I need to put in a complaint don’t I!

[maybejustadream]

Had baby 6 weeks ago c section delivery, recovery has been rough to say the least, I think I need to put in a complaint but it’s not me to do that and I feel guilty however I don’t think I can’t not !

Back in June I had my 10 week check I felt really unwell with pain midwife sent off wee sample - that evening I had a big bleed and ended up in hospital they treated me for an infection which they thought was in my womb fast forward to yesterday I had a call from my midwife ( I’d been discharged weeks ago ) to ask me if anyone had given and treated me back in June as I had ecoli in my urine!! No one had even read my results so I’ve had this possibly over a month untreated, I’ve been back and fourth trying to get help as to why I’ve been feeling rotten and so much pain, was sent to a and e Thursday night fir pain then back in the hospital yesterday ! I’m thinking all this could have been avoided if my notes were checked and I was treated 5 weeks ago !
aibu ti complain ? I feel like I’ve lost weeks where I’ve been in so much pain ! All the doctors midwives have been so lovely so I feel really guilty complaining but it could have had a different outcome and that’s what scares me for someone else ! X

Yes I think that’s worth a complaint so that they can work on making sure that doesn’t happen again.

During my first pregnancy I got a UTI. I knew exactly what that felt like and went in telling them I had a UTI. They checked me and told me I didn’t, it was a yeast infection. I was sceptical but got treatment for that which made no difference. I had 3 more appointments over the next couple of weeks all of which said no, not a UTI. Then I got bleeding and went to hospital, a few days later they phoned to tell me I has a UTI and needed to pick up treatment before it spread to my kidneys 🙄

I would absolutely put in a complaint. I believe the midwife told you for a reason.

Yes, even if you just fire off an email to PALS, they will then raise it with those concerned and hopefully protocol will be tightened up as a result, ( in an ideal world.)

I could be wrong but I think E. coli takes a long while to test for and is incredibly hard to get rid of. I had a similar thing many years ago with an E. coli infection. I was in hospital on morphine from the pain of that infection and it took a 2 week in patient stay before I was sent home on oral antibiotics. For years it stayed on my records as having had an esbl infection and it meant when I was pregnant or had any other in patient stays, they had to give me my own room and bathroom 😬

Yes the midwife has totally told you so you can get treated and I would put in a complaint, one did this with me when I had Group B strep, thankfully I did a private test and knew, long story but it was a week later they called me in a panic

@Obeseandashameddid they find it in your urine ? Or was it in your poo? Xx

Thank you for your replies ! I have felt so unwell they’ve given me antibiotics for urine infection now, but the pain in my stomach is awful ! The doctor yesterday sent off my urine sample so not sure if I still have ecoli now! But something isn’t right and it could possible be that! I’m so thankful midwife called however I’m not sure after being discharged why she was looking through my notes unless the hospital asked her to?! X

Complain via PALS as it’s the only way it’ll get properly raised/dealt with. Your infection could have become Sepsis. They’re trying to raise awareness of Sepsis yet aren’t even checking test results properly. It definitely needs addressing! I hope you’re feeling better OP and well enough to enjoy your first few months of motherhood x

Another vote to complain to PALs.

Who was the June check up with (was it 10 weeks? Routine?). Hospitals may not see results from community care tests. Whoever was supposed to review the June tests is responsible for failure to act on those.

This. Contact PALS, partly because you're still in pain and you seem uncertain about your treatment plan. It's fine to say that all the medical staff who you've been in contact with have been lovely, but you can't help feeling as if something has been missed and possibly is still being missed.

It doesn't really sound like they've done anything wrong though, so not sure what the complaint would help with? You felt unwell, so they sent off a urine sample, and straight after that your symptoms got worse and you were admitted to hospital and given antibiotics (which is the correct treatment for an infection). Presumably these worked as you got better and have been discharged? If you're still having problems it's worth sending another sample, it wouldn't be unusual to have another UTI, and you may need different antibiotics, but they don't seem to have done anything wrong?

Chances are the antibiotics they’d have given you for the uterine infection would have been something that covered E.coli

Doctor said yesterday that the antibiotics may have helped however I’ve been in so much pain since, I’ve taken one dose of the new antibiotic and already feel better physically but mentally I feel robbed of the last 5 weeks with my kids I’ve felt so unwell I’ve not been able to do much without being in pain, I should have been well and truly pain free and more mobile now x

Of course you don't put in a complaint. Jeesh!

A culture test takes time to develop and it sounds as if your other issues were not directly related to it. Have you had a debrief with a hcp to unpick it all? What would you want from a complaint?

I’m a bit confused about your timeline of events. You said you had a CS 6 weeks ago but a 10 week check in June when you ended up in hospital after bleeding.