Should I go to A&E?

[ShrillSiren22]

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.

I'm glad you're being seen tonight and unfortunately once you go into secondary care (consultants) GPs have no power to do anything unless you've been signed off from their care back to primary care. ❤️

ive Seen loads of children in a&e with there parents glad your getting sorted it sounds awful you’ve absolutely done the safest thing some posters just simply cannot fathom that some people have no one to leave there kids with. Hope your all home soon x

I see a mother doing absolutely everything in her power to keep herself healthy enough to take care of two children. Nobody chooses to struggle with the abysmal care in a public hospital while taking two young children with them for the fun of it. Do what you need to do to make it work, and don't feel like you're being unreasonable in any way at all.

All the best to you and your family! I hope you'll be able to get more efficient care and a little more help with the LOs the next time.

You have done it OP. Sorry it has to be this way and with months of suffering. But you did the right thing. Your kids are lucky to have you. You are a fighter. The finish line is ahead! I am just looking forward to your updates that it's done, you are home with your feet up, you are feeling better. 🎉

Hope you're feeling better soon. When you're up to it I would contact your MP and complain via them as this should never have happened and needs investigation.

Glad you are getting sorted tonight OP. Lone parenthood is so difficult .. people just don't get how hard it is when you are doing it mostly solo and any help is on holidays.

Haven’t read the entire thread but just wanted to say I’m really glad you’re being seen to. I know from experience how quickly you start to recover after a transfusion so hopefully by morning you will be on your way to feeling better.

Having no one to look after your children isn’t uncommon but it’s hard for those who do have help to understand.

GP just needs to refer you in to the medical consultant on call for the day.
In my hospital you'd be seen in the medical day unit and have a couple of units each day for two days.
It's rubbish the gastro consultant has to agree.

Bollocks the GP can't just refer you to Ambulatory Care for a transfusion or iron infusion when you are dropping.

It's indefensible to say 'Oh no we can't accept you as you are already known here, but we could if you weren't'

I hope when you have more energy following the transfusion you make a complaint about this mess to the hospital and ensure a more appropriate pathway is followed in future. You should just be going in routinely for iron infusions with them all booked in your diary.

Dont know if it might help for next time but does your gastro team have a dedicated IBD nursing team? I know that they have been useful in getting my situation highlighted to consultantants.

In the meantime, i really hope that the transfusion helps, the kids will be fine and please do rest as much as you can xxx

Sorry i meant we have an ibd helpline number for the nurses?

I'm so pleased you're getting the blood.
I hope you feel well soon

who on earth are the 3% of people that say you are being unreasonable? They're certainly not humane beings. I'm in a similar situation as I waited for 6 months for a chest xray when I became extremely breathless, it showed emphysema and spinal scoliosis, then I waited another 18 months for a spirometry test which showed that my copd was just shy of stage 3 then I asked the Dr to check my heart because when I get breathless it feels like I'm going to have a heart attack, they did an ECG which was obviously worrying as they made an "urgent" referral to cardiology, supposed to be within 7 days, I waited 9 weeks and it was a f**king telephone appointment, now I'm having to wait for 10 more weeks (and that's just what they said) for a heart scan. I've now just had my very 1st pulmonary appointment at the hospital after 2 whole years and a heart issue that could've so easily been avoided. I've got 2 children and I've definitely lost lots of years of my life and its all down to the equivalent of flu. I Even got covid twice and even though it was unpleasant I'm still here with serious lung disease. The damage that covid has done to the NHS is so much worse than it would've been if the young, fit and healthy were still required to go to work. Rant over.

So glad you’re getting the treatment you need, OP.

I still think your GP should have advised you to go to A&E much earlier instead of faffing around trying to contact people who aren’t there. He/she may be a nice person but not very on the ball.

Your GP wants you to go to A&E. Take the hint.

I have chronic conditions and know that the NHS is definitely creaking at the moment.

Absolutely you must go. They need to sort this

Great update op

YABU for still driving around when you know you are dangerously ill and putting others at risk.

I’m glad things are getting sorted.

FWIW I think you did exactly the right thing. It's ridiculous that the system has come to this, but what else were you meant to do?

I don't understand why people are making such a drama about you taking your kids. Obviously you would avoid it if you could, but it's a hospital, not a crack den, they won't come to any harn. Worst case they might just be very bored. But presumably they'll be a whole lot happier when their mum is feeling less poorly.

So glad you are being seen. For the future in case you need it, can you line someone up who could stay with the kids in your house in an emergency? A babysitter, childminder, neighbour, friend, another mum? If you can show them the ropes re your DC's medication and get the DC used to them, it could take away some of the worry.

So glad you are getting a transfusion OP.

I don't know how you are still upright! You have done the right thing getting seen, particularly with the temperature forecast.
Your kids sound lovely and well behaved.

It's not ideal but better than a child having to call an ambulance for you in the morning.

Hope you start to feel better. Anemia is awful

This sounds so awful. I can't believe this wasn't sorted before it got to the A&E stage. Did they give you a reason for why they would not sign this off prior? What a stress for you and your children. Glad you are getting looked after now but this is horrendous it has got to this point. Hopefully it won't need to happen again.

I’m really glad you’re getting sorted op and that your dc’s are content. Good luck 💐