With how I was treated in a and e

[Arcade]

I’ve got endometriosis it gets so bad I pass out throw up etc. I’m currently on morphine codine and other meds for the pain. Yesterday it became so bad I was almost hysterical with pain and nothing was working the bleeding was also more extreme than normal. My partner ended up driving me to a and e as I couldnt spend any more time in this amount of pain. When I arrived I was seen fairly quickly and the nurse was lovely she suggested right away I have more morphine codine and some other meds. She said she could only give me the codine as they where tight on space and I really needed to be watched while taking morphine and codine at the same time but I would be seen soon for the morphine. So I took my codine and went back to the waiting room and politely asked the receptionist roughly how long the wait was tonight so I could tell my partner to go home instead of waiting in the car they said it wasn’t long. I then wasn’t seen for 1.5 hours and ended up just silently crying in the waiting room. I went back to the receptionist and said would I be aloud any more pain relief as I’m in agony. She spoke to the nurse who then did after 25 minutes bring me out some morphine . I was in so much pain I did consider going home as I was so uncomfortable but I knew going home wouldn’t fix it and I was throwing up badly. By which point I hadn’t been seen again for 3 hours but was then eventually taken for a blood test and told to have a sleep on a bed as the wait time in a and e was six hours before a doctor could see me. I said in the end while crying through the pains that I would go home to sleep as I live 2 minutes away and was exhausted by this point as it was now 2 in the morning. I then did get home and manage to sleep through sheer exhaustion. But I’ve woken up being sick again from the pain my partner thinks I should go back to a and e but I cant manage sitting in a waiting room for 6 hours again. Atleast at home I can lay down with my hot water bottle and take some of my own morphine. How can and a and e leave someone throwing up and crying in pain with no real pain relief until they beg I get they where busy but I’m at my last end I’ve tried every cure going numerous surgery’s physio therapy private doctors hormones just to have pain like this constantly.

I don't doubt that the pain levels are awful. But the fact remains that we're talking about a resource that is severely depleted (thank you Tories ) and so patients HAVE to be prioritised after triage.

I'm sure that the staff hate knowing that they're leaving someone in pain too. And TBF it did sound like the OP was treated with sympathy and consideration as far as was possible.

I agree but that doesn't mean A&E is the most effective avenue. They will always rightly prioritise those in a life threatening condition. The issue is that there aren't adequate preventative or on going support that women can access and it reaches the point that A&E is the only option, but it isn't actually suitable. Not the fault of A&E staff.

Unfortunately this is standard now in most ED depts.

Combination of misuse by the public, terrible underfunding and the consequences of the covid only focus for the last 2 years.

There are ambulances waiting 6 to 10 hours to off load pts. And around 24 hour bed waits once seen in ED.

Go back to your gp and ask for another referral to gynae.

The ED dept isn't the right place for you to get treatment.

Hope you can get a longer term solution

YABU. Sorry to hear you are in a lot of discomfort but you were seen and given pain relief.

you said yourself, you were more comfortable at home with a hot water bottle than being on a cold hard bed in a&e.
it’s unlikely you will get an urgent referral to gynae by going to a&e with your condition and would be better asking the GP to refer as it creates a trail this way which is why referral needs to come from the Gp
morphine can cause vomiting and can cause addiction. Codeine can cause gastro problems also such as constipation which May aggravate it. People become used the codeine and morphine to it so then need to step up the dose so it may be worth asking if there is any more suitable pain relief for you.

have you tried ibruptofen or naproxen along side paracetamol?
hope you get some relief soon

I have a condition where I suddenly go into a very long (6+ hours) unstable non-diabetic hypoglycemic coma taking up a lot of time and expertise. I'm really sorry you are suffering, sadly, the doctors and nurses are often busy in resus desperately trying to keep someone alive. I also have severe endometriosis - if you're well enough to make a decision to go home for a rest then I can understand why you weren't prioritised. I'm genuinely sorry if this sounds harsh, but seriously ill/unresponsive patients are prioritised for good reason.

yanbu to want better treatment for your condition but yabu to expect it from A&E. If you are able to leave and go home, then it’s not an accident or emergency.

A PP has already said it, but I was going to say go back to your GP for a review of your pain meds. Taking codeine and morphine regularly is going to make you become dependant on them and you'll end up needing more and more. I have endometriosis and had a long back to back hormone drip induced Labour so I understand pain, am not un empathetic to your situation. But they gave you meds and saw you in a timely manner, you need another referral to gynae.

Although there is no cure for endometriosis

that’s not true. Yes, each case is different but it can absolutely be managed
I appreciate some options aren’t open to you as you are trying to get pregnant. Birth control pills are far from the only option. You really need a better conversation with your doctor or an alternative consultant.

YANBU - yet again, a woman in acute pain is left without suitable medication for hours. It’s not on. I’m sorry you went through this OP, it is traumatising to be in extreme pain, in the very place we’re told are there to help us. The reason for the pain is irrelevant, endometriosis may not be life threatening, but the hospital have a duty of care to manage other symptoms too - not just risk of death!

The GP is at fault here. Maybe if they saw/investigated/referred patients appropriately instead of continuously passing the buck and telling them to go to A&E then the waiting times wouldn’t be so long. My A&E has been a 10hr wait most of week due to the sheer volume of patients there, staff are doing their best.

