When to phone the nurse?

[Mabolsa Ritchie]

For the past two maybe three weeks I've been having some trouble with my throat. Swallowing and eating are both very painful and a struggle. I tried to make an appointment at my local GP but they have nothing only emergency slots available. Talking to friends they suggest i call the nurse's at the hospital. But my issue is i don't want to waste their time with my discomfort and i don't see this as being worthy enough for an emergency appointment at the GP. I feel there's always someone worse off than me but i do need to get this seen too as its going on for too long with no sign of easing.

My question to you is when is the right time to phone the nurse? Have,you ever phoned the nurse?

 

[theOcean]

Your discomfort is never a waste of time.

I've definitely ended up either going into emergency a number of times, as well as booked appointments whenever I've gotten sick with my GP. With IBD, you have to be so careful, after all.

Do you have issues with acid reflux which may be affecting your throat, or do you think you have an infection? In the meantime, lozenges might help since they numb your throat.

 

[Daisy123]

Is it a specialist IBD nurse? I find they are wonderful at my hospital. I have rung them seven times since Xmas. If you are worried, ring them. That is their job, let us know how you get on.

 

[Mabolsa Ritchie]

Yes its the IBD nurses at my hospital. Ive never had any issues with acid reflux. When my mouth throat started hurting a few weeks back my mouth was riddled with ulcers this is why i ponder its Crohns related.

 

[theOcean]

Ulcers definitely makes it sound like it may be Crohn's related. Are you on any medication to treat your Crohn's, and is it active right now?

 

[Daisy123]

I get horrid mouth ulcers when in a flare. Ring the nurse. I leave a message on the phone, then they ring me back 24 or 48 hours later.

 

[Mabolsa Ritchie]

Im currently not on medication and not on a flare another reason why i have doubt to phone.

 

[Daisy123]

I think you need reassurance, that in itself is a reason to ring. Otherwise go to the doctor.

 

[valleysangel92]

You definitely need to speak to someone, at our doctors, a sore throat thats not easing after 5 days is classed as cause to see the doctor, so 2-3 weeks worth is more than enough.

You can call the IBD nurse, but if they don't think its IBD related then they may not be able to help you, I know when I've called mine for joint issues they've said its not their area and I should call my doctor or rheumy.

At my doctors, people use the emergency clinic for all sorts of things, the last time I was there, a woman was complaining because she 'never' used the doctors, and this was the first time in ages that she had, and she'd been waiting over an hour.. she had a very mild sore throat that she'd only had for a few days. I was there because I had flare symptoms and a fever, and got a stinking look when I went in before her. Our doctors don't judge emergency by if its life threatening or likely to land you in hospital, they judge it by if its something that can wait until the next advance bookable appointment (usually a week unless you call each morning, and then you aren't guaranteed to get in). To me, a sore throat lasting more than 2 weeks that is causing difficulty in swallowing isn't something that can wait that long. I'm sure there will be people who have gone there for much less than what you are dealing with, and you do have a chronic health condition, so caution is always wise.

 

[Mabolsa Ritchie]

Thanks for the advice. I just don't want to be one of those people who use an emergency slot for nothing. Ill give my GP a call in the morning again that's if in the faintest of miracles it doesn't get better over night.

 

[Daisy123]

How are you mabolsa? Did you ring the Dr in the end?