111

[marmitebear]

So I have asthma and after a couple of days of a sore throat I was really struggling this morning, coughing and wheezing. I work in a school and called in sick - this is not something I do lightly but my chest really hurts.

Ring my docs, they screen me and as I have a child in my class that has returned from Italy two weeks ago, they won’t see me. They say to ring 111. Let me tell you, if you are told that, don’t bother! You get the option of if you are concerned about Coronavirus or something else. If you press for Coronavirus it is only for if you have travelled or have been in close contact with a confirmed case. So if you try to go through to the main 111 you honestly can’t get through. I have tried for three hours, no one answers the phone.

So, we are at this, only 300 or so cases in the UK and someone who is asthmatic and struggling cannot go to their doctor, cannot go to A&E, cannot get help from 111. Great. And people are saying the NHS can handle this?

Could you call a&e and explain? If you need urgent treatment for your asthma you need to be seen. Other than that persevere with 111. Sorry I’m not sure what else to suggest. Hope you feel better soon. Sadly I think 111 is busy with calls from people who have a slight sniffle and are panicking so people who need genuine help like yourself can’t get the help you need!

This is what I'm afraid of too, for all of us with respiratory conditions.

Have you upped your inhalers OP?

In the meantime, phone on speakerphone and just keep phoning 111.

Have you tried the online 111 instead?

I have taken my inhalers INeedNewShoes and they have helped, I’m just hoping it gets better rather than the other way. I am waiting now for my doc to call me back, I actually feel sorry for them, the receptionists sound so flustered. Hopefully he might be able to prescribe some steroids or something over the phone?

I would ask for a phone appointment with the GP and ask whether something can be prescribed without being seen.

Re inhalers, what I was getting at is that when I am unwell I am told to increase the amount I use my preventative inhaler.

Usually I take Symbicort 2 puffs morning and 2 puffs night.

First step if I'm struggling is to up that to 2 puffs morning, 2 puffs midday, 2 puffs night.

If I was still suffering, it would go up to 3 puffs 3x a day.

Given Corona virus worries, if I feel the faintest whiff of my breathing not being great I will immediately start taking more of the preventative inhaler.

Ah ok, I'm going to have two more of my brown inhaler now, thank you.

Your a and e should have a corono pod. I'd drive there and ask to be tested.

This country is a joke at the moment

You can’t just show up to a pod, 111 have to send you.

In case you cannot get a phone appointment with a GP, if you can afford it, could you get a video appointment with a private GP?

Do you have a peak flow monitor? What is your score?

Do you have an asthma plan? If so dig it out and follow the advice there. Iirc you can double brown and also take the blue regularly, it's more than you think so check carefully.

I do find that paracetamol helps a bit too, and warm sugary drinks.

I’l currently on route to A&E as called GP this morning (8.15am) who advised they could not give an appointment as only taking phone appointmentsand I needed to phone 111.

Got through to them quite quickly, who advised I needed to be seen within 2 hours however they would call back as didn’t have an appointment.

Waited until 3pm... tried to call 111 and kept being put through to a 5* care home VM that advised it was now closed and to phone the GP back...

GP has now sent me to A&E as my kidneys are bleeding due to serious infection. (Diagnosed 27.2 and had 2 bouts of antibiotics since then)

Should say I actually haven’t seen a GP, they don’t have the resources to see me.

I spoke to my doctor a couple of hours ago and I’m going to up my inhalers and see how I get on. No temperature so far so hoping it’s nothing major. If I get a temp or struggle with my breathing badly again I’m going to a&e as there just aren’t any other options.