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Original poster

I think I need to go to hospital finally. What do you think?

30 replies

hereidrawtheline · 05/10/2009 20:59

Numb toes and arms. Having blood test Weds for everything under the sun, diabetes is suspected but could be anything. I had pneumonia many months ago, I have terrible asthma. I now cant fill up my lungs and speaking or moving is a chore that makes me dizzy and very breathless. I am very tired. I dont know what to do anymore. Should I just chuck it in and turn up to a&e? I've been to gp he just wants me to wait for blood test weds but I can barely function.

OP posts:
OmicronPersei8yourbrain · 05/10/2009 21:04

If you can stand the waiting around, sometimes A&E is the quickest way to see someone, but it is a hassle. Hopefully someone wiser than me will come along in a sec. Also hope you do get this sorted soon - you sound like you're having a pretty bad time of it.

MmeGoblindt · 05/10/2009 21:08

Poor you, it sounds like you are really suffering. I would go to A&E, you cannot wait another two days.

Does the shortness of breath feel like a recurrance of pneumonia?

fruitymum · 05/10/2009 21:10

if you have asthma and are now unable to speak a sentence you need to take your blue inhaler and get to A&E asap. You are sounding rather unwell when did you see your GP last and have they done any tests eg bloods to check for anaemia, diabetes or thyroid probs?

defineme · 05/10/2009 21:10

Too tired to speak or move - yes I would gpo to a&e. Good luck.

catinthehat2 · 05/10/2009 21:11

Wednesday is a very long way away if you are struggling to breathe. You don't have to ask permission to go to A&E, nobody will be cross, and you can still show up to the GP on Weds to get bloods.

HateHoovering · 05/10/2009 21:12

First thing to spring to mind is Guillain Barre. Difficult to tell without full history. If you have been deteriorating rapidly you need to get to A&E esp in view of breathing difficulties.

Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 05/10/2009 21:14

my DH is not being supportive. I could just cry. I'll have to do this without support and I feel like shit.

OP posts:
Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 05/10/2009 21:29

please come talk to me while I hold for nhs direct I am so upset

OP posts:
MmeGoblindt · 05/10/2009 21:32

hereidrawtheline

What is the problem with your DH. Why is he not being supportive?

Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 05/10/2009 21:35

thanks I am going to a&e now nhs direct called an ambulance. DH just thought they wouldnt be able to do anything useful. I dont know. I have to go now.

OP posts:
MmeGoblindt · 05/10/2009 21:36

Good luck, hope you are feeling more comfortable soon.

kormaAAAARRRRGGHHchameleon · 05/10/2009 21:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shhhh · 06/10/2009 16:19

any news on hereidraw....? thinking of you x

Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 06/10/2009 21:31

hi, just got home from hosp. last night they were going to let me go from a&e because they didnt know what was wrong with me after blood test said I was not diabetic, chest xray said I didnt have pneumonia etc And I burst into tears saying but tomorrow will be the same and I cant breathe. So they brought a senior doctor in and he said they could test for one more thing which would be blood clots on my lungs. So they tested my blood for the D-dimer test and it came back positive which means it was possible I had clots on lungs but not definite. So I was admitted and today had a nuclear scan (I'm radioactive) and finally got the results that said there are no clots on my lungs so they told me to go home.

I feel really bewildered. I had an injection in my tummy to thin blood. They said I was just slightly aneamic, had low potassium and sodium levels. And no explanation for why the D-dimer test tested positive. I literally got a shoulder shrug when I asked so now you know as much as I do. I've been asleep all day, literally. I dont know where to go from here.

OP posts:
girlsyearapart · 06/10/2009 21:43

Bless you.
Don't give up keep hounding the GP until they do something.
I had severe breathlessness when pg with dd1 and had to hve the scan you were talking about but with less dye. They didn't find anything but said that didn't necessarily mean there had never been a clot.

Have they referred you for follow ups?

Is your DH being more helpful now?

PacificDogwood · 06/10/2009 21:49

D-dimer is a screening test, not diagnostic. It simply indicates a likelyhood of you having a clot and you then go on to have further tests, in your case the scan you had.

A+E are good at ruling out immediately life/health threatening conditions, but it is not their place to sort through some rarer and longer standing conditions.
You do sound unwell so I would ask GP for an urgent referral to see a respiratory specialist, ideally with the benefit of the results of you blood tests. Or get admitted to a medical consultant during the day when things can be done.

I hope you feel better soon.
.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 06/10/2009 21:51

Have you had an ECG? Have you always had asthma?

Original poster
hereidrawtheline · 06/10/2009 21:51

thanks DH is being better yes. Sorry I have to go again I'm too tired to type [shockhorror] but I will pop on tomorrow and let you know what my gp says I shall have DH or me (if I can wake up!) on the phone first thing.

OP posts:
MmeGoblindt · 06/10/2009 21:52

Oh, that is shite. So you are no nearer to finding out what is wrong.

At least they have been able to rule some things out.

Have they told you to see your GP or what to do next?

Frrrightattendant · 06/10/2009 21:54

Herei, sorry to read about this. I hadn't been following but sounds like you have had an awful time.

One thing I expect ahs already occurred to you but occasionally, really really bad stress can cause SOME of these symptoms. In the past I have had multiple things wrong and felt dreadful, convinced something awful was wrong with me, uncomfortable all the time, tingling and dizziness and numbness etc and it was just literally stress.

I was sort of unaware at the time that the level of stress was so high as I was so used to it it felt normal.

Not trying tot ell you it's all in your head etc etc (please don't think that) but it could be contributing if you are unhappy in some way.

Love xx

Frrrightattendant · 06/10/2009 21:55

I mean (saying this so badly) that yes there is probably something going on but being worried about it or about other stuff will make things hundreds of times worse.

Hope that makes sense dear.

CarGirl · 06/10/2009 21:57

Even being a little aneamic can make you feel shocking so it could be that on top of the something else that is making you feel so bad.

Floradix from Holland & Barretts is liquid iron stuff and works much more quicky than iron tablets, ask dh to get you some whilst you carry on seeking your diagnosis.

minniethemooch · 07/10/2009 12:48

Second what fright attendant says. I ended up in A and E shortly after dd1 was born - same symptoms. My d dimer was positive (not unusual if just had a baby) and I also had the radioactive scan - they found nothing.
I was sent home convinced that something was not right but after chatting to my GP at length she fel I was hyperventilating and soon after I also started having panic attacks.
Is it possible you are stressed and overbreathing ? This can make it very difficult to catch your breath. If you are already borderline anemic as well this might be the reason for the breathlessness.

minniethemooch · 07/10/2009 12:49

Oh and numb extremities or pins and needles can all happen when you are overbreathing - something about CO2 building up in the blood.

TheCrackFox · 07/10/2009 13:01

pins and needles can sometimes be a sign of anxiety.