Don't want to waste nhs time but..........

[Flowergirl78]

This may be a silly question but has anyone had dealings with 111 call backs? Today I was very breathless. It has been slowly building up over the last 2 weeks. The only way to describe it was I felt like I had a slab on my chest, it wasn't that I couldn't breathe just it was more work. I was tired and at times felt really dizzy when doing things. I had taken ventolin numerous times and it wouldn't last long before everything being an effort again. I ended up doing an NHS symptom checker thinking it may put my mind at rest but it ended saying I had to book a nurse appointment (phone call) and would be called within an hour. That was 7 hrs ago (now 9.40pm). I am now OK after ventolin kicking in and rest, not 100% so having a flare up but certainly no immediate danger. Do people think it would be really wrong of me if I turned my phone off tonight in case they phone at midnight or something? They said it would be a covid clinical nurse but it's not that as there was no option to say I had asthma. I was also exactly like this last march when I ended up on 2 seperate courses of prednisolone in 1 month to bring my asthma back into control. Its because of hayfever that it kicks off now and is up and down throughout summer. I don't want to waste people's time but checked because I was a little worried but now 7+ hrs later I don't want to end up waking a husband (who suffers from insomnia anyway), children, dogs and myself after finally resting when it would be 10+ hrs after they said they would call? Ps I don't have an issue with them being so busy and not getting back to me just not sure if it's acceptable to not answer after so long?

Sorry its a long post but tried to cram everything in 😂🤣😂

[ReedB]

Hi there,

I rarely call 111 but when I have then doctors have been pretty quick at calling back if I'm very breathless.

You could try calling them again to check as they may still not have gotten around to calling you back? Depending on their advice you can decide what to do.

It sounds like you need rest and a visit to urgent care tomorrow unless you can wait to see your gp?

[Flowergirl78 in reply to ReedB]

Thank you for replying. Literally just had a nurse phone to say the doctor is really busy but would get back to me at some point. I told her I am better and just in a flare up and so she cancelled the call back which I feel much better about. Dont want to be a burden when it's not needed. I will definitely do an econsult to the doctor on Monday so they at least have a record of everything as I tend to downplay everything. My major issue is hayfever. If something triggers me in winter it's just a reminder but if the same trigger is spring/summer months it's much more of an issue.

[Melanie1989]

Hi Flowergirl,

If you really feel you don't need to speak to somebody, then you can phone 111 to be taken off the call list. If you would still like some reassurance then definetly ring to give them a little prompt as 7 hours is a really long time..

I would be cautious about cancelling the call back as although you feel better now, many people's symptoms will worsen at nighttime. I know middle of the night calls aren't ideal but I'm sure your family wouldn't mind in this instance.

If peak flow is a reliable indicator for you, then obviously keep an eye on that. If you do flare again and your ventolin wears off within 4 hours, bypass 111 and go straight to A n E. Whatever happens you need an urgent review with your g.p or asthma nurse to check your overall control.

Any resp problems immediately have to be assessed by a covid nurse, but they will still be able to assess and direct you to an appropriate service.

Hope everything stays settled and you get some sleep!

[Cat33]

Please don't feel you are being a nuisance asthma is a serious condition and had you got any worse then 999 would have been perfectly acceptable Take good care and I hope you feel much better soon

[ReedB]

Hope you're doing better this morning Flower girl. I totally understand the resistance in not wanting to wake the household but if you're still using your ventolin a lot today then do go get checked out. You are not a nuisance if you're not breathing normally!

It sounds as though you may need a better form of prevention (inhaler or antihistamines) to stop the flare ups?

Take care

[twinkly29 in reply to ReedB]

Yes agree with Reed B - phone 111 again today if you had issues overnight. Definitely sounds like increased preventer treatment is needed for hayfever season for you (although in future years started earlier if it's something that's added seasonally) although you may well need some oral steroids now because new preventers can take several weeks to kick in.

Hope you're ok though.

[Chip_y2kuk]

I spoke with 111 a week or so ago and got a call back within the hour by a doctor who prescribed me some antibiotics and insisted I had a covid test... it was negative and I had an infection like I said I did

[LeiLey in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Hope you’re feeling a bit better now 🙂

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to LeiLey]

Mostly, but I know from experience that it takes me a while to get back to "normal"

[LeiLey in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Go careful, take care

[LeiLey]

How are you feeling today?

[Flowergirl78 in reply to LeiLey]

Doing better today thank you. Still got a bit of a tight chest but only used ventolin a couple of times. Doing the whole throat clearing and asthma cough so I will contact the doctors tomorrow as I know its asthma and not covid as experienced this last march which ended up with me on 2 lots of steroids and then put on montelukast. Than you for checking in on me.

[LeiLey in reply to Flowergirl78]

Ah pleased you’re a bit better and the ventolin is working. Yes best to phone for an appointment tomorrow and hopefully you’ll be much better soon 🙂

[Eian59]

Hi

You are not wasting their time , even an hour is too long after a flair up. Asthma is a life threatening disease and you are meant to see your GP within two days after you are better. I understand you don’t want to wake anyone up, but I am sure like my family they would rather I was safe. Seven hours is unacceptable for Asthma as it could have killed you 6 hrs and 55 minutes before. I am not trying to be morbid but that’s just how it is. I hope you feel better soon and you get a revue for you medication.

[Flowergirl78 in reply to Eian59]

Thank you. The doctors have prescribed a 5 day course of pred with the possibility of a lower dose after that. Hopefully it will be better in a few days.

[Itswonderful]

Sounds to me as if you are putting yourself at the bottom of the pile? You are worrying about everyone else even though you’re the one who is not feeling well. You also mention that you minimise things when it comes to your health. So, I think that you need to look after yourself and get the help you need because from what you have said you aren’t feeling well at all. Please look after yourself because all the people you are worried about will be much worse off of you have to go into hospital. If you need to phone 111 again do it. If you need to phone the GP surgery just do it. If you need to go to A&E do so. Don’t overthink it. Look after yourself and when you need help, get it. Take care.

[Flowergirl78 in reply to Itswonderful]

Thank you. Managed to get a call back from the doctor and they have put me on a 5 day course of pred and I have to phone them back before it ends in case they decide to put me on a lower dose of it after that. I was croaky and breathless whilst talking to her so she took me seriously.

[Itswonderful in reply to Flowergirl78]

Good for you. Always look after yourself. It’s important for you and your family and also medical services. Get well soon. You did exactly the right thing. Best wishes to you. X