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Original poster

Should I go back to A&E??

126 replies

Rolypops · 13/09/2023 16:45

I have had a horrendous cough for two weeks now, I was so bedridden by it I didn't test for Covid but I cannot shake it, and two days ago I started to cough up blood. I went to A&E and after a ghastly seven hour wait was told that I have probably got a chest infection or bronchitis, was given steroids and antibiotics and sent home and told to go back in three days if not better, which would be tomorrow. However after a seeming improvement yesterday I am worse than ever today, a horrible loud wheeze when I breathe out and green and bloody stuff coming up with each coughing fit. I am short of breath but no temp.

Just don't know what to do, coughing so hard I can't hold my bladder and blood coming up cannot be normal. Should I go back to A&E or will they tell me to wait another day for the abs to work? They only tested basic stuff when I was in there the first time. I was only given enough steroids for a few days.

I

OP posts:
cakehoover123 · 14/09/2023 04:55

Aw that's awful. Really hope tests are clear tomorrow so you can go home and get some rest.

verdantverdure · 14/09/2023 04:57

Rolypops · 14/09/2023 04:51

I've still not been admitted. Had my x ray but there won't be a bed until after eight am now so a lovely nurse has brought me a pillow and blanket to a&e. I doubt I'll be admitted overnight now so will probably just have a bunch of tests tomorrow and if they look OK I'll be allowed home but who knows. At least DH can come to A&E to keep me company after the kids are at school. By that point I'll have been here 14 hours and that's even if a bed opens up by then. Quite upset but no one's fault.

It's the Tories fault lovely.

They've done this to our NHS.

I'm sorry you've had such a rough couple of visits and hope they can help you today. xx

Rowgtfc72 · 14/09/2023 04:58

Just on my way to work and saw your post. Hope they get you sorted soon.
At least if they don't keep you in you'll get to sleep in your own bed tonight.
Fingers crossed for decent drugs.

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Ostryga · 14/09/2023 05:06

Oh I really feel for you op. When I went in with a suspected brain bleed (it wasn’t but seizures instead!) I was in majors for 21 hours before I got to the ward.

Thankfully once there the treatment was amazing. But I know how horrible it is to be stuck in a chair waiting.

Hope you get sorted asap and are feeling better soon x

PostOpOp · 14/09/2023 05:29

Hey OP I'm so sorry you've been waiting for so long.

Wanted to say that you were very stressed last night. You're not having a great time now, however, had you stayed at home you'd have been stressing and wondering with every cough if you should be going on or not. Right now, if it suddenly takes a bad turn, you are at least in the right place. And the staff wouldn't have tried to wanted to admit you if you needed to just call your GP in the morning.

I hope your DH can drop the kids off a bit early and come asap and you manage to get comfortable. It's not nice (or how it should be), but you are in the right place.

Wishing for you that everything goes quickly today!

Peekingovertheparapet · 14/09/2023 06:48

I took a child to our local paeds ED recently, at 2pm, and we were seen and triaged fairly quickly, getting to a bay by about 4pm and bloods etc at 5pm, then home after the results came in at 9pm.

what was striking though is that at 2pm the ED was still dealing with catch up from the night before. There were people stuck in bays when I arrived, and then bays that were awaiting cleaning.

A big issue seems to be that a&e isn’t staffed as a 24 hour service, often there is just one doctor in the paeds ED overnight. A few years ago this was ok, I’ve taken babies in the night struggling to breathe and we’ve been seen and dealt with quickly, but mostly because there is nobody else there.

in the meantime we have had a shiny new segregated paeds ED, and it’s far less unpleasant than it was back then. I wonder if this, combined with the impossibility of seeing a GP means more and more people are attending. The service provision is not fit to meet the demand.

This can also be true in the day - it only takes one big major thing to come in and the whole system backs up. We were there a couple of weeks ago too (same issue) and that was fine, smooth sailing in, but all of a sudden an awful car accident came in and there were just no doctors around for several hours. All of the nurses were great, but they ultimately ran out of the ability to move people through the system as they were lacking clinical sign off on decisions.

Intelligenthair · 14/09/2023 06:56

Thinking of you, OP. Hoping you’re managing to doze a bit.

Original poster
Rolypops · 14/09/2023 07:49

I'm on the ward. I have pneumonia and I am so scared. What happens if I get covid at the same time? I know I'm just panicky because I've not slept but I'm so anxious and visitors can't come until 1.

Positive stories about pneumonia not being that bad would be very welcome! I'm only in my mid thirties and have never had any chest or breathing issues before in my life.

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 14/09/2023 07:52

Ive had pneumonia, its very treatable if they catch it and get the good antibs into you - which you will get as you are on a ward. Try and take a deep breath every hour when you are awake, it stirs up the grunk in the bottom of your lungs so that your immune system can more easily deal with it. I think there are you tube videos of breathing exercises if ypu want to look

EarlGreywithLemon · 14/09/2023 08:02

I’ve had pneumonia when I was 29, and know at least four other people who have. One of them is an immunocompromised lady in her seventies who has had it several times and has recovered each time. It is absolutely treatable with antibiotics and, especially given your age, you should make a full recovery.
So sorry you’ve had such a horrible time, but you’re absolutely in the right place now. Try and get some rest of you can and the antibiotics will work their magic.

