To leave A&E…

[rainyskylight]

Sorry to add to all the A&E threads.

On Saturday I hit my head badly and I’ve had headaches ever since. I didn’t black out, but I did get knocked to the ground. No nausea, no vision changes. But have had general sense of not right, headaches, and deep desire to lie in a dark room in silence. Sharp pain has gone but the dull pain remains and isn’t going away.

Called the GP. She said it was borderline but ultimately I should probably go to A&E so a doctor there could make a call on whether I need a CT or not.

Got here at 3pm. Have had my obs done 2 hours ago but nothing since. At this time I’m thinking they won’t do CTs until the morning anyway.

Fully charged phone but I can’t really do sustained phone reading due to the headache. Mainly sitting here with my eyes closed and sunglasses on, looking v hungover.

Thinking I should just sack this and take my chances at home. AIBU?

I think you should stay and get seen. There will be delays but you are in the right place. Stay and ride it out. Hope all is well

Better bored in A and E than dead.

I,would stay and explain to the nurse that your headache is persisting, even if they cannot so a ct then a xray and more frequent obs would be better

If you want to be medically cleared then stay. If you don't then don't.

Either way its not like A&E are going to be overly upset. What do you actually want? You do realise they do CT scans out of hours right? It doesn't stop at 5pm.

Yes, YABU. You are feeling rubbish enough to go to A&E and now you are feeling rubbish so want to go home. Please go and ask for painkillers if you need them. There is likely also a sign saying how long the wait. Please stay to access the healthcare you need. X

CT is available if necessary at any time. I’d stay.

I think you should stay too. There's a good reason you are there, you should wait it out. Hope everything is OK!

I’d wait it out tbh, sorry to be so blunt but it could just be a concussion or could bleeding/swelling on the brain. Is it really something you’d want to take a chance with? You’ve already spoken to a dr who was concerned enough for you to be there.
I know waiting is frustrating but your brain is extremely sensitive and is literally the main thing that keeps you and the rest of your organ functioning.

You're proposing leaving A&E after a head injury bad enough to need a CT because you can't scroll on your phone? Seriously?

I had a CT at about 6am on a Sunday morning last year so don't rule it out as a possibility.

The accident happened 5 days ago, I am sure you can wait a few more hours after waiting 5 days. Ultimately though it is up to you, it is your health at stake, no one else's. I hope that you feel ok soon and that it is nothing serious.

X rays are totally useless for excluding a brain injury.

But, yeah, I'm sure the A&E nurse will welcome your expert opinion on how frequent the OP's obs should be.

YABU.

An xray would show a fracture, what did they do in the days before ct. And in my day working in a&e a suspected head injury would warrant 15 minute neuro obs

Ask someone to drop you off some headphones and listen to a podcast or something.

Personally I wouldn't leave if I was in your shoes. If you're still suffering tomorrow what are you going to do, go back to A&E and wait again?

15 min obs five days after the accident occurred?

Up to you. You went there for a reason though.

Thanks everyone. I’d say thanks for giving my head a wobble but it’s already had one recently. I’ll stick it out.

Scanners at our hospital are open late

You've been worried enough to seek help so you might as well stay. Going home isn't going to give you any reassurance so you'll be right back at square one.

i’m amazed you think (less than) a 5 hour wait in a&e is unacceptably long, you could be there for 12 hours with the way things are right now. If you feel able to leave and go home, why did you bother attending a&e in the first place?

You went there in order to access a CT scan, if you're judged to need one by a medical professional.

Either it wasn't serious enough to bother going in the first place and YABU for that, or you need to stay and are YABU for thinking of leaving.

Absolutely wait it out OP. You've done 2 hours already. I know it's soul destroying (I was there 9 hours yesterday), keep your eyes closed and try to relax.

In honesty I meant this fairly light hearted so that people could tell me I was silly for thinking about leaving, but I forgot how horrid everyone can be.

I didn’t want to come much but the GP but the fear in me by saying I “probably should”. She specifically said “probably” not “definitely” - I asked on this point 😅.

Many hospitals don’t do certain scans overnight - I know that my local doesn’t always.

And it’s not just about a CT I guess, but also a physical examination rather than just a GP phone call. The balance, torch and eye tricks.

Anyway, will see how it goes. No more nasty comments please, I won’t bother AIBU again.

Yabu you've only been there 5 hours that's hardly anything in A&E terms. CT scans are done 24hrs a day iv had them at like 3 in the morning before. When some one goes to A&E with a head injury part of the treatment is observing them for changes which is what their doing by you waiting there.