When have you gone to A and E and was it the right call?

[TheFrogsLegs]

So many threads on here are about people misusing A and E, which got me thinking.

I am now in my fifties and ended up in a and e as a child with appendicitis, but that was my only visit then.

My own children never had to visit a and e as kids - luck rather than stoicism - but as adults DS was in a bad car crash and another time had Quincy and felt his airway was closing. He got some tuts from the doctor for going to a and e for that one, but I backed his decision - airways closing are an emergency!

DD has been once for a dislocated joint.

I’ve been many times for dislocated joints, almost always in an ambulance as that was deemed the most appropriate way. I have always felt a bit embarassed as I was not ill, just unable to move without extreme pain.

DH has never been to a and e.

So, what about you? Have you been and were you judged by NHS staff over your attendance?

A few times as a child -
Falling out of a tree and landing on my back on an old paint can (nothing broken or injury found).

Stone thrown in the playground and hir me on the head (butterfly stitches needed).

Smacking my head on the corner of a brick wall (lots of blood and butterfly stitches needed).

Hernia (emergency surgery).

35%burns (3 months in hospital)

Abcess on an old scar - did not respond to 2 x of antibiotics and gp sent to A&E (then sent to other A&E as other hospital apparently better with plastics - IV metronidazole and eventually surgery about 30hrs after being nil by mouth for 30+hours)

Sprained ankle and not able to weight bare still after several days (x rayed but was just a bad sprain)

I think that's it. But might have missed one!

I’ve only been in an ambulance twice, once was when I was 16 and had suspected meningitis which turned out to be double pneumonia and I was in hospital for 8 days and the second was when ds1 fell down the stairs and knocked himself out. He was 14 months and I totally panicked, he split all his lip open and there was blood everywhere. He was fine and the paramedics were wonderful but in hindsight he didn’t need an ambulance I could have just taken him up myself.
That should have been the warning, ds1 had been to A&E loads, he’s really accident prone. He’s split his eye open (twice), got a Lego head stuck up his nose, knocked himself out at school and went up with suspected concussion when he started vomiting and when he was 2 I took him up when I couldn’t wake him up properly and he was diagnosed with swine flu, that was during the epidemic a few years ago and he was put in a quarantine ward for 3 days.

I’ve never been and my DM in her 70s has only been once, when sent there by GP.
Many of these incidents were treated by GPs until recently.

when i was younger my mh was not brilliant and i was admitted five times with overdoses. last one the drs did not expect me to survive but i did
few times for arm dressings after self harming
twice for acute pain was gallstones later gallbladder removed thankfully
twice for suspected appendicitis turned out to be chronic constipation
once for a violent assault by ex he had inserted something in my anus to cause me maximum pain
once for broken toe but i know these days they dont even strap them then they did

I went to a local A&E one weekend with terrible sinus pain

For fucks sake

Once in early pregnancy with DC1. I was in a lot of pain and they wanted to rule out ectopic. Ten years ago I had excruciating pain and was sweating. It was a kidney stone and they kept me in until it passed 2 days later.

1. Terrible stomach pain, vomiting. 2 GPS told me it was indigestion and then norovirus. I knew something was badly wrong. Went to A and E. They did bloods and left me for 2 hours (was made to feel like I was wasting time given what gps had said). Suddenly everyone comes running in - deranged liver function. Gallstones. Gallbladder had to come out.

1. 35 weeks pregnant thought indigestion, but midwife said go to nearest a and e. Baby born 50 mins later.

1. Terrible headache. 111 said migraine and see Gp in morning. My DH made me go to A and E. meningitis. A and E doctor said my husband saved my life.

A sash window fell on my hand, suspected it was broken. Walked to A&E as it was out of hours and no minor injuries unit nearby. Turned out it was just very badly bruised, but I still think it s an appropriate judgment call at the time.

Took DD once with a broken arm. Definitely the right thing to do. They put her in plaster.

I've been in twice with sepsis (due to complications with pyelonephritis and a tooth abscess - separately), twice with a bleed on my pituitary gland, once for appendicitis, once with a broken ankle and once with a fractured hip.
Every single one of those warranted an admission. I've had a nightmare with regards to my health!

DD has been once, but saw the OOH GP service they have at the hospital - she was only about 6 months old but she had a fast spreading rash. I was terrified but she was fine.

broken arm
broken foot
broken ribs
broken knee cap
(years apart)
of course it was the right decision to go to a&e!

Oh and once for a miscarriage where I was just soaking through towels every hour or so. That was horrific.

A few months ago I went with terrible back pain and vomiting that came on suddenly through the night
Scan showed appendicitis and a kidney stone on other side, never had pain like it

DH called an ambulance when he was throwing up blood went to a further away hospital in case he needed surgery. They never found out why after a 3 night hospital stay. Right decision though

Me once when I had pleurisy for two weeks and could no longer spend more than an hour awake and not eat anything. They finally gave me antibiotics felt better within 48 hrs. If the doctors (I had been twice)had given then too me or somewhere else was open on a Sunday night I would have gone but no OOH so 111 said A&E.

