AIBU to want to know what to do re CV test results and hospital?

[SpaghettiOfCommand]

Maybe someone else has been in this position and could shed some light?

Last week 111 advised DD (19) to go back to hospital a week after an operation as she had chest pain, faintness, breathlessness (NONE of the three main cv symptoms though). She was seen in A and E and bloods showed a raised D Dime(?) so they assumed it was a post op PE, gave her an anti clotting injection and sent her home to come back the next day for a scan.

Next day we went back and spent a day in clinic (now this is a short version as the whole hospital treatment is a whole other thread ...) Her temperature was taken pre A and E entry and numerous times in the clinic as part of obs. All under fever threshold, although in the clinic she had lots of variable temps and they used the thermometer on various nurses to check and at one point got a different thermometer as they didn't trust it she also had a lot of different BP readings between very low, low and normal.

Eventually after the scan they realised she did not have a PE - and then on the obs check after the scan she had a temperature and was discharged to get a CV test with a diagnosis of possible covid or respiratory infection. Obviously we were all told to isolate etc, and to ring 111/return to A and E if she got worse.

She had a drive through test at 5ish on Friday. No results yet. She seemed better yesterday but worse again today. I don't think bad enough to go to A and E but I'm worried if she gets worse quickly what would happen - surely she can't rock up to A and E with suspicion of CV?

I'm really worried anyway as she is so poorly and I worry if is CV will she get worse, and if it isn't CV, what the problem is. I know it's not been 48 hours yet but we are Tier 3 and apparently the testing system here is overwhelmed and results could take up to five days (official advice). Has anyone been in this position of being poorly in between test and results? What would happen if she, or I, had to visit A and E?

(Apart from my big worry about DD, if it takes so long surely her T and T contacts will be walking around potentially exposed and exposing others (taxi, in hospital and of course us, and I can be an emergency A and E visitor myself and also in the shielding category!). DH will lose his job if he can't go in tomorrow (another whole thread) and the implications of this after a horrific summer employment wise is fucking dire)

I'm so fucking worried and so stressed (which ironically increases my risk of visiting A and E myself). I don't think I'm BU in asking if anyone else has been in the same position or can advise?

God that's so long sorry. I hope it makes sense, I'm exhausted and my mind is also like spaghetti...

If she needs emergency treatment, it doesn't matter what her Covid status is, she gets treatment. It matters in as much as they have to be aware she's awaiting results, but not at all to being treated.

If she needs A&E/999, call them.

If she gets worse quickly surely she should go back to A&E cv test or not?
That's what I had to do last weekend with my DD. High temp on the Sunday morning, booked a cv test that day for early afternoon but she deteriorated over the afternoon and I couldn't get her temp down so 111 advised A&E. They were aware from the beginning that she had cv symptoms but there was no question of her not going to hospital if she needed to.
Could you try 111 if she gets worse or a gp video consult?

Well I think that too, but the staff only have those blue medical masks, shouldn't they have to wear PPE to see her? It seems so risky for them. I know they have a risk from every single patient anyway, but the odds are higher here surely. And also, we couldn't expose a taxi driver but it may not be ambulance worthy. So hard!

I’d take her, regardless of her CV status. She sounds like she needs hospital. Imagine if you didn’t take her and something awful happened, you’d never forgive yourself (sorry I don’t mean to sound dramatic, but she could be really poorly with something else)

I hope she feels better soon💐

@literategiraffe I hope your DD is better now? So scary.

I definitely don't think she ill enough for A and E threshold yet, but the worry is there.

I ended up in A&E a few weeks ago - no mention of CV. I assume they tested me as part of blood work, but I'm not sure.

Definitely take her.

We have been tested for CV at A and E anyway on previous visits, but no testing was carried out on last weeks visit (or the next day) Apparently they only test you at A and E if they are going to admit you

It just seems like a gap between two stools which is very risky and putting people at needless risk...

I'm actually really quite annoyed about that, as if they had tested her in hospital I know the results would be back by now, unlike a "civilian"'drive through test.

Thank you for all nice replies btw. She is not poorly enough for A and E at the moment, I'm just thinking ahead really.

(I can't think of anything else now, waiting for the results as it's so important, and also if DH loses his job it will be awful. Especially if it's negative anyway (which would be good news for DD but then I wonder what the real problem is/was)

The system is fucking useless. Infuriating.

If she gets worse call 111 or GP, depending on timing, and tell them what you've told us, that she's got x symptoms and is awaiting a CV test result. They'll know how to get you treatment safely. If there is a delay in callbacks or even getting through, please do call 999. They'd rather you call than not.