Hi,
I'm another endo sufferer here.
If your endo is this bad right now, then sadly ttc is likely to be fuutle.
You really need the endo under control for a pregnancy.
I'd suggest getting treatment and then ttc otherwise you're in agony right now for no real purpose.
Fwiw a laparoscopy that removed the endo would lead to you being more fertile for the 3 to 6 months post op.

YABU. You were assessed, given pain relief (why didn’t you bring your morphine from home?) and CHOSE TO LEAVE. Endometriosis pain is awful (I have it) but the fact that you walked out suggests you weren’t in dire need of medical attention over the patients who were bleeding/ fitting/ suffering sepsis/ at risk of losing a limb/ dying. What else do you expect from them? How do you think it should have gone?

It would be the same as anyone presenting in pain though where the cause was known. Even someone who needs investigating wouldn't be seen for ages. Not saying its right but it's why treatment and reviews in the community are so important and much more effective. On the flip side if you had a relative who needed time critical care otherwise they would die or else be left with life changing injuries would you be alright with people needing pain relief going first? Hospitals are woefully understaffed and so these are the decisions medical staff have to make. It sounds like OP was triaged and was only not given stronger stuff as there wasn't the staff to monitor so it wouldn't be safe. Ultimately if someone can go home and be more comfortable A&E isn't the right place for them. Pushing for a review is.

I'm sorry, your pain sounds awful. I know waiting in the ED can feel like forever, and it must be so stressful wondering whether to go back and not knowing how long the wait would be this time.

I was in the ED at my local (large, city based) hospital on Thursday night after being taken in by ambulance. No wait, but honestly not waiting was scary in itself, because they took me directly into resus and I was in there for about six hours before being admitted (once stable). The thing is, I wasn't even the most unwell person in resus; I could hear what was happening in other bays and some of the other people were so sick. It truly isn't that they mean to force people to wait, it's just that they can't safely leave patients who are in resus with certain issues (I'm trying not to give a lot of details because it feels creepy to share medical info I overheard, even anonymously).

On my way to the unit I was being admitted to, they wheeled me through Majors and it was packed solid, clearly people had been waiting and also having a very hard time. The only culprit is the underfunding of the NHS by the government. I really am so sorry you've been through this, nobody should have to - but they would love to see you faster if they could x

@DogsAndGin They can't just hand out morphine to people without a safe level of monitoring. That would be incredibly unsafe.

I have severe endo on top of my other medical issues. I'm fully aware of how awful endo pain is and I feel incredibly sorry for OP. It's a terrible position to be in.

But what do you honestly think the staff should do differently? They can't give medications in an unsafe way. They can't leave the most unwell patients on not prioritise them. So what should they do?

What we need is more funding and more staff. It's wretched for the staff too to be under so much pressure, and clearly far too many patients have these awful experiences.

Sorry, that reply was to @GodspeedJune

And it should have said 'or not prioritise them' (not 'on')

The A&E at the hospital I work at very often has over 200 people in at one time. A&E waits are awful. The staff try their best but it’s overwhelming most days.

4 hour waits are a thing if the past. Not enough staff, not enough room. Not enough ambulances/paramedics

I agree the NHS is in a state. I work in it and try my best along with my colleagues, it’s getting harder and harder to provide any kind of service. So many are leaving because it’s shit. I really worry what’s going to happen but will play into the Tories hands I’m sure.

@Arcade I’m sorry this was a bad experience, the staff would be frustrated too. No one goes into medicine/nursing/care to see others treated like this.. But apart from pain relief I’m not sure what else they could do in a&e for you at that point. I’m sorry you are in pain and you need gynaecology and further support too.

YANBU A&E Is horrific at the moment due to underfunding.

I was there with a suspected heart attack on Monday. 1/2 an hour for triage, another 45 mins for heart trace.

Fortubately it wasn’t a heart attack. I was there for a total of 10 hours🤪

Its just the state of A and E at the moment.

YANBU mostly because A&E are truly shit.
I WAS dying in the waiting room. Screaming in absolute agony and sobbing. Fellow people in the queue were actually trying to advocate for me being seen. I was in a complete state with leg pain. Nurse asked if it's broken? Nope. Shin splints? Nope. Flu? (lol!! ) Nope.

Well it was sepsis - and I had all the signs too!

Nearly bloody died in that waiting room at the ripe age of 21.

Angers me no end that people in clear agony and distress are not being given some serious consideration! I had a guy with a broken nose from a fight in the park that morning ahead of me in the queue!! In his own words he'd been glad for me to go first.

@QueenCamilla That's terrifying, I'm so sorry. I was there for suspected sepsis (turned out to be 'just' a severe infection) and went straight to resus. Horrible that they left you waiting with something so serious.

The trouble is it's a perfect storm - not enough medical staff, too many patients, Covid. People who are too busy and stressed can easily miss things.

Remember this when it comes to the next election. The tories want this kind of thing to continue, so that they can continue to dismantle the NHS and make us all pay for our healthcare. Making our healthcare into a business.

That said, it was Friday night in A&E in an underfunded NHS hospital. I'm not sure you can really blame those on the ground.

^

Then we'll blame those above ground.

Boris?? You there