I don't know whether to bother my GP

[ByLimeAnt]

I'm not sure if I'm overreacting and am happy to be told to suck it up.

I posted on General Health part night. Essentially I've been feeling exhausted for the last few months and it has got gradually worse so I am sleeping in the middle of the day and going to bed at 730. For the last 10 days or so I've needed to go to bed after lunch and work from there. GP says I have very low ferritin (haemoglobin fine) and has put in an urgent referral to bowel team (history of multiple polyps).

It's 9am and I need to lie down. Slightly short of breath on exertion but not at rest and having palpitations.

I spoke to my Gp yesterday and whilst she is normally fabulous, I didn't get much of a chance to tell her about the breathing or extent of the fatigue. She prescribed iron but I can't physically get there to collect and have noone to ask.

Definitely not bothering with 111 as they just send you straight to hospital.

WIBU to request a duty GP callback?

I think you need a&e tbh.

You’re breathless and exhausted
I think you need an urgent GP appt and possibly a&e

If you don't have the energy to get to the doctor's then you absolutely need to call them and say you need to at least speak to the GP on call if they don't have any appointments. I'd also chase that urgent referral - urgent around me is 12 months for an endoscopy, but they can bump it up to the cancer pathway two week wait if they are really concerned.

Well, you need to get the iron collected for one thing, the GP can't do that for you. Do you have a volunteer driving scheme where you live? Ask on Facebook, if there is that is exactly the type of thing they do.
The GP can't magic a cure and if you've not been able to implement their first suggestion how are you going to do whatever else they propose?

But yes, if you're still worried, ask to speak to the GP.

Personally I would call 111, they are very good at getting you an appointment, and if their triage says you need to go to hospital, then why is that so bad? You'd get properly checked over for immediate issues and probably have bloods ordered if nothing else. And they'd refer back to the GP with their findings.

Would say you need a face to face appointment, rather than a phone call for proper assessment if you’re breathless on minimal excretion & tachycardic in association with extreme fatigue.
Also you do need to start the iron tablets or nothing will improve.

Do you have a pharmacy that does deliveries? Many do, so people who are housebound can get essential meds.

The local GPs here send prescriptions to the pharmacy electronically, and they then deliver the drugs.

You don't sound good OP, escalate this whichever way & get yourself seen to asap. Good luck!!

Call the GP again and explain the breathing and extreme fatigue. They may have other options depending on your values.

Good that they are looking at underlying cause.

Iron tablets take a while to have any impact.

Aim also for an iron rich diet. Loads on line about this and the different types of iron...and how to consume (eg helps to have a glass of orange juice for example..)

Low iron causes all those symptoms, it’s classic.

If you are that symptomatic though, you may need an IV infusion, tablets may not cut it. You should also have investigations into why it is so low in the first place.

I would go back to the GP, stress exactly what the symptoms are and that they are worsening, and ask if an infusion may help.

Phone 111 now.
I had an issue a few months ago and 'didn't want to bother anyone'. DP phoned 111. They sent an ambulance. Long story short, if I hadn't bothered them I'd be dead.

I would speak to your GP about trying to fast track the bowel team (I think you should have a colonoscopy). Personally I would go to A&E, tell them you have very low ferritin levels, are abnormally exhausted and are waiting a bowel referral. I speak from personal experience (very low ferritin, extreme exhaustion etc), I went to A&E while GP dragged their heels. Best decision I made.

Definitely a&e. You may need an iron infusion, as it sounds like your levels are very low. You need medical attention.

I think you need to go to a&e. My sibling had extremely low iron (also bowel problems) and after a blood test came back, she had a call from the out of hours GP telling her she needs to go straight to hospital. She was admitted for a week and had i/v iron infusions. She was breathless and exhausted just like you. Please go to the hospital and get checked out. It's better to be safe than sorry. Do you have someone who can take you?

Yes you need medical attention

Why can't you collect your prescription? If it's because of how unwell you feel then it's probably best you call 111 for advice.

When did they do your blood test? If within the past week then it is likely you just need those iron tablets ASAP and you need to make it a priority to get them.

I

I think driving would completely wipe me out. I stood up to move the duvet and got breathless just doing that. But I am waiting for a GP callback and thank you all for your responses, just glad I'm not being a drama queen

Sitting here in tears. The on call GP (notoriously shit) just rang me back and said it's probably nothing to do with my ferritin and see how I go over the weekend. That more blood tests might be suitable but wouldn't tell me which ones and I asked him twice.

The thing is I just bloody accepted an emergency appointment with him as I feel so crap. I don't normally cry but I am crying

He asked if I had a cold! Like I would ring the surgery for this.

If ring 111

You'd be surprised how many people do though. He doesn't know you or your history so has to start at the beginning.

The GP sounds crap. I’d ring 111 and see if they can make an urgent appt for you. Good luck 💐

As hard as it is, do not give up on your health. I had very similar with low ferritin and also low B12. In both situations my values were at the very low end of normal. My GP did nothing; OTC supplements turned it around.

when you are this drained, it is challenging. Keep at it; can someone advocate for you?

You need to be given iron urgently. Iron tablets will do the trick but low ferritin needs to be treated. Yes you need to find the cause (could just be period) but they need to treat the low ferritin urgently. You need prescribed ones rather than otc. Eat things rich in iron. That will be causing your tiredness palpitations etc. I’ve been in your position, once you are on iron tablets you will quickly feel the difference.

I’m a bit confused. The GP has offered a solution, what’s the point in calling again?

Please, please, please go to A&E - I was exactly the same as you a few years ago. Even pulling the duvet over on the bed left me needing to sit down and catch my breath.

I ended up in hospital having a life-saving full blood transfusion followed by repeated iron infusions and I was told in no uncertain terms, that if I hadn't attended hospital when I did, I would have died.

It's not just the symptoms, it's what those symptoms can also do to your body, such as triggering strokes - thinking of you x