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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I go to A&E?

173 replies

ShrillSiren22 · 15/07/2022 13:29

I’m severely anaemic. I have a gastric condition which regularly causes internal bleeds which leads to anaemia and I normally have 3/4 blood transfusions a year to deal with this.

I’ve been feeling anaemic since April when I went to my GP as usual and my Hb was 80 which is borderline for a blood transfusion but anaemic enough for an iron infusion. As I’m under a gastro consultant at the hospital he has to contact him to sign it off before I can go to hospital to have my iron infusion/ blood transfusion. Except the gastro department has not been answering the phone or returning my Gp’s calls/ emails since April.

My GP is tearing his hair out as my hb is now 56, the lowest it’s ever been. I am sleeping downstairs as I cannot climb the stairs to bed. I am driving my dc’s 100 m to school as I cannot walk. I am sleeping nearly 20 hours a day, I’ve lost 9lbs as I can’t eat anything, I’ve constantly got a blinding headache and I’m sobbing nonstop. I don’t know what to do and why no one will help me.

My GP has even driven to the hospital to try and get someone in gastro to sign it off but no one will. There’s nowhere within an hour drive that does it privately even if I could find a way to get there as I can trust myself to drive that far without falling asleep.

Id have to take my kids with me to A&are but I can’t think what else I can do.

OP posts:
Bednobsbroomsticks · 15/07/2022 13:33

I would. Yes.

Apandemicyousay · 15/07/2022 13:34

That sounds horrendous. Go to A&E but you will probably end up being transfused and in which case you’ll be there for hours, so will need someone to take your kids.

Before leaving, ask to be seen by your gastro consultant/clinical nurse specialist about follow up and emergency arrangements in future.

hope you feel better soon

cecilthehungryspider · 15/07/2022 13:36

Go.

Would a neighbour watch the kids?

Theoneinthemiddle · 15/07/2022 13:37

Go to A and E

Nap1983 · 15/07/2022 13:38

If your HB is 56 you need to be seen asap. If I had a patient with a HB that low I’d be on high alert for problems.

polkapip · 15/07/2022 13:42

Absolutely go

Original poster
ShrillSiren22 · 15/07/2022 13:45

@Nap1983 my GP is being brilliant and telling me all the things I need to watch out for, go to A&E if I suddenly start feeling cold/ shaking etc. But I figured if I’m like that I’d need an ambulance. Right now I can just about drive myself. I have absolutely no one who could have my dc for more than about an hour but they’d be very good because they’d just plug themselves into their iPads and probably really enjoy me leaving them to get on with it for once.

OP posts:
Original poster
ShrillSiren22 · 15/07/2022 13:45

Fully expecting to be there overnight if I go straight after school pick up.

OP posts:
QuattroFromagio · 15/07/2022 14:00

How will you look after your children if you bring them and you have to stay overnight? won't they have to go to emergency foster care? Is there really none of their schoolmates or anyone who might have them?

Can you ring the hospital switchboard and be put through to gastro dept, even if it's not your consultant, surely someone must be there for emergencies. Can't your GP refer you again to someone else for investigation?

A&E just seems like it will be awful, potentially waiting 8-10 hours to be treated, with kids in tow, and even then not necessariily seeing the right specialist. The GP surely can at least ring ahead there and talk to them?

Augend23 · 15/07/2022 14:04

Have you raised a complaint with the hospital and/or with your MP?

I don't think you'd be unreasonable to go to A and E but I wonder whether it might be better to get it resolved by escalation if it's not a today only problem.

jamsandwich1 · 15/07/2022 14:06

You have symptomatic anaemia so it would be reasonable for you to have a blood transfusion.
go to A&E and hopefully this can be arranged through ambulatory care either today or tomorrow and you should have a plan for future iron transfusions arranged by amb care doctors. I feel sorry for you and your GP, sounds b stressful.

Original poster
ShrillSiren22 · 15/07/2022 14:12

My youngest has additional needs and would not cope staying with a stranger plus it would take me hours to organise his medication, be confident the person I’m leaving him with could administer it. Normally with my dm or my best friend can have them but they’re both away and I really don’t think I can wait another week until they get back. It won’t be comfortable but they’ll manage.

OP posts:
Clarinet1 · 15/07/2022 14:12

Just a small thought - have you tried getting PALS to get on to the gastrointestinal guys!

Clarinet1 · 15/07/2022 14:13

Oops ? not !

EllaPaella · 15/07/2022 14:15

Of course you should go to A&E. Fair play to the GP for trying to be so helpful but really a medical professional should know that an haemoglobin level like that warrants urgent treatment. Hope you are there already!

TokyoSushi · 15/07/2022 14:16

It does sound like you really need to go OP. Good luck!

EllaPaella · 15/07/2022 14:16

GP needs to speak to gastro on call if they really don't want to send you to A&E. Gastro on call via hospital switchboard.

HollowTalk · 15/07/2022 14:17

Hospital waiting times are really awful so if you do go to A&E be prepared not to be seen for several hours.

ImFuminHun · 15/07/2022 14:32

Off you go!

Hope you get seen and sorted ASAP. 💐

MolliciousIntent · 15/07/2022 14:36

OP the hospital is unlikely to let your children stay with you overnight, just so you're aware.

iRun2eatCake · 15/07/2022 14:40

I think you need to reframe it as - can you risk not going to A&E.

If you collapse at home with the DC you may die... or be left so disabled you can't care for them.

I'm actually surprised the GP hasn't told you to go already. It's irrelevant if you are already under a consultant for treatment... if you're not getting treatment then he should have sent you in already.

transitionday · 15/07/2022 14:42

Why can't the GP refer you to a&e. They normally do a summary or ring the ward manager to see if they will accept admission and send you to hospital with the letter. I don't see why your consultant needs to sign this off. What if he's on long term sickness and not available?

Original poster
ShrillSiren22 · 15/07/2022 14:44

@MolliciousIntent what will they do with them instead? Whenever I have a blood transfusion I have it in ambulatory care, I’m not admitted or put on a ward or anything. It would be far more hassle for everyone for them to arrange emergency foster care/ whatever than to let them sit quietly in the chair next to me for a few hours. They’re 6 and 9, they can be easily occupied quietly for hours just playing on their screens.

OP posts:
Vikinga · 15/07/2022 14:46

You absolutely need to go asap. What would happen with your kids if you collapse? You can barely look after them as it is if you're sleeping 20 hours a day. Can you ask a neighbour to come and stay in your house? I would do that for a neighbour no problem

Original poster
ShrillSiren22 · 15/07/2022 14:46

@transitionday he’s been trying to but apparently the way the system works he simply can’t do it if I’m under a consultant care, it needs to be signed off by the consultant before the hospital will arrange a blood transfusion 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
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