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NHS symptom thingy online says I must call an ambulance ...

28 replies

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2010 22:38

... but I'm not going to.

So if this is the last ever post you read from me I'd just like to say ...

GOODBYE!!!

Its been fab .

Mwah x

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 07/03/2010 22:39

What's up?

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2010 22:43

I put my symptoms in (pain in left arm)

It said call an ambulance!

No other suggestions.

But I really am not going to do that and all the goodbye stuff is a joke, obviously .

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 07/03/2010 22:45

It's because 'computer says you are having a heart attack'. Have you pulled a muscle? Pain when you move?

EightiesChick · 07/03/2010 22:46

Isn't that linked with heart attacks? Though I can't believe it is really supposed to advise that on the basis of one symptom only. Have you tried starting again and seeing if it says the same thing? And do you have any other symptoms, or is it really just the arm?

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2010 22:47

No, just constant pain and slight numbness and tingling in fingers.

I have some kind of virus atm and am assuming its a flu-like symptom.
Only slightly perturbed because none of my other joints are hurting.

OP posts:
ShinyAndNew · 07/03/2010 22:48

It always tell me to call an ambulance. I usually call NHS Direct instead. Or just take some pain killers.

But yes pain in the arm can be linked to heart attacks. Along with other symptoms I would imagine.

SayHitIsntSo · 07/03/2010 22:49

Have you been carrying a lot of weight on that arm?

It's possible you have an inflammation of the joint/tendons there...

GoddessInTheKitchen · 07/03/2010 22:49

umm, isn't numbness another symptom? you should def call nhs

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 07/03/2010 22:50

Numbness and tingling is something messing with the nerve. You are best off popping to see your GP in the morning, diabetes and vitamin b12 defieicency can cause this. You can also see a chiropractor but most of these are private but it will really help.

Slartybartfast · 07/03/2010 22:54

is yoru neck ok?
your posture?

Caz10 · 07/03/2010 22:55

Stress/panic?

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2010 22:57

I think I may have damaged it when I slammed the phone down so hard earlier in the week (I was v cross) that I almost broke the phone. My hand has hurt since then, but the arm thing started this morning. The actually slamming was maybe 4 or 5 days ago. I think thats the likely cause. What a silly cow to damage myself like that .

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 07/03/2010 23:06

Ah well, it's done now. You just need to do something about it. Have you tried running your fingers up your arm with a bit of pressure to try and find the really sore and hard spot? This is normally where the pain is coming from, it radiates from here.

Find a chiropractor

mumonthenet · 07/03/2010 23:07

arf.

at the phone.

the NHS should add something to the symptom checker which asks if you can still MN with both arms. If your answer is yes it should tell you to stop wasting its time .

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 07/03/2010 23:10

lol!

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2010 23:14

rofl Mumonthenet.

Last time I was really ill (vile stomach bug) all I could do was lie on sofa, stagger to bathroom, and Mumsnet for about 10 minutes at a time because the screen was making me feel sicker. But, hey, I was still here .

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 07/03/2010 23:22

Sorry I'm not finding this wildly humorous. Pain in the left arm is a potentially serious symptom - that's why the website flags it as it has done. Unless you are absolutely sure you know what has caused it (and I don't get that from your posts) you should be phoning them and talking this through. Aside from the flu bug do you have any other symptoms or risk factors for heart disease and how old are you?

bibbitybobbityhat · 07/03/2010 23:25

No other symptoms. Am 47. Please don't worry. I shouldn't have made light of it, but I don't think there's anything seriously wrong, honestly.

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 07/03/2010 23:29

pre or post menopausal?

mumonthenet · 07/03/2010 23:49

cripes northern.

Now, Bibbity, are you sure you are alright?

Maybe you should nip down to A&E?

You could always take your laptop with ya...snigger.

heckythump · 07/03/2010 23:55

I phoned NHS direct once, as I was short of breath in the late stages of pregnancy and wanted to ask if that was normal (it was ridiculously short of breath, admittedly, and I had not found MN at the time...) They phoned 999 on my behalf.

The ambulance staff said that they had renamed it NHS Re-Direct. Made me larf, and think twice about using the NHS direct!

Northernlurker · 08/03/2010 08:07

NHS direct seem to get a terrible press just for giving advice and acting to help people. Hecky - late pregnancy and short of breath could have been a pulmonary embolism which would be life threatening to you and the baby. There's no way to tell that over the phone so they got you to hospital. Certain symptoms have the potential to flag up a life threatening problem and if that situation goes badly there's no going back so you may think it an over-reaction but that's what all NHS staff want it to be. People getting better or not being ill at all is Good. People dying because they waited too long is Not Good.

Op - will you go see your GP today?

FabIsDoingPrettyWell · 08/03/2010 08:10

You really ought to get yourself checked out and why bother doing the symptom thing if you won't follow the advice.

TheFoosa · 08/03/2010 08:13

I had that shortness of breath thing in late pregnancy - the GP actually said to me'Oh dear, better go to hospital, it could be a blood clot lodged in your lungs'

very reassuring thing to say to a wildy emotional 8.5 months pregnant lady

hope you are ok, op

Northernlurker · 08/03/2010 08:19

Foosa - it is a terrifying thing if it does happen. A friend of mine had this - gave premature birth to her third son (making 3 under 5) and her husband was called back to the hospital in the middle of the night because they thought they would lose her. Thankfully she pulled through as did her son. I'm sorry you were frightened but it's a scary thing and there's no dressing that up.

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