"NHS 24 Saved my Life"

On Christmas day I took a pain in my foot.  I called NHS 24 on Boxing day and was told it may be plantar fasciitis and to take pain relief and contact my GP on the Tuesday when they reopened after Christmas.

I accordingly done so.   I spoke to a GP who said it did sound like plantar fasciitis and to take ibuprofen, order a night splint from Amazon and look online for exercises.

I done all this.  However the pain was excruciating and getting worse instead of better.  Luckily I had crutches from an old injury in my loft so was able to use them to get around the house.

I called again and spoke to another GP and explained the pain was getting worse and was told this could happen.  Some people are lucky and only suffer for a few days but other cases could last months.  I was prescribed steroids and told to complete the course as apparently this would help.

I continued with pain relief and wearing the night splint etc and putting weight on my foot as much as possible as advised to do.

Things continued to get worse and the pain was better in my foot, but now my calf was agony.  I spoke to another GP as I had collapsed with the pain and explained the pain was now further up my leg, how much pain I was in, how I was getting no sleep etc.  I was very upset and asked to be seen but I was advised that due to Covid etc they couldn't see me.  I was advised they would issue me with tramadol for the pain and refer me to a specialist.

As the pain continued and my foot was better I contacted a family member who works with feet etc in a Hospital in Glasgow.  Her immediate reaction was that it could be a blood clot and I should seek help immediately.

I therefore called NHS 24 and an appointment was arranged to see a Doctor at the Hospital that evening at 11.15pm.  When I went in to see him and he examined me he was very unimpressed at the fact I had never been examined, he didn't understand why I had been prescribed steroids either.  My calf was swollen and he decided to give me a blood thinning injection and arranged for blood tests to be done the following morning.

The blood tests were done and results given that afternoon.  They were high and therefore suggested there may be a blood clot.  I attended for a further injection that evening to thin my blood.

The next day I had another injection and was told to call again the following morning to arrange a scan.

I attended for a scan where I was told that no wonder I was in so much pain as the clot in my leg was massive.

I am now on blood thinning medication for up to the next three months.

Had I not contacted my relative who told me to seek immediate help and had I just went along with what I had been advised by the GPs on the phone I dread to think the outcome.  It could have been fatal.