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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:
Saz12 · 15/07/2022 16:04

OP, you poor woman, it sounds awful.

A&E with the kids seems like the only option. If no success there, then can you afford to go private but ask someone to drive you & mind the kids whilst you wait, but you’d still be their to do their medication?

Summersdreaming · 15/07/2022 16:10

Go to A&E!

HangOnToYourself · 15/07/2022 16:12

Bless you this sounds so hard for you, please prioritise medical attention and they should help you work out a plan to care for the children. Good luck!

Rahrahrahrahannoyed · 15/07/2022 16:14

You can tell the NHS is on its knees when you read a post like this.
I'm so sorry you aren't getting the help you need this is so awful. Sorry I can't offer anything else. I hope you get what you need xxx

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 15/07/2022 16:14

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GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 15/07/2022 16:15

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PinkCheetah · 15/07/2022 16:19

Go to A&E. Via ambulance. The staff can help you arrange an emergency care order for your children.

eyeblob · 15/07/2022 16:19

I have had very low haematologobin and was at risk of heart failure. Until you have felt like it its hard to believe how ill you feel, my head banging I couldn't climb stair either and totally exhausted. I would go to A&E!

IVbumble · 15/07/2022 16:22

..my hb is now 56, the lowest it’s ever been.

You might find that your car insurance doesn't cover driving with an hb that low OP - might be worth booking a taxi.

acuteanxiety · 15/07/2022 16:27

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Wtf is wrong with you

acuteanxiety · 15/07/2022 16:28

If you go in around 6 am they are usually quiet

MargotChateau · 15/07/2022 16:35

Ring 111, sometimes they will let the A&E know you are on your way bumping you up the queue a bit so you don’t have to wait as long. Ham up your symptoms when you get to A&E too so are seen quicker, and take a couple of pillows in tatty old pillow cases and tatty old blankets for the kids, the air cons can get cold and they can try and get a bit of kip while you wait.

so sorry you are dealing with this and dealing with it without childcare.

CharlotteRose90 · 15/07/2022 16:36

You need serious help and now. You are at risk of heart failure and possibly worse. I have bad anemia along with a condition that makes my HB drop mines been 44 at the lowest and I nearly didn’t make it. You need urgent blood transfusions. Get to a&e with the kids. If you get kept in like I think you might then the hospital can help sort social services for the kids. You need to prioritise yourself.

Smokealarmwakeup · 15/07/2022 16:48

Please go! When does your child require medication? As much as you don’t have anyone you can just ask as a favour it is an emergency so would a school mum or emergency foster care you be able to help and your child stay with you until they are medicated? If I knew a child at school needed looking after in these circumstances I would do it. I would even take my child to their house and stay there if it was better for them.

Denny53 · 15/07/2022 16:49

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Tell me you’re joking? How can you report anyone, you don’t who she is - only her username!

Iloveeverton1878 · 15/07/2022 16:50

My dh had a hb of 79 and was sent with a letter from his GP immediately to A and E, he was admitted from there and had a transfusion the next day.
A and E were great and very concerned about him.

TheCurrywurstPrion · 15/07/2022 16:54

Good luck OP. Sounds like you need this.

DrAddisonForbesMontgomery · 15/07/2022 16:58

Go to A & E, like pp said if you don't and you collapse it'll be worse for you & the children.
Good luck! Flowers

thenightsky · 15/07/2022 17:04

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😂

serenghetti2011 · 15/07/2022 17:07

go to a&e there will be something that can be done to support you and yOur kids but only if you go to get help, we had 2 kids on our childrens ward whose mother had collapsed and was in resus. Our play leader took care of them fed them etc until someone could be there to pick them up. They were a bit bewildered but safe, social work knew in case no one could come for them and were coming to sort emergency foster care. A&e wasn’t appropriate for them but we have a playroom so for a one off it worked out. People can help if they really want to. The important thing is you getting medical care and your children being safe and cared for. I hope you are ok and get the infusions you need asap and home to your kids. So hard being in that position I wish you all the best op

Original poster
ShrillSiren22 · 15/07/2022 17:37

Currently waiting at A & E and it seems pretty quiet. Loads of ambulances queued up outside though so I guess it’s crazy busy back stage. Kids are happy and no one has mentioned them being here yet.

OP posts:
43prego · 15/07/2022 17:39

Big hugs. op. Hope it goes well.

feistyoneyouare · 15/07/2022 17:41

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Are you for real? What is the matter with you?

WorkEventing · 15/07/2022 17:42

I think pp means she’s reporting op to mn as a troll, not her gp to the nhs.

PrivateHall · 15/07/2022 17:43

A non emergency transfusion won't be done on 'night shift' type hours, it is very much advised against due to the increased risk of errors. On my ward, we have to justify doing a transfusion 'out of hours'. I don't see any harm in going to A&E to try and start the ball rolling, but don't expect immediate treatment. I must admit I am very confused about how you are safely functioning to care for your children, especially school runs, when you cannot walk up your stairs. You clearly should NOT be driving at all. Please keep your children and other road users safe. Get a taxi to A&E, bring the DC if there really is no one to care for them, but expect to potentially have the hospital staff need to contact SS as clearly you won't be able to care for the DC whilst undergoing a transfusion. You will need several units, so this is going to take a long time, and they may wish to admit you overnight before commencing the transfusions tomorrow.

I really think you need to try and let a friend become more involved, what happens to your DC if you need an emergency admission? I am quite sure a 'friend' can be trained to administer medication, I assume school staff do so? I would be devastated if any friend or fellow school parent was in this position and didn't feel they could ask me for help.

Don't feel you need to do everything alone, it takes a village to raise DC, even more so when there's serious health issues in the mix.