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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To advise my partner with copd to not go to hospital to get an X-ray?

70 replies

Justnot · 27/05/2020 14:40

My partner has mild copd, hay fever and asthma and has had a chest infection he can’t shift for a few weeks ( although I’m not sure if it’s all the conditions not being managed properly) His GP who is generally rubbish, is telling him to go for a chest X ray and I am saying he shouldn’t go without speaking to his chest Dr - who we can’t get hold of. I am saying he is more likely to catch covid than not and shouldn’t go. I have tried to ring the hospital for days before posting here but can’t get through. We will obviously keep trying the hospital but in the meantime is he better staying away from hospital?

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 27/05/2020 14:42

If he's been advised to go for an x ray he should go. He will be sent away sgain if there us no need for one.

FergusSingsTheBlues · 27/05/2020 14:44

It would be beyond stupid with holding an X-ray when he’s been told he needs one

DontTouchTheMoustache · 27/05/2020 14:45

I dont think you should advise against medical advice. It may well be covid? If not hospitals are being extremely careful

SauvignonBlanche · 27/05/2020 14:46

It would be beyond stupid to advise this.

Judiwench · 27/05/2020 14:46

Don't be stupid.

BoingBoingyBoing · 27/05/2020 14:47

Is someone who has been advised to go to hospital by a medical professional better staying away?

Toughie.

Dreeple · 27/05/2020 14:47

Why is he asking you if he’s allowed to have an X-Ray?

TheRoyallingStones · 27/05/2020 14:48

YABU

I would trust that the doctor had weighed up the risks and felt the risk of not getting an X-ray and therefore potentially missing something important and not treating it, outweighed the risk of catching Covid in the hospital.

bengalcat · 27/05/2020 14:51

He is much better off going to the hospital . The chest xray advised by your doctor will likely give important information to help manage his condition /s .

Original poster
Justnot · 27/05/2020 14:53

A friend who is a nurse advised against it, I am bit surprised no one thinks he is putting himself at risk by going to hospital. They’ve closed a hospital in Somerset because 40% of staff have tested positive for Covid so I am worried he will get it. He has a bad chest regularly because of his other conditions, finds it difficult to breathe when he first wakes up but it eases as the days goes on. Has history for not managing this hay fever and asthma. Really trying to get hold of his consultant as would rather take his advice than GP’s - we don’t think it’s covid, have all been in lockdown for weeks so unlikely unless he has got it from some packaging or the corner shop

OP posts:
MrBennsshop · 27/05/2020 14:55

He's been told to go for a chest x ray by his GP but you're asking a bunch of random people who have no knowledge of his medical history whether he should go?

He needs to go.

FourTeaFallOut · 27/05/2020 14:55

No, this is ridiculous. He will need an x-ray to get the correct treatment. Left untreated, he could end up with pneumonia.

Scarlettpixie · 27/05/2020 15:01

Why do you think he is more likely to catch it than not?

I had to go for a scan a couple of weeks ago and am fine. Most people will be.

If the GP thinks he should have an X-ray he should go. They are not just handing them out for the fun of it!

Original poster
Justnot · 27/05/2020 15:01

I did say we are trying to speak to the hospital, just getting opinions in case a doctor in a hospital came on and said don’t worry it will be fine or stay away. Telling me off for daring to question him going doesn’t really help! He isn’t asking me, he is also worried about getting covid so doesn’t know what to do so we are discussing it. Thanks for all your advice.

OP posts:
walkingchuckydoll · 27/05/2020 15:01

Can you ask the hospital how they prevent infecting the patients? You can't even enter myocal hospital without having encountered tgree people that check if you don't have any cold like symptoms. I wasn't allowed to enter the first time because I have hayfever.

walkingchuckydoll · 27/05/2020 15:02

Myolcal= my local

Potionqueen · 27/05/2020 15:05

No HCP is going to go online and say don’t go for an x-ray.

FOJN · 27/05/2020 15:06

The GP has advised it but on the strength of a friend's opinion you have decided to ignore that advice until you can speak to a respiratory consultant and you're not too concerned because you don't think it's Covid?

An x-ray is a diagnostic tool, how to do expect any doctor to prescribe treatment without the information they have asked for? Of course there is a risk visiting a hospital but I'm quite sure your GP has already considered that and decided on balance an X - ray is necessary. I would strongly suggest you don't influence your partner's decision off the back of advice given by a friend. I'm presuming that as your so cautious you are observing social distancing so your friend has not even seen your partner to make any kind of assessment.

FOJN · 27/05/2020 15:07

You're not your.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/05/2020 15:09

@Justnot - it seems to me that what you need to weigh up is the risk of ignoring an actual existing medical problem versus the potential risk of infection, if your partner goes to the hospital.

As a former nurse, my instincts and training are telling me that the risk of ignoring your partner’s current illness, and him becoming seriously ill are greater than the potential risk of him catching Covid. He needs the x-ray so he can get the right treatment to prevent his chest condition worsening.

I am also sure that your doctor will have made the same calculation of the different risks.

My advice would be that you ask the GP to give him a proper surgical mask to wear when he goes to the hospital. He should observe all the hygiene recommendations - use hand gel frequently, avoid touching his face, and should change all his clothes and shower when he gets home. That is what I would do to lessen the risk as much as possible.

femfemlicious · 27/05/2020 15:11

He should go for the x ray. Hospitals are being very careful. I had kidney failure at the end of march and ended up on a ward with corona virus patients all around me( until my corona virus test came back -ve). Now i go into hospital 3 times a week for dialysis. I havent gotten corona virus!. Thanks be to God.

He should Pray about it and go for his xray.

vanillandhoney · 27/05/2020 15:13

YABU. Why do you think you know better than the GP?

notapizzaeater · 27/05/2020 15:14

My husband has stage 4 lung cancer and we've been told to avoid the hospital EXCEPT for x rays etc

Original poster
Justnot · 27/05/2020 15:15

I will be showing him this thread, I don’t keep him in a dungeon and tell him what to do.....was trying to get some advice for him

OP posts:
NannyR · 27/05/2020 15:15

Hospitals are being incredibly careful about separating covid and non-covid areas. A relative was diagnosed with cancer just before lockdown and is currently on chemo (so in the shielding group) and she has been going to the hospital for scans - she says it feels very safe with regards to covid risk and she doesn't feel worried about going to the x-ray department.