Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be angry at A&E?

434 replies

fashu · 28/12/2023 09:46

I'm currently in hospital A&E, I've been here for 9 and a half hours. I'm 35 weeks pregnant. AIBU for getting upset or should I just suck it up?

At 8pm last night I had the oncoming of a migraine, funny vision, light-headedness etc.
I went to tell my husband and called the midwife, then started having a chat with DH. Mid conversation I started talking nonsense. Instead of car I was was saying mayonnaise, on top of other things I was just talking crap.
I tried to Google the symptoms and I couldn't type either. I couldn't think of what I wanted to write, although I knew what I was doing and when I did think of the words it looked like this 'hdhcjsk'

I panicked a bit and went back to my husband and then I went completely numb on in my hands and my mouth. I panicked and told him to call an ambulance. Ambulance came just over an hour later and said I needed to go to hospital as it sounds like a mini stroke.
Queue major panic mode!

Paramedics called maternity unit they said its not for them but keep them updated.

So I arrived in an ambulance at A&E just after 12am. Went to majors and the triage said to wait in waiting room and they will tell senior doctors.

Well I'm still waiting. 35 weeks pregnant on a hard metal chair. For 9 and a half hours. Panicking that I've had a mini stroke.

I've told the reception and nurses several times that my belly is now hurting from sitting for so long and being awake for 26 hours. I asked for water and they said I had to use the vending machine for a can of coke.
Receptionist told me I'm not poorly enough for a bed or the arm chairs.

I'm so upset, emotional and scared. DH has dropped kids off at my mums now as they were asleep and didn't want to disturb them in the night.

But, am I right to be upset or is this just how it is? Surely a pregnant woman with suspected mini stroke should be left for this long alone without treatment?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
maybein2022 · 28/12/2023 09:48

Is the maternity unit in the same places as A&E? Is the baby moving ok etc? I’d be tempted to ring the maternity unit and ask their advice? It’s really not good enough.

Motnight · 28/12/2023 09:49

Sounds awful Op and very worrying. When my DH had a suspected stroke he was met by a team of specialists from the ambulance and treatment started straight away.

Is there anyone with you who can advocate for you?

NameChange259 · 28/12/2023 09:49

This is revolting treatment im so sorry.

in your circumstances I’d have to invent something like stomach cramps that might be early labour. get yourself the hell out of the waiting room. Could always be just a little bit of wind. Or possible reduced fetal movements.

sorry I know that’s awful but I’d be absolutely crippled after 3 hours let alone 9

Mydpisgrumpierthanyours · 28/12/2023 09:50

No advice but I hope you get seen soon.

NameChange259 · 28/12/2023 09:51

Not even a glass of water.

and there are treatments for stroke that need to be evaluated quickly.

ive seen things the past year in A&E that make me weep. NHS no longer fit for purpose

blockya · 28/12/2023 09:51

If your symptoms fully stopped before arriving at the hospital (sounds like they had?) then it sounds like a TIA. I'm sure you can understand that they need to deal with people actively needing treatment for an ongoing issue before looking at you, whose issue has resolved?

If your symptoms have not resolved then YANBU.

The wait time and the hard chair are the reality of the NHS right now, and you (and many others) deserve better.

Original poster
fashu · 28/12/2023 09:51

Nope, different hospital. I was meant to go straight to Neuro hospital but they sent me here. I'm really upset. Hubby is on way now, I'm sure he will try and speak to them but not really sure what will happen. I'm in agony now and so tired.

OP posts:
gigglebirz · 28/12/2023 09:54

Do not fabricate more issues to get seen quicker- if you pretend you've got cramps or lack of movement etc they might prioritise the fake baby symptoms over the real neurology issue and send you to maternity triage

Original poster
fashu · 28/12/2023 09:55

Not a stroke thankfully, suspected mini stroke, but still worrying as it can be a warning of one to come.
Praying its just the worst migraine imaginable!

Not really sure who else I could speak to. There has been a change of shift now so I'm having to start from the beginning again 😥

OP posts:
Original poster
fashu · 28/12/2023 09:56

I genuinely have a lot of stomach ache right now, but I think it's more muscular from sitting more than anything.
I've tried to get up and move but I'm so knackered I feel like I'll collapse. Took me a good 10 muns to walk to the toilet 😫

OP posts:
PictureFrameWindow · 28/12/2023 09:57

God poor you this absolutely disgusting treatment. Not even giving a heavily pregnant woman water? Wtf is going on in the NHS.

