Not sure what to do if anything...

[Iamblossom]

I have a broken collar bone and 4 broken ribs. I did this on Saturday 2nd, and had an op on the collar bone the Friday after.

After a week in hospital I came home with lots of drugs but can't take codeine as it gave me impacted bowels and can't take oramorph as it makes me throw up.

Felt reasonably ok yesterday but today woke up with a huge feeling of pressure on my chest. Am very nauseous and headachy. Have forced myself to have some toast and had paracetamol and ibuprofen. Am trying to keep drinking water.

I really feel awful but is there any point trying to call 111 or anything? There isn't anything they can do is there, it's a wait and heal job?

Be interested in what you think.

Thanks.

That does not sound right. Call 111 , the outpatients clinic or the ward you were on for advice.

I agree that a call to 111 for some advice would be the right thing to do. Are you by yourself at home or do you have a partner supporting you?

Home alone today but DH will be home around 5. He will be frustrated if I have felt like this all day but done nothing about it. Really don't want to make a fuss of it is just the normal progression of healing bones but do feel very ropey

I think you need reassurance, at very least, that it is normal. Don't just assume.

Did they give you a ward number when you were discharged? Call them and speak to a nurse. Much more useful than 111. Hope you feel better soon.

Have phoned 111 and they are sending an ambulance to check me over. I did say I thought that was probably overkill but it was because of my chest pain. I will feel reassured if they can give me the once over but do feel like I am taking an ambulance from someone who might need it more! Really don't want to feel worse as the day goes on though.... dread going to bed at the moment.

I think they are doing the right thing. You need checking out for pulmonary embolism at the very least. Hope it all goes ok for you.

At least once they have been you will know that either this is a normal feeling and you can stop worrying or it is something and it can be sorted. I don't think you are wasting an ambulance and i don't say that often on here!

I'm sure you'll be fine but this sounds like the quickest way of checking you over. Don't worry about it. You sound quite deserving, in my opinion!

Really relieved you called them - paramedics are brilliant and rarely think anyone is making a fuss. Always best to get checked over, I had similar feeling after operations following a car crash and they always told me to call ASAP in case something urgent like bad reaction to meds or sepsis. Fingers crossed everything is fine but you definitely made the right decision. Sending you best wishes

Thanks so much all. They were magnificent, very kind and reassuring that I had done the right thing. Have coaxed me into taking morphine with an anti sickness drug so fingers crossed this will help. ECG all fine.

Worst month of my life.

Glad your ok and hoping things pick up xx

In the longer term (tomorrow) could you ask your GP for lidocaine patch?

Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic (which is used before procedure such as stitches) but it is available in a patch which you stick over a painful area (broken ribs) and it provides localised pain relief

Hope you're feeling a bit better today O

Thankyou @ooItsAoBeautifulDayNow . It's going to be a bit more of a slower road than I was hoping but deffo on the mend x

Hi OP, so sorry to hear about your accident and the scary pressure in your chest the other day. I cracked my sternum once and it took weeks and weeks to recover. I recall feeling breathless and anxious at times, and a couple of weeks after it happened I belched on my first sip of a pint of lager and it felt like someone had shot me in the chest! So I can relate to what you're going through (have lost count of the number of ribs I've broken over the years) and you definitely did the right thing calling 111 t'other day. Lots of great prompting and advice from other MNers

You said about it being the worst month of your life, and I can believe it. Apart from anything else, shock can be delayed and the anxiety can feel like pressure in your chest. Might be worth remembering that if you get that feeling again. Hope you feel much better very soon

Hope you get better soon. There's a reason we sometimes give epidurals to some broken rib patients, it's bloody painful! You need to get your pain under control enough that you can take deep breaths and clear your lungs. I hope you heal quickly without any complications.

Oh @iamblossom . You sound like you're being so brave, but it's shit, rib pain, never mind the collar bone.

Glad you're on the mend.

Wow, so kind mnetters. Really appreciate all your warm wishes and kind thoughts. Thankyou.

Got a stonking scar from the steel plate insertion, think my Swimwear Modelling days may be at an end...

I broke 3 ribs a few years ago - you have my sympathy. Not sure if anyone has mentioned to hold a cushion/pillow to your ribs if you have to sneeze, cough or laugh.

Hope you soon feel better.