• her treatment, not you!

Yes, the testing system is terrible. World embarrassing rather than world leading.

My local hospital A+E has a separate entry for breathing conditions/fever. So where I am, she would go in that one, tell the triage nurse she is awaiting a test result and be treated as a potential CV patient- no difference in care, but separated from the non-potential patients.

Hope your daughter is better soon.

What a bloody nightmare.

I hope she stays well enough to stay home!

If she needs more help call for an ambulance, make them aware she possibly has CV. They should send out PPE covered staff & take her to the correct entrance.

Please don't go by taxi.

Obviously all wear masks at home & keep washing your hands & wiping down surfaces.

DH should stay home & he shouldn't be out in a position where he might lose his job. IF HE goes in he must wear a mask, keep his distance & wash/sanitise his hands.

When you're feeling up to it, fire some letters off to MP & Govt outlining your problems. If enough people point out the issues, they might add in other things to help.

Take care

@MJMG2015 I understand DH must not^^ go to work unless/until we receive the results and it's negative.

Unfortunately he will definitely lose the job if he can't be in tomorrow, it's an agency placement. He is also due to start an additional job this week which he will lose if he can't turn up. We would never go against the rules as I understand the reasons behind it, but fucking hell we are tempted and I can see why people do. It will be especially galling if he loses his jobs and the test is negative! I just can't believe after the summer we have had that he finally has a job (and another one!) and this has happened. It's so fucking stressful, on top of the poorly DD worry of course. Just when I thought we were turning the corner after her operation.

A and E departments are set up to treat patients who are possibly Covid positive ( ours has a separate area).

She can get treatment safely if needed.

Of course though the government don't give a flying fuck about people like us, they literally can't imagine being in a position like this.

DH would never go into work instead of self isolating as he knows that colleagues may, like me, have conditions that make them extremely vulnerable, or have vulnerable family members. We will of course do the right think but fucking hell it will cost us, and impact our DC too. It is so unfair.

I ended up in A&E a few weeks ago - no mention of CV. I assume they tested me as part of blood work, but I'm not sure.

I wasn't tested at A&E a fortnight ago.
I was tested the next day when I went for further treatment and admission.

Despite being trained for the green zone in a and e, and on an open ward at hospital my test came back positive the following morning. I was moved very swiftly at that point, but by then I'd been in hospital for the best part of 2.5 days.

I went in with breathlessness and dangerously high blood pressure initially. No one suspected Covid at the time.

See I've never seen a separate entrance or unit at our A and E, but maybe there is a secret one!

If paramedics are called out, do they wear the full PPE (eg gowns and goggles etc) or are they just in disposable masks like the A and E staff? I know everyone they see is a potential risk but result awaiting people must be a much higher risk to them.

It's making me think about all this now!

Bloody hell @Aragog how are you now? DD had bloods taken at A and E and on admission to the day unit the following day but they didn't test for CV.

In hindsight I think that was totally illogical, I assumed they had and only found out when the clinic doctor eventually said it was a possible CV diagnosis and we would have to leave and get tested.

Fuck sake.

I'm getting there thanks, albeit slowly.

I hope your Dd is okay and her result comes through soon.

Was she given any indication of what to do to manage the respiratory effects of whatever she has?

Our a and e doesn't appear to have separate entrances either. I think the triage is the bit that determines whether you go into red or green.

At no point was I tested for Covid at a and e. I was only tested as I had to stay overnight the next day. Purely routine along with a mrsa swab.

I overheard a woman in the cubicle next to me who had told triage she had heart issues. When in green zone she then admitted to having a cough and a high temperature. Even then she wasn't tested. They just swiftly discharged her from A and e and told to get a test!

There are 'red centres' that treat those with suspected CV so if she developed symptoms phone your hp/ hospital and see where she needs to go

The staff I saw both before and after my result wore disposable masks and visors, plastic gloves and aprons.
A and E had the same but not all wore the visor.

She wasn't given any advice, in fact they couldn't push us out of the door quick enough When I asked what if she got worse, they just said to come back to A and E!

That's interesting about the red centres. Another consideration is transport - I wouldn't use (or even be offered of course) an ambulance unless it was ambulance worthy/life threatening etc, but if you use a taxi or public transport you are exposing people to risk too!

PPE for covid positive is just an apron, gloves, blue fluid resistant surgical mask & possibly a visor. Full PPE is only for aerosol generating procedures such as CPAP, suction, ventilation. So that’s all ambulance crew would be wearing.