it’s not being taken seriously.

i know sinus infections can make you feel dizzy but can it make you dizzy for 4 months ?

it’s suddenly just got so much worse since yesterday and now I’ve got symptoms of pain behind my eyes and bad headache.
i don’t know if it’s the steroid nasal spray working if it’s a more severe infection now.

I was dizzy for over 10 months and the steroid nasal spray was giving me rebound infections.

Redrosesposies · 10/01/2025 14:10

I have two suggestions for you @Zd24 because your symptoms sound just like my migraines before they become actual pain (once it gets past the right ear and reaches the temple)
Try a daily antihistamine
Get some Sumatriptan.

RandomButtons · 10/01/2025 14:10

Zd24 · 10/01/2025 14:07

I know, I asked here to get advice first before deciding to go or not.
i just feel awful and with 3 young kids one being 14 months, and a husband who is never home,

ive been dizzy for 4 months which is the main concern and it’s got to the point where I can’t do anything because of it, I’ve been to the gp so many times and it’s not being taken seriously.

i know sinus infections can make you feel dizzy but can it make you dizzy for 4 months ?

it’s suddenly just got so much worse since yesterday and now I’ve got symptoms of pain behind my eyes and bad headache.
i don’t know if it’s the steroid nasal spray working if it’s a more severe infection now.

Yes mine can leave me dizzy that long. See my post above for treatment you can start today from pharmacy
nasal irrigation
sinutab
cinnarzine (sturgeon) or similar

ThinWomansBrain · 10/01/2025 14:10

Have you heard the varying news bulletins that A&E /ambulance services are under extreme pressure? I even received a text message saying that London A&E are under pressure (for reference I have used A&E once in 2024 because my GP called and told me I needed to go, and that was the first time since 2012, I am not a frequent A&E user).

I am curious to know what part of a condition that you have been experiencing for four months you consider to be an accident or an emergency.

I'm not suggesting that you don't seek treatment, but why do you imagine that A&E is appropriate?

babystack · 10/01/2025 14:12

Is it like a vertigo feeling? If so, you can try the Epley Manoeuvre at home. If something in your inner ear isn't working properly it can cause a lot of vertigo spells. This manoeuvre works very well.

Anonym00se · 10/01/2025 14:13

Steroid spray can take a few weeks to make a difference. As awful as sinus problems are (you do have my sympathies!) your GP isn’t a magician and can’t wave a magic wand. Sometimes we just have to be patient while we give medications a chance to do their job.

A&E won’t do anything because there is nothing they can do (even if it were an emergency which it isn’t). I don’t know what you think you would achieve by going there. Are you very anxious and it’s just some reassurance that you’re needing?

Owwwwwww · 10/01/2025 14:15

I really feel for you OP. Could you ask your GP to refer you to a private ENT consultant? An initial consultation would probably cost £300-400 but you are being so badly affected by your symptoms you might think it is worth the cost.

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