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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be pretty annoyed by this

21 replies

Battleshiphips2 · 29/08/2015 09:51

I came out of hospital on Thursday evening after being diagnosed with bilateral pulmonary embolisms. I am 12 weeks pregnant and also have type 2 diabetes. I have not been given any information on what I need to do now apart from fragmin injections twice a day. I am still in pain and paranoid about every ache or twinge that I get in my arms or legs. I haven't been told if I need to rest or if I can resume normal activities (to be honest I still feel rough and very very tired anyway). I don't know if the pain in my chest, shoulder and arm and the cough I've developed is normal or if I should be worried. They just kind of threw me out of the hospital without any aftercare advice or anything. I am a bit by it all. Surely they should have given me some basic guidelines to follow. Fortunately my fabulous antenatal consultant has called as soon as he received my discharge notes saying he wants to see me on Tuesday. I really feel like complaining but not sure it's worth it as the care I received while in hospital was great. AIBU to have expected them to at least given me some aftercare advice.

OP posts:

Fizzielove · 29/08/2015 09:57

Yanbu! That's pretty poor. I'd complain so that at the very least it doesn't happen to someone else!

sooperdooper · 29/08/2015 09:57

Why didn't you ask before you left? Yabu, you must've spoken to either a nurse or doctor when you were discharged, that was the time to ask questions

Fizzielove · 29/08/2015 09:58

Hope you're feeling better soon and that your antenatal consultant helps.

Original poster

Battleshiphips2 · 29/08/2015 10:12

sooper I did ask about the pain and I wasn't given a clear answer. As for any other aftercare I didn't even think about it until I came home from the hospital. I was discharged an hour after being told I'd had PEs, as I said I was kind of thrown out. I had barely enough time to get my head around the fact I'd had clots in both my lungs never mind the fears and worries regarding how all the nuclear scans would affect my baby. Surely as they are healthcare professional part of their job is to inform me of any aftercare etc.

OP posts:

Original poster

Battleshiphips2 · 29/08/2015 10:16

Thanks fizzie I hope it does helps put my mind at ease. I have an 8 yr old son who needs his mum!

OP posts:

JawannaDrink · 29/08/2015 10:18

If you didn't ask any of these questions I'm afraid that's on you. Go to your gp for follow up.

Charis1 · 29/08/2015 10:19

you are getting after care. You are seeing a consultant on Tuesday

ohtheholidays · 29/08/2015 10:21

Have you had a look at the NHS online site?

I would,I ended up with lots of blood clots that only became apparent when I was in labor,I ended up having to stay in hospital for a week,special tests,warfarin ect every day.

Honestly If it was me I'd want answers today,I wouldn't want to wait till tuesday.

Good Luck with the rest of your pregnancy Battle,I hope you start getting the answers you need

Original poster

Battleshiphips2 · 29/08/2015 10:26

I am seeing my diabetic antenatal consultant on Tuesday. Not sure how much experience he has with pulmonary embolisms. On my discharge notes it's got no follow up required. Apparently IABU so I will book to see my GP.

OP posts:

Original poster

Battleshiphips2 · 29/08/2015 10:35

Thanks holidays I'll have a look at the site now.

OP posts:

maddy68 · 29/08/2015 10:37

Phone the hospital for advice

FarFromAnyRoad · 29/08/2015 10:43

I don't think you're being all that U tbh - sometimes when you're caught up in the middle of these things your mind goes all 'rabbit in headlights' and the questions only occur to you afterwards.
Perhaps have a look at Diabetes UK's website - there's a forum there and you could ask if anyone's had similar?

BrianButterfield · 29/08/2015 10:47

I think it's unfair to blame the OP for not asking questions - to be honest I find aftercare very poor with hospitals. You don't know what will arise in next few days as you're not psychic and have never had anything like this happen to you before, so how are you supposed to know what to ask? It's up to the professionals to anticipate questions you might have. For example, I once had a couple of stitches - never having had any before I only realised a few days later I didn't know if they needed to be removed, or dissolved or what. It might sound stupid to other people but I have zero experience of stitches so it didn't even occur to me to ask.

Reubs15 · 29/08/2015 11:03

That is poor, however if you're unsure you should have asked. Someone always has to talk to you when they discharge you

ohtheholidays · 29/08/2015 11:15

Your welcome Battle and YANBU at all.I received really shocking care whilst pregnant and afterwards at first.

Pulmonary embolisms are really dangerous and it's very serious.Your not a Dr/nurse/midwife I'm assuming who ever saw you has been medically trained and there's no way they should have discharged you OP without talking everything through with you and arranging follow up care for you for when you left hospital.They're trained and being paid for the position they're in,your not!

ohtheholidays · 29/08/2015 11:16

Brian exactly!

Original poster

Battleshiphips2 · 29/08/2015 11:45

To be fair the ward was really busy and the poor staff were ran off their feet. I did try to ask some questions before I went but it was a junior doc and she didn't seem to have a clue. As it was a generic chest ward the nurses didn't seem to know much either. I have spent the morning with Dr Google and got some good info which has put my mind at ease. As it is a potentially fatal condition I would've assumed they would have given me a bit more info. I barely had time to pack my bags when a nurse handed me my meds and discharge note, said good luck and goodbye. I'll pop to see GP this week. Hopefully he should be able to help. And it seems iwbu to expect them to give me more information etc so will not complain. As I said the rest of my care was fab and I am grateful we have the NHS.

OP posts:

Itsmine · 29/08/2015 12:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DameMargaretOfChalfont · 29/08/2015 12:10

Ring the ward and ask for advice - far more helpful than posting on AIBU.

OurBlanche · 29/08/2015 12:14

I too would contact PALS and recount your tale and ask if there is anything they can do to ensure this is addressed. They can also signpost you to further medical advice and help. They won't ignore you, they will understand how scared, abandoned, confused and angry you feel - that's why they were set up.

It is just sad that, almost 15 years on, they still have to exist and are still fielding the same questions and complaints!

TheSkyAtNight · 29/08/2015 12:28

You're not being unreasonable at all. Poor discharge practices like this put greater pressure on other parts of the NHS such as GP, A&E and ambulance services. No one should leave without knowing how to care for themselves, what to look out for and what steps to take if they experience those symptoms, otherwise they are likely to end up inappropriately in another part of the NHS. So, even if not for you, you should definitely report this. PALS are good, as others have suggested. As for "you should have asked" does this apply to those with dementia, learning disabilities, etc? It should be standard practice to provide a proper discharge.

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