Who's awake, sat with my elderly mum in A&E

[Luvvies]

Hi not in a worried state but just the long long wait to be seen.
Poor mum has a rectal prolapse, she's 89 and has Alzheimer's although lives alone with a bit of help.
It looks so so uncomfortable. She was triaged at 8.30, so 6 hours ago, we have no clue when a doctor will see her. But she's in a side room now out of the way down the corridor.....
I haven't eaten since 1pm, had one lukewarm coffee.
Anyone else sitting up waiting for something?

I'm up feeding my 3 month old, hoping she's going to go back down OK . I hope your mum is OK, I find hospitals are like time warps and the lights are horrendous for giving headaches. Hopefully you get a hot cup of tea/coffee offered!

Hi OP, hope your poor mum is comfortable at least. I was there two weeks ago with a haemorrhage (miscarriage gone wrong) that required emergency surgery under general anaesthetic and still haven’t managed to get my sleep pattern back on track.
Do you have all you need for the wait, like phone charger etc, or could anyone bring you anything?

Hi Luvvies
Your poor mum, that sounds dreadful😔. Having Alzheimer's must make it worse as i imagine she doesn't fully understand why she is in pain. That is a long wait to be seen. I hope you can both cope. At least she has you there for support, that must be a comfort to her.

Hope your mum is ok OP. I spent a very long night in a&e with my elderly mum a few months back. Time passed so so slowly. We were in a side room so I turned the lights off and opened the door to let a little light in. Meant she got some sleep and it wasn’t as bright for me.

Hope she is seen soon / moved, and that you get home to get some sleep.

Are there no vending machines nearby for you to get a drink?

She keeps asking to have a wee which then means 10 minutes sat on a bed pan, spillage and a dry sheet.
My husband brought us here, we had to put her lying down in the back of his car, as she couldn't sit. Couldn't wait for an ambulance as not an emergency.
Hospital is 40 minutes away though. But he went home and got me a charger. And a laptop so I've done a bit of work but that battery has died now.
If they see her before too long then I'll get a taxi home.
All work plans are up in the air been trying to put contingencies in place. I know she comes first but there's just a big domino effect if I don't get something tomorrow.

I've got a bottle of water queen. The vending machines in reception are empty.

Hi OP

I'm going to pour a virtual coffee down the keyboard, don't scald yourself.

Sorry it can't be a real one.

Hope you’re seen very soon and your poor mum is ok. I was in the same situation as you a week back when I broke my leg in 3 places. I’m awake in pain at the minute with said leg pain.
As previous poster said, see if you can turn a light off and swap your chair to a more comfortable one to ease the situation. Hospitals are so understaffed at the minute, I really worry for the NHS.

I just asked for her one to be done as her BP 2 hours ago was 203/119.
This nurse now is expressing great surprise that they haven't pushed it back and haven't seen her yet.
The staff are all lovely. But not enough of them.

Sadly vending machines are still considered a covid hotspot 😭 I can send virtual Doritos or pickled onion monster munch?

Sorry to hear about your mum. I hope she gets seen soon and is comfortable. I am currently up with my 2 year old who has caught a tummy bug as is currently vomiting every 10-45 minutes 😭 it has been a long night sooo far!

Does the hospital have a 24 hour Costa/ cafe?

Oh monster munch yes please!

Sorry to hear about the tummy bug merriwicks

Hope you get sorted soon. You've had some good support from here, good idea to have posted.

Sending you good wishes.

Lovely A&E doctor has just been. Now waiting to see what the surgeons say.
Thank you everyone.

Hope you can reduce your pain soon Staring

Good news OP, that’s progress at last!

I hope your mum gets seen soon. I’m sending you a vanilla straight from the udder milkshake.

Her Alzheimer's isn't too progressed in some ways. She knows why she is in pain but keeps asking why she has a cannula infection her arm and is totally unreliable when asked any questions. She will answer the same question a different way every time it's asked: when did this start, we have had everything from today to 6 weeks ago.
I will be worried about her ability to follow any news instructions she needs to after this. I'm not in a position to look after her as much as she will need.

Hope your mum is ok and you get to go home soon

Glad things are progressing OP.

Has your mum got a social worker? Ask the hospital about a referral so you can create a plan.

No social worker and a doctor told her on Monday she needed a carer but she has adamantly said no.
Surgical dr has just popped in and going to try and pop it back....
If it works I can't take her home in a taxi as she has no clean PJ bottoms here, hers got wet! I'm stranded without a car and my husband will almost certainly have had a load of brandy when he got home earlier - that's a whole other thread ☹️ and won't hear the phone if I call and won't be fit to drive for a bit.

Sorry sounds like a real moan fest. I'm a strong and capable person who doesn't get fazed by things but there are only so many things I can fix!

It’s such a long time to be hanging around. This isn’t very nice at all for Mum & yourself. Hopefully they figure out soon what she needs & you can get a few hours of sleep

Sending wishes to you from here, is there an M&S or Costa that will open soon, they usually open around 7am.
BP worrying at those levels, I know they’re understaffed but I’d press for more help if I were you. If you don’t ask you don’t get, don’t feel bad, this is your mum.