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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In urgent care and feel like I've been pegged as a time waster

79 replies

QuestionableMouse · 04/11/2021 22:40

Not sure if I should stay or go to be honest. Was at work when I started to get pain in my left chest/shoulder. First aider at work sent me to urgent care but I've been sat ages and everyone is going in before me so I feel like I've been pegged as a time waster. Chest still hurts but I'm starting to feel bad for being here.

OP posts:
JockTamsonsBairns · 05/11/2021 00:31

Glad you've been seen, Op, and hope you're ok.
Just as an aside, are people really going in with sprains and bee stings? How is that considered urgent care?

NomNomNominativeDeterminism · 05/11/2021 00:32

Good news OP, though not about the possible shingles. Hope you sleep ok.

RagzReturnsRebooted · 05/11/2021 00:34

@QuestionableMouse

Thanks! Just really hoping it's not shingles!
If it is, the sooner you get antivirals for it the better, so keep an eye out for it and get to GP ASAP if you think it is.
Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 05/11/2021 00:43

Tbh he didn't seem very sure about the shingles.

Will keep an eye out for it getting worse, thank you!

OP posts:
ShakeTheDisease · 05/11/2021 00:46

Hope they've done an EKG at least by now. Far better to stay and get it all checked out now you're in the system.

Hollyhobbi · 05/11/2021 01:27

Have you a rash op? If not it wouldn't be shingles.

NataliaSerene · 05/11/2021 01:41

Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about looking out for your health. If it makes you concerned it’s worth being checked out thoroughly.

steff13 · 05/11/2021 01:44

Do you have a rash?

JessieLongleg · 05/11/2021 01:59

I was turned away with pains as told it wasn't a accident or emergency. Even though it took me 3 hours to get dressed and walk 20 meter to get a taxi. That I should be my GPs problem and they had been ignoring pain levels for 18 months. Now diagnosed with 5 genetic illnesses!

DramaLlllama · 05/11/2021 06:42

For those asking about a rash - some people get pain before the rash presents in the ‘prodrome’ period.

With regards to the waiting, patients will be triaged based on urgency. The person with the bee sting may have a history of anaphyalxis so may be seen sooner. But glad you have been seen OP and it isn’t heart/lung related.

lljkk · 05/11/2021 06:52

Did you get a diagnosis, OP?

julieca · 05/11/2021 07:14

@JessieLongleg glad you have a diagnosis now. It is true though that A and E is for accidents or emergencies. A slow diagnosis is not an emergency. Hope you are getting the treatment you need.

uneffingbelievable · 05/11/2021 07:47

Mouse you did the right thing - you are also hyperaware of heart issues because of recent events.
You have not wasted anyones time - timewasters are those who turn up because they cut their toe nails too short and they now hurt, who get so pissed they can not walk, etc

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 05/11/2021 07:50

Could it be stress? I get a pain in my chest when l get stressed.

julieca · 05/11/2021 07:50

It sounds like it might be wind? That can cause the kind of pain you talk about as well.

LakesideView · 05/11/2021 07:53

Re shingles/lack of rash…I’m a nurse. I had a patient once who had such awful chest pain that we were assessing for a heart attack…next day he came out in the rash and was diagnosed with shingles.

OP I hope you get a clear diagnosis and feel better soon.

Leftbutcameback · 05/11/2021 08:14

Hope you're feeling better OP and glad you were seen. Just wanted to mention that I had left shoulder pain when I had pneumonia, and it was missed in A&E. I was also quite poorly though - temperature and throwing up.bclassic symptoms and they said it was a muscle issue Hmm

MrsTidyHouse · 05/11/2021 08:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shedbuilder · 05/11/2021 08:44

I had pleurisy a few years ago and all the pain was in my back/ shoulders. I also have a friend who experienced severe gall bladder pain in her back and shoulder when apparently she should have felt it elsewhere. Good luck: there seems to be a lot of shingles around at the moment.

BonnesVacances · 05/11/2021 08:51

Do you have any other symptoms OP? DD went to A&E twice last year with chest pain that was radiating to her left shoulder. She was told it was all in her head and was just anxiety (yes I realise those too statements are contradictory Hmm) It turned out she'd had asymptomatic Covid and is now suffering from POTS. She had dizziness too though and you've not mentioned that.

CeratopsofthePharoahs · 05/11/2021 09:07

You did the right thing getting checked out. Chest pain CAN be a sign of serious things, though luckily for you your heart is fine. I've been to A&E with chest pain and was reassured that I'd done the right thing. Turned out it was the beginning of my Trial By Gallstone.

JosephineDeBeauharnais · 05/11/2021 09:33

Triage can be hard to understand, especially if you’re in pain and others are going before you. I went to A&E at 10pm with a compound fracture of my big toe and was literally the last person to be seen at 2am. The reason being that it was obvious was was wrong and that it wasn’t life threatening. It was a bit shit sitting in that condition for four hours when all the drunks etc were going ahead of me, but people with non specific abdominal pains, chest pains, headaches etc had to be seen first as they may well have been in a dangerous condition, which I wasn’t.

LakieLady · 05/11/2021 09:35

@Hollyhobbi

Have you a rash op? If not it wouldn't be shingles.
When I had shingles, I had the pain for several days before the rash appeared. And the rash wasn't that bad, tbh, if it hadn't been for the pain I probably wouldn't have thought anything of it.
CloudAtlasSky · 05/11/2021 09:39

It is likely that the people with minor injuries, sprains are being seen by an ENP (Emergency Nurse Practitioner). That is why a bee sting may be seen before something that may seem more complex.
ENPs cannot see medical cases such as chest pain. That would need to be seen by a doctor. So you will most likely be waiting for a different clinician. For those cases seen by a doctor, they will triage the most urgent cases first based on your obs/vital signs and if chest pain, an ECG. If those are normal, they will prioritise people who are sicker who will be seen by the doctors before you.
Those people with minor injuries, most likely are being seen by an ENP, which is why it may seem they are skipping the queue, they are not, they are simpler cases and therefore are being managed by a nurse. Simpler cases are also quicker, so it may seem like many of them are going ahead, but that is because they can been seen and sorted out quickly by an ENP.
Shingles is painful, but does not need immediate emergency care, so this is why you had to wait for a doctor, who was dealing with more urgent problems first.

dunkaccino · 05/11/2021 09:40

Any chance that you've misunderstood and they expected you to go home after the 'possibly shingles' diagnosis? (happened to a friend, waited for hours as thought they were going to be seen again).

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