Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I gave up waiting in A&E

206 replies

Saltandpepperchipss · 05/05/2023 23:00

Been in terrible pain for 2 days I’m pretty sure it’s an ectopic pregnancy by going of my symptoms. Excruciating pain on one side, headaches and light bleeding.My local hospital is one of the worst and try not to use it if possible. I sat in A&E for 5 hours and eventually gave in. Tons of people coughing, rock hard chair when I’m in tons of pain isn’t nice. I couldn’t get up to go to the toilet because my seat would be taken.

I’m terrified something will happen to me over night. But at least I’m comfortable at home.

AIBU? Would you have waited? Some people had been there since 1 in the afternoon. I arrived at 5:30.

OP posts:
thaegumathteth · 05/05/2023 23:32

You need to go back if you think it's ectopic. Take something to make the process slightly more comfortable but definitely go.

Wishitsnows · 05/05/2023 23:36

You really need to go back. I get it’s a shit service but sadly you don’t have a choice.

Ncforthispost23 · 05/05/2023 23:40

Please go back and try and get yourself seen if that’s what you think you’re having. I’m really sorry you’re going through this, the system is shit right now and constantly abused by people taking the p - you don’t sound like one of those.

I had to spend 10 hours in A&E a couple of months ago for a pulmonary embolism so I feel you. Was an absolute nightmare to sit for that long and at times had to stand.

LulooLemon · 05/05/2023 23:41

Please return

febrezeme · 05/05/2023 23:43

OP have you had a positive pregnancy test?? If so just call the EPU and they should get you in to confirm an ectopic or not

DancingWithTheMoonlitKnight · 05/05/2023 23:45

It's shit and I don't blame you. I was in A & E recently for 12 hours with my DP. I don't think it's people taking the piss. I think it's because GP services are fucked and people have no choice but to go to A & E.

I hope you are okay.

Moonandme123 · 05/05/2023 23:46

I went with a possible ectopic and AandE was overrun. Sat in a corridor in pain for hours. It was awful. I’m not doubting that it was horrendous but please go back x

Mirabai · 05/05/2023 23:51

Do go back OP.

IAmAlreadyRegrettingMyGreyColourScheme · 05/05/2023 23:56

I understand you're tired & frightened but this isn't something you can deal with alone. Truth is it might rupture.
Please pack a bag with some essentials & head back. It'll be quieter now surely in the early hours. Saturday mornings are usually busy from experience.
Wishing you the very best 💐

MolkosTeenageAngst · 05/05/2023 23:57

Personally I’d rather wait as long as it takes in A&E than ignore symptoms and end up seriously unwell with lifelong complications or even end up dead. But I guess if you value a few hours over the rest of your life YANBU to have gone home because you had to wait a few hours so that the NHS could potentially save your life for free.

blackheartsgirl · 06/05/2023 00:01

12 to 24 hours is common here in hospitals in North Wales.

It's awful, it really is, I don't blame you for leaving but I'd go back like others have said and make yourself comfortable.

My mum waited 4 hours for an ambulance then another 4 hours outside a and e, then after she was admitted I had to beg the nurses to see her, extremely frail, just finished chemo and radio, was seriouslyaqmalnourished and dehydrated as she was vomiting and had diarrhoea and was close to death when she was finally seen, she spent measly 3 weeks in hospital.

blackheartsgirl · 06/05/2023 00:02

Bloody autocorrect nearby not measly

Toddlerteaplease · 06/05/2023 00:02

If it dies turn out to be an ectopic, you'll be very comfortable because you might be dead. Go back!

WhatonEarthcan · 06/05/2023 00:05

You should have been the highest priority? I had an ectopic very recently and was literally seen immediately in an extremely busy a and e they told me it’s one of the things they don’t mess about with , that suspected ectopics are the same priority as suspected heart attack in terms of urgency

You need to go back- sorry to be blunt but you could be risking your life

Undertherock · 06/05/2023 00:11

You poor thing.

Are you limited to that specific hospital or do you have any other hospitals?

I gave up after a 6 hour wait and went back to try again the following morning. When I was seen, after only 2 hours, the triage nurse told me that they’d been overwhelmed in resus that evening and I’d probably have been waiting another 5 or 6 hours at least.