OrlandointheWilderness · 28/12/2023 09:58

NameChange259 · 28/12/2023 09:49

This is revolting treatment im so sorry.

in your circumstances I’d have to invent something like stomach cramps that might be early labour. get yourself the hell out of the waiting room. Could always be just a little bit of wind. Or possible reduced fetal movements.

sorry I know that’s awful but I’d be absolutely crippled after 3 hours let alone 9

For gods sake. Don't do this, yes you'd jump the queue, ahead of people who are in more need than you! If your symptoms are resolved and obs are fine then you will be lower down the list.

OrlandointheWilderness · 28/12/2023 09:59

And trust me on this - they are doing what they can.

Original poster
fashu · 28/12/2023 10:01

I asked if there was a water fountain and they said its just the vending machine and it's just fizzy can drinks. Not even a juice!
Hubby is bringing something now, but there should be a water fountain!

OP posts:
EvilElsa · 28/12/2023 10:03

It's abysmal. I don't know what to suggest but I really hope you get seen soon and that everything is OK. Is DH bringing you up some pillows? Just trying to think of anything that might offer relief for a bit.

WolvesDiscoandBoogaloo · 28/12/2023 10:05

No, you are most certainly not unreasonable to be upset at that treatment.

The last time I went, I was sat on the floor of A&E for god knows how long. I remember there was a pregnant woman sat with me on the floor. We were there for a very, very long time. I felt so sorry for her but there was nowhere else for us to go. No one cared that she was pregnant, least of all the staff.

The NHS is an absolute horror show these days.

NowItsSpring · 28/12/2023 10:05

Sorry to hear you are having such a tough time. My DD had similar in late pregnancy - was diagnosed with hemiplegic migraine rather than a stroke. Unpleasant but fortunately no lasting ill effects and no recurrence.

MintyfreshSW · 28/12/2023 10:06

I understand that the staff are limited to how many people they can treat at any time but it just seems like the lack of care has gone. We were blue lighted to hospital when DD was a baby into the worlds hottest waiting room with no water fountain, no vending machines. As I had left in such a hurry I hadn’t brought anything with me and I asked if I could please have a nappy and some wipes just to be shrugged at.

who the fuck just shrugs at something like that? It’s like the staff are so worn down they don’t see patients as humans anymore.

PostItInABook · 28/12/2023 10:06

Have you had your blood pressure taken? At 35 weeks I’d be wanting to rule out eclampsia.

MintyfreshSW · 28/12/2023 10:09

I would also be pushing to go to maternity triage for suspected pre-eclampsia too.

Onceuponaheartache · 28/12/2023 10:09

This is disgusting. Regardless of suspected full stroke or a TIA they should be treated with exceptional severity where a 35 week pregnant woman presents with symptoms.

I would call the maternity unit and ask their advice. It could be the onset of pre-eclampsia

MaryHinges · 28/12/2023 10:11

It's not acceptable and you should be annoyed but not at the staff. Save your anger for the next general election. That's where the buck stops for stripping the NHS of vital funding. It is being systematically stripped away so that eventually we will make our own decision to go private because it will get so bad in the end that we will think anything will be better than what we have. This is all part of a bigger plan to get rid of the NHS as we know it altogether, but in a way the public will be more accepting of and not turn on the government. It's being made so that we end up being forced to go elsewhere, that way they can say more people are choosing to go private. The real story though will be that we didn't really have a choice.

Catza · 28/12/2023 10:13

Sounds like your symptoms resolved so I can see why this is not a priority at the moment. Even if you had a mini stroke the "big stroke" is not imminent so it is not an emergency. I am genuinely sorry you are having to wait this long but there are likely people who are currently being seen for acute stroke, life-threatening trauma, heart attacks, aneurysm - all of which will be more urgent than follow-up after an acute episode.
Please don't invent additional symptoms to be seen faster. Aside from it being unethical, it will also make correct diagnosis more difficult to establish.

TiptopTommy · 28/12/2023 10:13

What do you mean by having to start from the beginning again because there has been a shift change? Who is telling you that? That is not how it works.

widowtwankywashroom · 28/12/2023 10:15

Really makes me laugh people saying its disgusting, just what do you expect staff to do??
You have been triaged, assessed and are now waiting to see a Dr. There are 12 hour waits to see a Dr in A&E, this isn't new, its been going on a while, I presume your symptoms and bloods when triaged, weren't serious enough to be put higher up the q.

Please don't lie about your symptoms to push ahead of others who have been waiting longer than you

Swipe left for the next trending thread