Would you go to A&E?

[Daisypod]

For a few weeks I've had pain in my face, thought it was sinusitis. Went to dentist on Wednesday just to check it wasn't teeth and she said there was an abscess under one of my molars (only seen on x ray). She gave me amoxicillin for 7 days and I'm booked to go back in a few weeks. Yesterday I woke up with a swollen face. I rang 111 who gave me the numbers of emergency dentists in our area but neither had appointments available and my dentist isn't open until tomorrow.
My face is still swollen, a bit worse today. Nhs website says to go to A&E if close to eye or affecting breathing. When I close my eye I can feel the swelling but it doesn't seem to be closing my eye and this morning one nostril is blocked but I can still breath ok.
I feel a bit nauseous today and rather rubbish but I don't think I have a temp, was hot in the night but it was a hot night 🤷‍♀️. Muscles feel tired and a bit shaky. But I've not slept properly for a week now so a lot of this could be tiredness.
Our local A&E has reports of 11 hour waits this week so I don't really want to go but worries this could be something that needs treating sooner rather than later. But also they don't do anything dental there so it would only be if that's causing knock on effects that they could treat. I know I'm being melodramatic but I worry about things like sepsis.
What would you do?

Forgot to add photo!

No op

I would not go. If you start to feel crap with a temp ring 111

Did you finish the complete course of antibiotics?

Only been on them three days so far

No i would keep taking the antibiotics, paracetamol, plenty of fluids and rest

Unless any of the above are medical professionals I would go with your gut and seek medical attention. Dental infections can lead to problems with your heart - which I’m guessing the above posters are aware of. Good luck

My partner has had this several times. I think you need to wait for the antibiotics to kick in and see if that works. You could try gp Monday if no better but we found the gp wasn’t much help as they just said it was dental issue and dp had to go back to dentist instead

Good grief then crack on and take them religiously

I would go. I suffered similar a few years ago which, ended up as orbital cellulitis and could have cost me my sight. The antibiotics given to me originally didn’t cut it and I was off work for over a month until the swelling / infection resolved.

Oh gosh, real split 😞

I don't want to worry you, but DH's "nasty abscess" turned out to be mouth cancer. It took three lots of ABs before the dentist referred him to the hospital.

I am a medical professional, see my previous post. Go to A&E @Daisypod

Can you phone 111? I've always been prescribed Metronidazole for dental infections and find that works really quickly though it's bloody horrible to be on. After 3 days I'd expect some sign of improvement so changes are that you need a different antibiotics.

If it were me I’d wait until tomorrow.

Rest up, take the antibiotics and call the dentist and gp first thing tomorrow.

If you had a temp I’d be more concerned

*chances

I would call 111 too and see what they say. I’d be taking my temperature religiously too.

As a side, did you double up your first dose of antibiotics? I always do this (sometimes the first couple of doses) to get the penicillin into my system and working. This was recommended by a GP and I’ve always done it.

Can't find the thermometer annoyingly. If I ring 111 they just say ring the emergency dentist numbers they have given me which don't have appointments. I feel like a fraud going to hospital but also worried

Have you tried ibuprofen?

My face looked exactly like that with an abscess. It took until the end of my course of antibiotics to go down. My dentist wasn't at all concerned about the swelling.

I've been on ibuprofen and paracetamol for a week now with the occasional co codamol (not at the same time as paracetamol) when the pains been worse. This could of be masking the temperature maybe?

I too think you should go to A&E. I once had a similar abscess, and when I did (finally, in an ambulance) end up there, I was told off for not having gone sooner.

This. Give them a chance to work.

I think you should go to a&e. Your nostril being blocked is concerning. Better safe than sorry. I'm also a hcp.

I've had this with an abscess and antibiotics not working. Hurts like hell, you have all my sympathies!!

Ring your dentists number and see what their OOH options are on the answerphone.

If you phone 111 there will be a duty dentist somewhere - it's usually an option on the call to be put through to that service if your own dentists have no OOH cover.

When I went to A&E with my face blown up even worse than yours, they gave me stronger painkillers and told me to phone the dentist.... So start there.

There are no ooh dentists available, my dentist answer machine says ring 111, 111 gave me the numbers of emergency dentists that had no appointments yesterday and are shut today. They said there's nothing else they can do.
Dh has told me to rest today and I'm under strict instructions to do nothing which is hard as it's my son's birthday tomorrow and got 101 things to do! If I feel better after resting I will wait and ring dentist in the morning if I feel any worse I will head to A&E.
Thanks all