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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be pissed off with my experience at the hospital

132 replies

Lostmum72 · 09/11/2017 20:34

I need to rant, my dd did something to her leg last night just seemed to twist it really, but she was in real pain and had a bit of a funny turn, dizzy, clammy etc, anyway she recovered but her leg was still sore but no swelling or bruising. This morning she still felt funny walking on it so I said u better stay at home we’ll keep an eye on it and take u Drs if gets worse. So then later on in the day she got up to go the loo, when she came back she had another funny turn, and said her leg really hurt! So I rang the Drs, they said to go to the hospital as it needed an X-ray. So off I go knowing I was in for a long wait, 3 hrs later a dr who hardly examined her, told me there was nothing wrong with her, they don’t X-ray that sort of thing and the fainting was unrelated 🤔. I explained again that every time she walked on it she went funny! They did some obs and sent us home! I so annoyed at his attitude I know they’re busy and the NHS is stretched but I feel really let down and haven’t a clue what’s wrong with her. To make it worse her dad (who is my ex) is moaning at me for not doing enough, and my current partner just thinks she’s been exaggerating for a day off school! Neither is helpful and I feel so annoyed and let down. Would you?

OP posts:

Walkingonsunshine1992 · 10/11/2017 11:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JonSnowsWife · 10/11/2017 11:26

BTW. The reason they thought DD was okay is because she hadn't fallen or injured her foot. She had quite literally, just twisted it funny whilst playing with her friends. Only that funny twist had made her metatarsal go 'snap'.

kali110 · 10/11/2017 11:29

user2085372673 Iv been left with pain everyday because the hospital said there was nothing wrong when there actually was a serious break.
They can get things wrong.

Appuskidu · 10/11/2017 11:34

Poor thing-she doesn’t sound right-hope you get some answers at the GP x

secretmum41 · 10/11/2017 11:40

Stick to your gut instincts.

It can be difficult to make professionals understand and do what you think is needed though ...

2 of my experiences ...

when ds was 2.5 he rolled off the sofa .... screamed for ages, I knew something was very wrong as every time I tried to pick him up or he moved etc he screamed out. Took him to a+e - they refused to X-ray despite everything I said, as ds just went mute. He was a poor talker to begin with and struggled with communication anyway. I left and as I tried to lift him into his car seat he again screamed in agony, I took him back into a+e, saw the doctor again, who again said he wouldn't X-ray. I had no option but to take ds home. Took him back the following day as he'd been in agony all night. He took one look at the doctor and screamed! Doctor agreed to X-ray due to screaming .... FRACTURED COLLARBONE!

Recently dd aged 14 has fallen, again, I knew her wrist was broken. She did receive an X-ray but it showed nothing. Despite several visits to doctors and fracture clinics over 6 weeks, nothing much was done. Cue 14 weeks later, dd still in pain and restricted movement ..... they've now found a fracture in the wrist that has not healed! It's an extremely rare fracture of the capitate bone, usually doesn't show up on X-rays, which I fully appreciate. However, if they'd truly listened to myself or dd in the early weeks this would have been prevented. We're now 15 weeks down the line, arm in plaster in the hope that some kind of healing will take place otherwise she'll need surgery.

STICK WITH YOUR GUT INSTINCT!
If it turns out to be nothing wrong/nothing serious, at least you will know you have done your best for your dd.

Good luck.

Original poster

Lostmum72 · 10/11/2017 11:43

Secretmum how awful for you all, I hope your dd is ok, thank u for sharing your experience. X

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RedDahlia · 10/11/2017 13:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoNailsNoLife · 10/11/2017 14:04

Hope your GP has been more helpful, I'm delurking just to add that I have broken my wrist 3 times, and each was break accompanied by a horrendous migraine and sickness. Fingers crossed you get some answers

karriecreamer · 10/11/2017 14:10

How much NHS resources are wasted by their buck-passing. I've twice been told to go to A&E, once by a GP, and the second time by a paramedic. Both times, the A&E doctors were clearly annoyed I was wasting their time, and both times basically told me to go home, without doing anything other than basic obs and not giving any prescriptions etc. Both said to go to GP in a couple of days if not cleared up.

But worse was the time I went to the GP with stomach pain and he phoned and arranged for me to be admitted to Gynae via A&E (apparently no other method of admission). So spent the statutory 4 hours in A&E and then taken to gynae, and upon their examination, told me it wasn't a gynae problem as the pain was in the wrong place. Surely a GP would know the location of pains to signpost where to send you?? So not only a complete waste of a lot of A&E resources, also a waste of my entire day for no reason, no tests done, no drugs prescribed, basically told to go back to GP to get the right referral!!

Original poster

Lostmum72 · 10/11/2017 14:10

Ah thanks for asking reddhalia, yes I’ve been seen, luckily dd got a bit of sleep before we went so her migraine was a bit better. He was a lot better thoroughly examined her, saw her go a bit funny, he reckons she’s sprained it, wants her to rest it for a few days and then come back, then he will X-ray it if no improvement but says if it gets worse to go back to A&E he’s also doing some blood tests just to check there’s no underlying issue with the fainting but he said with a sprain she could well go fuzzy etc especially if she’s that way inclined. He was a bit shocked A&E wouldn’t X-ray it with her fainting etc but he’s fairly sure she hasn’t broken it.

