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Original poster

half of my face has ballooned

94 replies

SBParker99 · 04/08/2022 08:22

not quite sure what’s happened no injury or anything but i’ve woken up and my left cheek has tripled in size to the point my eye don’t open fully my cheek kinda hurts, no dental pain or anything i can’t think what’s caused it, currently on hold to GP who most likely won’t give me an appointment. has this happened to anyone? it’s only one cheek

OP posts:
Carrotzen · 04/08/2022 10:04

It could be literally anything anyone has mentioned here. But no one can tell you without looking + investigations

You need at a minimum an examination and likely antibiotics. I would go to a local minor injuries of possible.

If its spreading and closing your eye to the point you cannot open if, or you start to feel more unwell then you would be justified going to ED. If not then you can try your dentist first, rule out dental and retry the GP, be pushy. It's not acceptable for the GP not to see you

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 04/08/2022 10:05

And THIS is why hospitals are on their knees because people can't access appropriate care.🙄

OP,go to urgent care /minor injuries if you have a unit near you or A and E if not.

Original poster
SBParker99 · 04/08/2022 10:30

i called my GP back and said i’d complain they gave me 2:30 appointment, i feel very sick and weak now too

OP posts:
Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours · 04/08/2022 10:34

If you're feeling that bad, is consider a&e tbh

feathermucker · 04/08/2022 10:36

You need quicker treatment than waiting until 2.30. Go to MIU or A&E ASAP!!

Original poster
SBParker99 · 04/08/2022 10:36

@Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours i was considering it but don’t wanna feel like a time waster

OP posts:
harridan50 · 04/08/2022 10:37

Could be angioderma

FannyFifer · 04/08/2022 10:37

A&E if u now also have other symptoms.

maranella · 04/08/2022 10:40

It really shocks me what GPs won't give an appointment for these days. A woman wakes up with half her face swollen for no discernible reason and the GP says 'No, I don't want to see you'! Unbelievable. I'm glad you called back and insisted on being seen. I hope it's nothing serious OP and you find out what is causing it.

percypig · 04/08/2022 10:40

Great you’ve got an appointment, but as you’re feeling unwell is it worth going to the GP now, explaining at reception that you’re concerned the wait until 2.30, followed by the GP possibly referring you to the hospital is too much. I suspect that if they actually see your face you’re more likely to be seen sooner. Another thing to mention is that it can be useful to monitor the swelling - is it getting worse? Taking pictures of your face, or marking the edge of the swelling with a pen can help to assess the progression.

IncessantNameChanger · 04/08/2022 10:43

harridan50 · 04/08/2022 10:37

Could be angioderma

I'm no expert but it wouldnt be just one side I dont think?

MILLYmo0se · 04/08/2022 10:50

percypig · 04/08/2022 10:40

Great you’ve got an appointment, but as you’re feeling unwell is it worth going to the GP now, explaining at reception that you’re concerned the wait until 2.30, followed by the GP possibly referring you to the hospital is too much. I suspect that if they actually see your face you’re more likely to be seen sooner. Another thing to mention is that it can be useful to monitor the swelling - is it getting worse? Taking pictures of your face, or marking the edge of the swelling with a pen can help to assess the progression.

Ya i think id walk into to the surgery now and tell them you now feel v unwell aside from the swelling. If they still refuse to see you til this afternoon go straight to A&E. You arent wasting their time, you have tried to get help elsewhere and been refused, no A&E staff would want or expect you to not go to get checked asap.
Funnily enough its generally people that actually need to be seen and shouldnt put it off that delay going to be seen, people that dont actually need to be checked urgently/need an xray/havent been refused a GP appointment generally seem much more relaxed about goung to A&E immediately 😏

Original poster
SBParker99 · 04/08/2022 10:51

i don’t know if it’s linked but a couple of weeks ago i had a horrible rash/skin infection in my arm. the gp refused to see me sooner. my face hurts it’s tripled in size to normal, i feel sick weak and worn out, hopefully the gp tears it rather than sends me to a&e after already making me wait the gp acted as if it’s nothing

OP posts:
Onlyhereforthebatshitneighbours · 04/08/2022 10:55

Honestly, I would go to a&e - and I never say that

HowcanIhelp123 · 04/08/2022 11:07

If you feel unwell in addition seek urgent medical help.

However, I had the same. I woke up one morning and half of my face was very very swollen. Literally a line down the centre of my face - even half my lip was swollen. No pain though other than the skin feeling tight.

I went straight to GP and they pulled me in for an emergency appointment but decided it was an allergy (i have several) and since my tongue and throat were fine just told me to go home and call 999 if it got worse.

I was living in a house share at the time and my housemates were horrific at keeping the kitchen clean. I still suspect one of them used my kitchen equipment to make something I'm allergic to then didn't clean it properly. I moved out shortly after and never happened again.

cctvrec · 04/08/2022 12:02

You need to go to A&E/urgent care whatever.

My face once swelled up (think Will Smith in the movie Hitch) and I started to feel it in my throat ever so slightly so went to A&E just in case but only because hubby was away. The doc asked if it had happened before and I admitted it had, on Christmas Day the year before. He asked what I was prescribed and I said I'd just stayed home. It was Christmas Day. I was needed at home. I also mentioned my numerous (6+ in 12 months) so called tonsillitis episodes where my throat (not face) swelled right up and my GP wouldn't see me and shrugged it off as tonsillitis despite my protests of it not being painful, no white puss on the tonsils, no fever and no other tonsillitis symptoms.

The doctor was very annoyed with me for not ignoring them and going to A&E when I was fobbed off. He warned that if I even thought it was happening again I'd to get my arse there asap as it's a cumulative thing and anaphylaxis could kill me next time. Oops.

Get it seen to now OP.

HappyHamsters · 04/08/2022 12:05

I wouldn't bother with the gp, I would get someone to take you to hospital.

SouperNoodle · 04/08/2022 12:08

Please go to hospital

NighghtmareNeighbour · 04/08/2022 12:14

NICE clinical guidelines say facial or orbital cellulitis (if that’s what it is) needs referring to hospital or admission op, so on that basis I’d be heading to A&E if I were you. You really don’t want to mess around with swelling or infection around you eyes/close to sinus/ear, it can quickly cause bigger problems. The fact it’s hot and you are feeling shit suggests you need seeing asap in my opinion.

StarCourt · 04/08/2022 12:29

Call 111

Original poster
SBParker99 · 04/08/2022 12:30

i think i’m gonna head to a&e as i’m feeling really unwell and feverish, hopefully it’s not to long of a wait

OP posts:
Seeline · 04/08/2022 12:31

I thinks that's a good idea @SBParker99 Hope you get seen quickly.

CrotchetyQuaver · 04/08/2022 12:33

If you're feeling worse, I think you've got 3 options here
Phone 111 and see what they suggest, they may send an ambulance
Get yourself down to the surgery asap, ask the receptionist very nicely if it's possible to see the doctor before your 2.30 appointment as it's getting worse all the time.

Go straight to your nearest MIU/emergency department and get yourself in the system asap.

queenMab99 · 04/08/2022 12:33

I had this, it was an infected gland. Even though lockdown had just started, I got a face to face appointment after a phone appointment and was prescribed antibiotics.
I thought it was mumps and looked like a hamster!

CrotchetyQuaver · 04/08/2022 12:34

X-Posted. I think you're doing the right thing. Maybe phone surgery and cancel your appointment.