Makinglists · 14/09/2023 08:12

A few years back my fit and healthy mid forties DH got pneumonia after a bad cold we all had at home. He cycled daily and no underlying health problems. He was in hospital for 24hrs for iv antibiotics then home with a cocktail of other ABS. Felt rough for about 2weeks but was absolutely fine. Hope you feel better soon.

legalseagull · 14/09/2023 08:12

I had pneumonia at 35ish. It was very treatable as is was bacterial thankfully. Antibiotics and steroids sorted me out quickly.

Crzy · 14/09/2023 08:14

My lovely lovely nan who is a cancer survivor x2 so extremely prone to getting very very sick from even a simple cold managed to recover after a week in hospital after she insisted to doctors she just didn’t feel right and she’s in her 70s and you seem to have caught it early enough anyway and can now have the right care so try not to worry too much altho I know that’s hard especially when you were so worried and just knew something wasn’t right to begin with. Can dh bring books, snacks, drinks ect for you especially if your ward has one of those tiny cupboard bedside fridges as you’ll want to keep yourself hydrated as it’s hell to be coughing up dehydrated and your options are very limited while you’re there. You shouldn’t be there for too too long altho I don’t know your other condition they may keep you in a little longer than their usual fluids antibiotics and send you off if oxygen levels okay as they may want to monitor you a bit more just to check it’s not interfering with your ongoing condition. Get well soon op it’s awful being so sick and stuck alone waiting Flowers

Mustreadabook · 14/09/2023 08:24

I’d try 111 first. They can organise an appointment with an out of hours doctor, ours is at the hospital so I got to walk past all the people waiting in A&E and had a 5 minute wait.

Sorry i didn’t read to the end! Glad you are in the right place now.

Issummernearlyover · 14/09/2023 08:25

Mustreadabook · 14/09/2023 08:24

I’d try 111 first. They can organise an appointment with an out of hours doctor, ours is at the hospital so I got to walk past all the people waiting in A&E and had a 5 minute wait.

Sorry i didn’t read to the end! Glad you are in the right place now.

Edited

OP is in hospital with pneumonia.

Mamafromthebeach · 14/09/2023 08:29

You poor thing - try to rest - you are in the best place! Hopefully the antibiotics they give you will do the trick quickly and you will be back on deck in no time.

Iliketulips · 14/09/2023 08:31

I've had pneumonia twice at roughly the age of 38 and 43. Different symptoms to you, but felt absolutely awful at the time. I needed a couple of weeks off work and for about four weeks after that I was in work but not overly productive. However, I've reached the age of 57 now and am in good health.

You might want different food, but both times all I wanted to eat was refeshing things like grapes, strawberries and I wanted apple juice. If you fancy anything like that, ask someone to bring it in for you - obviously you won't get much fruit in hospital and it'll be good for you.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 14/09/2023 08:35

I’ve had pneumonia three times now. Once you Get home, be kind to yourself. It took me several months to get back to full strength.

MrsMorrisey · 14/09/2023 08:35

Hang in there OP. I had pneumonia about 4 years ago and it was horrendous.
I'm sure you feel very sick.
The good thing is you're in the best place and they may give you IV antibiotics which will kick in.
When you're feeling a bit better I highly recommend chest physio to help you clear your chest and the huffing technique.
It's awful but you'll get better and feel like yourself again in a month or two xxx

thaegumathteth · 14/09/2023 08:41

@Rolypops ds had double pneumonia as a toddler. It took him a while to get back to full strength but no long term effects.

Ivebeentogeorgia · 14/09/2023 08:41

Pneumonia is quite common op, don’t worry. Hopefully after some stronger antibiotics you’ll be home and able to recover there. I know of a few people that have had pneumonia- some had a day or 2 in hospital and some stayed home with it. Just take it easy for a good few weeks after

Mirabai · 14/09/2023 08:46

My elderly mum was hospitalised with pneumonia a few years ago, took her a while to get over but she was fine.

Ostryga · 14/09/2023 09:10

You should start to feel a lot better after 24 hours of iv antibiotics. Hopefully you’ll be home tomorrow with some more.

Then lots of rest and you should be feeling much better in a couple of weeks.

Try and get some sleep on the ward now. I know it’s not the most comfortable but you’ll feel better for it.

PosyPrettyToes · 14/09/2023 09:23

I had pneumonia as a teenager and it was horrific, I can't lie to you, BUT it did get better, and although it takes a long time to recover fully you will start to feel quite a bit better very shortly.

Hospital transmission of COVID is very low now, you are more likely to get it at the supermarket or from your own kids, so try not to worry about that for now.

Hope you feel better soon!

bumblebeessarecool · 14/09/2023 09:44

I had it after giving birth to my daughter. I recovered and have not had any problems since. Hang in there!

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