I have a pre-packed hospital bag (much maligned on mumsnet) with all the things I don’t think of in a crisis like cereal bars, bottles of water, change, spare charger, trashy novel, light pjs, underwear, fold up hand fan. Is there anyone who could go with you for moral support and to advocate?

I hope you’re able to get the care you need Flowers

PinkLemonadee · 06/05/2023 00:15

It's not just sitting though, is it? It's not having access to basics like proper food, water and loos. Not to mention the discomfort of the awful chairs and not being able to rest. I can totally understand why someone would reach their limit and want to be somewhere more comfortable when acutely unwell.

@Saltandpepperchipss if you can post your location, maybe people can recommend options?

justasking111 · 06/05/2023 00:21

North Wales here neighbours spent 36 hours in A&E suspected stroke. It was a stroke. He's lucky to be alive.

Daffodilmorning · 06/05/2023 00:23

If you potentially have an eptopic pregnancy, you absolutely need to be seen. Try calling your local early pregnancy unit Flowers

Hairyfairy01 · 06/05/2023 00:24

Had you been triaged? Regardless of you are still in severe pain then go back obviously.

Arxx · 06/05/2023 00:26

I took my little one the other week who appeared to be unwell with what I thought was strep A. I’m pregnant and we were in a waiting room with not even a vending machine to be able to buy a drink of water. She had been given some ibuprofen in triage and within a few hours suddenly emerged from the pram full of life again. There were other children walking around playing and she started to join in with them and at one point was running after them. I was so uncomfy on the seat and had been made to feel a bit like she wasn’t that bad when we’d seen the triage nurse. I should have added this was a bank holiday where my GP was closed or I would have gone there instead. I eventually gave up and took her home. I felt like I was about to pass out with the heat and we’d waited hours with no possibility of being seen anytime soon, plus she now appeared fully recovered when she’d been on deaths door on the way in 🤦🏻‍♀️

fliptopbin · 06/05/2023 00:29

One of my friends was in A and E with appendicitis in January, and after he was triaged, treated and was waiting for a bed or theatre he was allowed to sleep in his car until it was his turn to be treated. The nurse took hus number and called him when there was a theatre slot.

Thankgoditsbedtyme · 06/05/2023 00:31

All hospitals must be different, I’m glad one poster was seen very quickly as should be the case. I unfortunately had the same experience as op. I had a confirmed cesarean scar pregnancy a type of ectopic.
I was under methotrexate management, 6 days later I was bleeding very heavily and passing clots that looked like liver, the size of my hand. I went to A&E as early pregnancy assessment unit closed at night. Tried to call the ward I had stayed on before being given methotrexate and was told only option A&E even though I was still under their care and had been told if I started internally bleeding it could be very quick and fatal. I attended A&E at 10pm waited till 5am constantly running to the toilet, gave them samples of the clots I was passing, but still had to wait As soon as I was seen the dr was horrified the amount of blood pouring from me and I was admitted straight away. The wait was terrifying. I knew I couldn’t leave even though I felt like it, as I had my two little boys waiting for me at home. Please go back things can happen very quickly with ectopic pregnancy’s x

Blossomtoes · 06/05/2023 00:32

Hellocatshome · 05/05/2023 23:13

I’m terrified something will happen to me over night. But at least I’m comfortable at home

I suppose if you value sitting in a comfortable chair over your life then you have made the right decision. If you were actually terrified you might die you wouldnt have left A&E.

This. People’s stupidity never ceases to amaze me.

MaryShelley1818 · 06/05/2023 00:37

I think if you're well enough to not be bothered to wait then you don't need A&E. If you genuinely believe it's a possible ectopic pregnancy and you're going to put a comfortable chair over being alive??? Then I think you might need additional support.

I waited with my 4yr old crying in pain for over 10hrs, wasn't comfortable or conducive to sleep but we needed to be seen which is why we were in A&E.

L0bstersLass · 06/05/2023 00:38

If it was an actual emergency you would have stayed.
If you're able to prioritise comfort over your health, rather than go to A&E you shoud have phoned 111 and taken advice.
The NHS is on its knees for a variety of reasons and one of those is people not using it properly.