DS lots, felt into a cupboard needed gluing and has broken his arm and leg. Has needed an ambulance for breathing issues and stayed in overnight -if I had known how to use the salbutamol inhaler properly he would not have needed it but was told only 2puffs by GP.
Had bad reaction and non blanching rash with scarlet fever and needed iv antiobitcs and another overnight stay.
Due to this when he went downhill another time they sent an ambulance and went to A&e with an infection that needed 2sets to clear -this was a weekend. Also when he had hand foot and mouth really badly he got ill 24hrs before and the GP sent him to A&E they observed him for 2hours and said virus -the next day the blisters appeared and literally covered him from head to toe
On holiday he had to go to an urgent health clinic with febrile convulsions

Recently though apart from the broken arm much less since they have a weekend doctor hub

I have taken a child the past few years for accident falling onto teeth, putting peas up nose and swallowing polystyrene (later found it not swallowed!). All of the above I was sent by 111.
Took dd once for horrible temps, light aversion and neck pain. Don't regret that one!
Took my dd2 after 6 weeks of puss in ear who needed to see ENT urgently but they wouldn't expedite. My gp didn't tell.me to go, but suggested she would if it was her child. She was 1 yo with a chronic infection the gp couldn't treat. I don't regret that one either

I had intense pain in my arm (crying with pain, unbearable) and phoned 111. I also had tingling and numbness which they thought could be neurological.

Went to A and E and found out I had a trapped nerve, was given much needed codeine.

Did the right thing in going, yes.

Cholecystitis... admitted for 6 days.
Costochondritis.... sudden and severe attack, was admitted overnight as they thought it was my heart. Very frightening. Had a few trips since with it as GP insists I get an ECG and bloods to rule out heart even though it's the costo flaring up.
Concussion..... knocked myself out in the back garden.

DH has never been!

Our A&E and walk in clinic are the same place, so I've never felt guilty.

I've only been for myself as an adult when when I thought I was miscarrying. The nurse was a bit alarmed I was "still bleeding." when I gave a urine sample.

My DC have been for dislocated elbows, swelling eyes/airways, (admitted to hospital) landing on head from 5ft, drinking half a bottle of Calpol (yes I still feel guilty 12 years later ) broken bone in hand, I've also been told by school to take them when I've collected them fir head bump/bleeding head but haven't bothered.

DH had an eye injury caused by then toddler DS. He needed antibiotic drops and a patch.

I currently have an injury which Google tells me will heal without medical help in six weeks. Colleagues are urging me to go to A&E, and if I was charged to attend I would actually go, or even go to the GP. I can afford it. But I don't want to inconvenience the NHS unnecessarily.

I didn't go for the miscarriage which seemed like there was masses of blood loss,because I knew there was nothing they could do. If it had happened in the street I'm pretty sure someone would have called an ambulance. It was messy.

Have you been and were you judged by NHS staff over your attendance?

Always Seen quickly so never felt like we shouldn't have gone. I was twice in ambulance when < 18 for arm injuries (broken or deep cut).

In 19 yrs (mostly MIU & walk-in centre, so rarely A&E), seems like minimum once a year one of us goes to some kind of urgent care (6 people). For broken bones (or suspected), dislocated shoulder(s), temp = 41 in an adult, bead in nose, ear infection, quinsy, viral induced wheezing, deep gashes usually on head, unexplained severe pain, fractious ill toddler (PFB).

Split lip From standing on old iron rake (yesnlaurel and hardy moment). Had to have max/fax - taken in abancento different a and e for surgery. totally right to go I was told.
Quincy and having trouble breathing. Again rightnto go - admitted immediately.
More marginals -
bad sprained ankle suspected broken bone as couldn’t put weight on it - no broken bone. Told it was right I had gone but not sure.
Got cupboard hook badly caught in head and cut in head bleeding quite badly extricating myself from it. Needed tetanus and stitch. Just felt stupid frankly. Called an abundance as was in own with blood streaming down face.
Hit head hard and blacked out. Went and was ‘under observation’. In the end discharged myself and felt I had probably wasted a and e resources for that one.
Always understand triage in a and e and when loads are seen before even when they seem fine you do know there is something afoot more serious then you.
nhs.

Me: broken arm, awful flu-type virus with very high heart rate
Dp: broken foot, sprained ankle, dog bite, cut head open

Ds1: crushed thumb
Ds2: 3x broken leg, injured back requiring crutches, several types with suspects broken bones that weren't

I also went once when I had the boot of the car shut on my head

Me (from most recent backwards):

Miscarriage - was haemhorraging and needed a drip (2 days running while waiting for ERPC). Was told off the first day for not calling an ambulance (after I passed out when they tried to cannulate me)
Motorbike accident (made own way)
Asthma attack (ambulance)
Lots as teenager due to joint dislocations - subsequently diagnosed with EDS

DH - cut finger (down to tendon) on glassware at work. Needed stitches but fortunately the tendon and nerves were undamaged.

DD - 5 days old, went floppy. Was low blood sugar as my milk not properly in yet (it came in that night with a vengeance).
8 weeks old - she was just wrong. We spent a few days in the regional Children's Hospital on IV antibiotics (suspected sepsis).

I’ve been several times for asthma attacks over the last few years - once was with concurrent pneumonia and I was at death’s door. Right decision each time!

Too many times!

Sister took me to A&E with what turned out to be my first asthma attack. I was in there for a week before I was stable and well enough to go home!

DD called an ambulance when I had a bulging disc in my neck. Hadn't slept for three nights. Was screaming like a wild animal. Scared the shit out of her, poor thing. Morphine and diazepam knocked me out.

DS in ambulance twice with febrile convulsions as a baby. GP called for one of those while I was at the surgery.

DD for a seizure and months later during their investigations they discovered a benign brain tumour (unrelated to the seizure!)

Friend's DD got finger caught in a door and chopped off the end of her finger. Ambulance for that one.

One girl I cared for had uncontrolled epilepsy and when her seizures wouldn't stop with the diazepam I could administer, we had to call an ambulance for her. They could give a higher dose and oxygen.

Plus quite a few more for x-rays on suspected breaks, of which there was one break, four dislocations and one torn ligaments requiring surgery.

God bless the NHS!