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Original poster

Lostmum72 · 10/11/2017 14:18

I agree Carrie, I had to check in twice if they’d of told me then to take her to urgent care centre or something similar I would of been happy to, I didn’t feel it was life threatening but I was very concerned. The lady on reception said it was best this way for x Ray purposes. The emergency dept was very busy there were people left in corridors coming off ambulances waiting to be seen, no beds no space! When I left children’s A&E last night it was full again, so now I think about it, should I of gone there, if it’s really meant for life threatening issues, but that’s what I was told to do! I was also scared seeing her pass out like that, anyway at least I know something now .

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TinselAngel · 10/11/2017 14:24

Presumably you’ve ruled out her having banged her head at the same time as she hurt her leg ?

Original poster

Lostmum72 · 10/11/2017 14:43

No she didn’t bump her head, I’m sure of that x

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Original poster

Lostmum72 · 10/11/2017 14:52

I forgot to bloody ask how long it will take to heal and what to do about school 😤

OP posts:

listsandbudgets · 10/11/2017 14:53

Hope she's feeling better soon OP.

Injuries happen so easily. DD somehow sprained her wrist picking up a mug of tea - FGS imagine explaining THAT in A&E I was expecting to pick up the phone to social services any moment. The doctor sent her off for x-rays and nothing showed so they put it down to soft tissue damage - poor dd she was in a lot of pain... shes more or less avoided mugs ever since!

mikeyssister · 10/11/2017 15:22

Is there any spot on the shin which is very hot? It would be isolated. This is what happened when DD fractured her knee cap. Fortunately we're in Ireland and the doctor was prepared to listen to me and send her for an xray.

You mention you're daughter is asthmatic. By any chance is she on steroids?

Original poster

Lostmum72 · 10/11/2017 15:28

Mikey well she says it’s hot round her knee yeh, dr thought was from her knee but effecting her shin. You asked about steroids? Well I think the brown inhaler has some steroids in it but that’s it.

OP posts:

kali110 · 10/11/2017 17:16

Yes brown one is a steroid inhaler.

LakieLady · 10/11/2017 17:31

It’s pretty normal to faint after breaking a bone I think

I've broken my arm 3 times and never fainted. The first time, I carried on and finished my shift at the pub where I was working and then went to my day job for 2 days before going to the hospital. I'd broken my scaphoid, my radius and my ulna.

I was astonished because my mother, who used to be a nurse, always told that if you could bend a limb, it wasn't broken. I never trusted anything medical she told me after that!

loadofcrap10 · 10/11/2017 17:51

I can understand your frustration when you were doing what your GP told you. Why didn't the GP request the x ray for you/your daughter I wonder, instead of sending you via A&E where you then have to wait for another assessment. The A&E Dr/Practitioner or whoever you saw then makes a decision wether they need to x ray as it is their name going on the request, despite what you GPs opinion was.
Might be worth asking your GP why they didn't send you directly to x ray with a request form

jacks11 · 10/11/2017 18:19

Loadofcrap

Depends on the system- they may not be able to get urgent access/same day reporting of x-rays they request. GP's do not always have access to the x-ray images themselves. So if acute (i.e. ? fracture, injury within the past few days) you may need to either go to A&E or the minor injury unit (if there is a Dr, reporting radiographer or nurse practitioner who can diagnose from x-rays).

For example, in our area whilst a GP can request an x-ray to be done via drop- in sessions during 9-5 at a few locations across the area (or an appointment can be made, but can take 5 working days- so not for urgent things). The GP's do not have the software to look at the x-ray images themselves, so they can't even request and check themselves (and if they did it would be a nightmare for GPs as most people would want the results same day and so GP's would be inundated). Some of the MIU are staffed with reporting radiographers or nurse practitioners who can diagnose from x-ray (but not enough for every shift at every unit). So often, it can only be A&E or GP bay at the orthopaedic ward for certain cases. GP's hands are tied.

Original poster

Lostmum72 · 10/11/2017 18:40

It’s definitely a failure in the system, they tell u to go to A&E to get an X-ray, A&E are packed out with people as it is! And still the advise is to go there. Well if she does get worse I will go again, you’ve got to do what u can for your kids. If there is somewhere else I can go for an X-ray I’d happily go there, but there doesn’t seem to be around here 🙄

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JonSnowsWife · 10/11/2017 19:11

if it’s really meant for life threatening issues, but that’s what I was told to do!

Yes you were fine.A&E is for Accident and Emergency not just Emergency. Not everyone has those very handy Minor injuries Unit in their City. We certainly don't.

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 11/11/2017 06:35

Our health board doesn't have minor injuries or walk-ins. Anything that is not GP or a planned hospital admission is A&E.

Last time we were in A&E (asthma attack, I know you are wondering!) 2/3rds of the people there seemed to be waiting for x-rays. There is nowhere else to go.

Original poster

Lostmum72 · 12/11/2017 12:13

She’s no better u know, I don’t know what to do really, I can’t send her to school like that . Kids eh

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