AIBU to go to a&e

[Zd24]

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.

I know you must be feeling really awful and I hope you get well soon.

However, A and E isn’t the place for this.

Everyone keeps telling you to seek more appropriate medical assistance and that would appear to be your GP or by ringing 111 or 111online.

You need to think what A and E can do? Firstly, you’d have to arrange for someone to have your children. If there is someone, then that person needs to be looking after your children while you get yourself better, by using your spray or resting.

Secondly, if you were to be admitted to hospital what do you think they could so? A and E is rammed and hospital beds are full. It’s nearly the weekend so you are going to be waiting many, many hours before you even see a doctor. They won’t do ct scans or mris unless the condition is urgent.

Assuming you don't have symptoms of a more serious infection, such as a fever, fast heart rate, then this doesn't sound like an A&E problem. No-one here is able to make that assessment though so if you're concerned you would be best calling 111 if you're unable to access a GP appointment.

I was admitted to hospital (via A&E, after calling 111) last week for pneumonia, and it's really not somewhere you want to be unless you really have to be there. I was seen remarkably quickly, I was admitted and hooked up to IV antibiotics within 4 hours of arriving, but I was very unwell and the expected wait time in A&E was 7+ hours so anyone not in need of admission/emergency treatment is going to be waiting for much much longer.

Probably all you would get in a&e is more antibiotics. You need a specialist referral to ENT pronto. Can you call your GP today and tell.them this is untenable.

100%. Don’t fuck around with a sinus infection

im of the minority. I’ve been sent to A and E for a sinus infection. They told me it can go to meningitis.

If the dizziness and pain has got a lot worse in the last day or so then call 111 who can advise you whether you need to see a GP or go to A+E. It is likely to be a very long wait though if you do go to A+E but worth doing to get checked out if that is what they recommend. It may be that there is something else that can be prescribed for you to try over the weekend to help clear the infection.

Hi,

In relation to the dizziness. I have chronic sinus issues and for the last year or two I started getting very dizzy when I was walking and like you felt like the ground shifted. I did a fair bit of research into it and sinusitis can cause vertigo which is what I think mine is (I've had vertigo for years when going up hills etc). I mentioned this to gp and they agreed it can cause this. So just to say I wouldn't worry too much, it sounds very similar to what I've had and although it is scary, in my case anyway, it's nothing more serious than the sinus issues you are dealing with.

You’ve not had an accident and it’s not an emergency so you should not be going to A&E.

I get that you are in pain and fed up but adding unnecessary strain to hospitals at this time is not the answer.

You can say something with compassion and this isn’t it.

This is the reason A&E have such massive queues. It is neither an accident nor and emergency. Your GP is the place
I think A&E depts should send people
home if they turn up with issues like this.

I have dodgy sinuses and one of the first signs something is brewing is dizziness. I use steroids and it can feel like it's making it worse for a couple of days, and then it settles. But what I do is use betnesol drops until it stabilises, then steroid spray for a while, then taper off. You may need betnesol rather than something like a avamys or nasonex. You may also need to take antihistamines and potentially psuedoephadrine to help. I have found GPs to be very hit and miss with sinus knowledge. Generally antibiotics are not helpful, you need to do a sinus rinse, steroids, antihistamines and maybe psuedoephadrine initially. I went to an allergy/sinus/asthma specialist and they transformed how I manage it. That could be a better route than A&E.

Has your Gp suggested labyrinthitis?

My DP had that.

If your GP hasn't a clue, ask them to refer you to an ENT consultant.

If you can afford to, see one privately which could be as soon as 2 weeks. You usually don't need a GP referral now.

It's not an A&E job- you're aware of the terrible waiting times?

A&E is for people who'd die without medical help.

Call 111 and ask for advice, because no one here can tell you for certain it's serious or not. Likely they will suggest getting in touch with GP and you should request a referral to ENT.

It sounds really miserable OP and I can see why you’re looking for solutions. It’s understandable why you’re feeling a bit desperate.

Sinus infections can spread to the brain, worst case.

You need to see an ENT specialist and may need your sinuses draining.

Push your GP for this- don't keep messing about with more drugs without a diagnosis.

That’s nice, any sympathy? Also, about 50 other people have said this.

That sounds like what I had. The epley manoevre did help. My gp did it then ive used the you tube video at home

This sounds like vertigo to me......perhaps give NHS 111 a call. They are bets placed to advise if you need A&E or alternately they can book you an appointment to see a GP at an Urgent Care Centre that is GP led.

i know sinus infections can make you feel dizzy but can it make you dizzy for 4 months ? I guess if the infection lasts four months (whether constant or recurring) then the symptoms would also last that long.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sinusitis-sinus-infection/

It says this: The GP may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist - ask the GP to do that.

Are you also doing this: cleaning your nose with a salt water solution

And are you doing this: If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

Despite what other may think, OP is not going to save the NHS by avoiding a&e for this ailment. Perhaps if she had received better care from her GP this could have been resolved. Persistent dizziness for 4 months is not trivial.

OP if you want to go to A&E please do. Please prioritise your health. You do not sound like a hypochondriac, you sounds like someone who is desperate for answers and a solution.

I have bvvp (chronic dizziness with no known cause) so I do know how debilitating this is.

BUT this isn't for A&E. You need to go back to your GP and politely but firmly request a referral to ENT.

Going to A&E will likely result in a long wait, prescription for antibiotics and advice to return to your GP. A&E isn't set up to carryout the type of assessments you need.

Call 111 and ask for an out of hours appointment.

We have been through A&E 4 times since late October. My husband is waiting for life-saving surgery in 2 weeks.

YABU to attend A&E with this, particularly during a winter crisis.

Sorry didn't read them all.
and no sympathy really. People who actually need a and e are waiting because it has become an alternative GP surgery

Despite what posters say here you should always be alert with a prolonged unresolving sinus infection to meningitis (ie infection spreading to brain/spinal cord) or sepsis (infection spreading to the blood).

If in doubt call 111.

They do send people home but only after triaging so it still takes up time and resources.

I agree with the people saying that infections can be serious, which is why OP should call 111. If she has a fever, fast heart rate or any other signs of more severe infection they will send her for the appropriate hospital care. If not, they may be able to give her a GP appointment if they think it's not an emergency but still needs attention sooner rather than later. Where I live the GP service is part of A&E but 111 can make you an appointment directly. In other areas, there are out of hours GP services in the community you can be referred to. I realise it's not actually out of hours at the moment so the first step is probably to see if OP can see a GP at her practice today and, if not, she can ask the receptionist what her options are if it can't wait until next week.

Yes, you’re being unreasonable. Come on op, you know this is neither an accident or an emergency. You did biology at school right, you know the ears, nose and throat are all linked. You have sinus pressure from ongoing sinusitis (id hazard a guess that the a/b treatment wasn’t long enough to kill the bacteria) this in turn causes pressure on the inner ear (which is connected to the sinus cavity via the Eustachian tube) which then causes dizziness.
Any kind of pressure in your inner ear will cause dizziness because it’s where the vestibular system is