A&E Tonight, GP Tomorrow or Woman Up?

[MoonOnTheRain]

Just curious to see what most people would do. Don't want to waste anyone's time.

I'm anaemic, taking daily iron supplement, but the reason for the anaemia is ongoing. Last blood test about 6 weeks ago.

I'm under a consultant, but no recourse to message them. Expecting biopsy results in about ten days, when hopefully treatment plan will be come up with. Consultant will be in touch then.

Last week, have felt more tired and weak. Am pretty much on bed rest due to issue, plus anaemia. Tonight while going to loo, almost fainted. Made it back to bed, but couple of hours later, heart still pounding and feel dizzy. Feel quite unwell. However didn't eat much today, just didn't want it, so that could be part of it. Have now forced small snack in.

Not sure what I should do. Go to A&E tonight? Emergency GP appointment tomorrow if I can get one? Or am I just being a total drama queen and should just woman up until results are in, in ten days?

Call 111 and ask.

Ring 111 they have out of hours GP appointments face to face or can talk to you over the phone. Have you measured your heart rate?

Call 111
Have you got a bp monitor?

If it's worsening symptoms from before the test then you should definitely phone 111 and see what they advice...I would go to A&E

That’s a very sensible reason to call 111.

Surely you call 111 or go to their website and seek advice?

Don’t ring 111- just delaying the help and they will only advise you to go to A&E as you need an urgent blood test, likely the anemia causing your BP to drop and you might need a blood transfusion

111. They can decide between seeing a Dr tonight and A&È.

A&E can’t give an emergency iron infusion (they just don’t offer that). They are there to patch you up before you see a specialist. Call gp in the morning but get fluids in you, take iron tablets and go to bed.

Heart rate between 80 and 90 if I lay totally still and concentrate on steady breathing. Normal for me would be 60-70. The minute I even sit up, it goes up over 100.

I second calling 111 for advice. They will know what could be done. I mean I guess if your iron has got so low it's making you dizzy and faint, maybe A&E for some kind of Iron infusion? But I don't even know if those exist! However I imagine if it isn't that low, you'll just sit around A+E to be told you need to get your GP to refer you?! Good luck

No, no blood pressure monitor.

Lots of water, salty food, GP in the morning. You’ll be sat in A&E for hours. That will def make you feel faint.

Call 111 and they can help determine the best cause of action. Not eating causes low blood sugar and weak feelings plus faintness. I know it's hard but you need to look after yourself at home as well as you can.*

*Not being patronising - I've got a GP appointment on Thursday where I know I am going be referred for a nasal-endoscopy and then a hospital appointment on Friday where I have to have a chest x-ray. I am on a billion tablets since Christmas. My heart rate and sinuses are fucked right now, I am doing everything at home that I can and I live alone. Couldn't work last week (luckily with holidays I only missed three days) and due back tomorrow.

A&E and they will check bloods and can and will organise iron or bloods if needed in an emergency I’ve had to have it done many times in a similar situation. If you’re dizzy and really struggling don’t wait. I left mine over Xmas new year as I thought it was a bug I’d only had a transfusion on the 12/12 turns out by time I went on the 2/1 due to feeling light headed and palpitations and not being able to walk across the room
my hb was 54 and I had to have 3 bags of emergency blood a bag of iron and 2 nights in hospital. Please get checked. I got a total telling off for not listening to my body!

You definitely shouldn't go to bed and wait without advice. Idk what your reason is for the anemia - you've indicated there is an underlying condition causing it. But a high heart rate like that can be a sign of sepsis. Call 111 as a minimum and tell them all the background so they can advise you.

This sounds like you need to see a doctor
At this hour on a sunday, it's probably best just to gondirectly to A&E.

Pack supplies.

Hope youre on the mend soon.

I would rest this evening and go to the GP tomorrow. Try to eat something and keep fluids up.
I also suffer with anaemia & blacked out recently, went to my GP who booked me in for another blood test. Great help!
I think you’d be sat for a day and a half in A&E, hope you feel better soon.

You don’t need to make the decision yourself, that’s what 111 is there for.

A resting heartbeat over 100 would be a concern, probably not so much 80. But you know you have anemia and are feeling dizzy so make the phone call now.

Do you want to share the reason for the anaemia?

I say this as I was admitted through A+E in November due to weakness, dizziness and overall malaise. However, I had black stool just before I took myself off to emergency. I was treated more or less immediately for internal gastric bleed which was potentially very dangerous. All good now touch wood, so I'd advise that you don't take any chances.

But I reckon you know your own body and you know the reason for your anaemia which may not be internal bleeding. I carried on for a day or so feeling crap, but went in the minute I saw the black stool. So I think you could possibly hang in there until emergency GP tomorrow (if you know the reason for your weakness). I don't think your heart rate is too high, mine was 110-130 off and on before treatment.

Please don't let a bunch of random strangers give you health advice. Speak to the professionals via 111 and let them guide you. On here you will mostly get a lot of conflicting advice from people who have no / limited medical knowledge and base things on what happened to them / their Nan / their Dad etc which is not relevant to you or your health condition.

Hope you feel better soon.

111 were brilliant for my DC last week - he got through and had a Gp appointment booked by them for the next morning within literally 5 mins.

Phone them, OP. Let them do the worrying about what’s best for you.

How much food have you eaten today? What is a small snack? How much have you drunk and what have you drunk?

I would feel dizzy and unwell if I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday.

111 sounds like a good idea but I would be making a real effort to eat some more food. When you say you're on bed rest - that's not due to an eating disorder, is it?

111 Have put of hours GP appointments they can offer at the hospital, and have highly qualified Nurses to speak to that can assess wether it can wait till the morning, you need to see a GP, or it's an emergency and you need A&E.

It would be prudent to give them a bell :)

Anaemia does increase your heart rate. If I was in that situation I'd make a GP appointment and ear and drink and get rest in the meantime. But but not a doctor.