To have cried at Dr not to send me home

[Whatsthematterwiththebatinthecave]

For 3 weeks I’ve had left flank pain that’s slowly been getting worse, coupled by loss of appetite and loss of weight for past 2 months (unintended). 3 days ago things really went down hill which ruined my work projects and the pain becoming so bad I started vomiting from the pain and passing out; this prompted me to see the GP who sent me straight to A&E.

29hrs later I’ve finally been told my blood test and urine test suggest something underlying but my CT scan came back clear so I can go come. He said maybe it’s an infection but my temperature isn’t that high.

I just burst into tears at the thought of going home in this pain with no meds to fix anything. He was taken back by my reaction and asked if I felt I needed to stay, I explained what’s been going on and he was surprised as he hadn’t realised how long it had been going on for (I had said on arrival and it was in my GP letter). I then begged to not be sent home and he has agreed but now I feel silly.

Once you've had sepsis you're at a higher risk of getting it again.

Honestly OP. I’ve had sepsis. I walked to the supermarket and did a small shop before I went to A&E (admittedly I nearly passed out l) I then got a bus to the walk in centre an hr away and tried to insist I could walk to A&E (20min walk) when they decided I needed admitting. I only went because I looked dreadful and wanted antibiotics sooner rather than later.

The fact that your symptoms have worsened rather than improved since the antibiotics is not great.

The ED consultant on my third admission said that if you are young (and I’m mid 40s) you can be fine right up until the point you are very suddenly not. If I were you I really would go back.

Also this. Make sure you tell them you have had sepsis before.

The last thing my cousin did was the school run, before driving herself to A&E and dying in hospital.

Please go back OP. I get why you don't want to sit on a plastic chair but your symptoms have worsened after antibiotics and you've had sepsis before.

At the very least call 111 and they will get you seen at an out of hours surgery. I’m really shocked at your reluctance to get this addressed. I am very uncomfortable in hospital/medical environments but even I would be hot footing it to a&e based on these symptoms!

@PineappleCoconut how awful did you email MP etc that's applying and complain to hospital

When you're very ill, you're not thinking straight someone who isn't ill has to take charge sometimes.

I’m almost certain that if the OP calls 111 and puts what she’s put here they will send an ambulance.

OP you aren’t thinking straight. Get back to A&E

Please go back tonight you are not well. Refuse to leave until someone takes your symptoms seriously.

If possible go for a consultation with a private GP

This is not a GP situation. They can't get lab results as fast as a hospital.

You are obviously extremely unwell. You are getting new symptoms all the time and you are obviously unable to think clearly. Just because you made yourself struggle to collect your child from school doesn't mean you are any less unwell. A few years ago, I had a very nasty kidney infection, which started on a Friday evening. I felt a little better over the weekend and carried on as best l could but the pain came back with a vengeance on the Sunday evening. I was able to get an appointment with my gp the next day, all the time thinking I might be wasting his time over something minor, only to be told I should have had urgent treatment on the Friday evening and that I was very unwell. I was prescribed strong antibiotics and told that if they didn't work quickly then I I needed to go to hospital. He then warned me again that I was very unwell. I think when we are seriously ill we cannot think straight and that you are at this point. You need to be in hospital. At the very least, ring 111 immediately.

OP I don’t want to sound harsh but seeing as you’re not listening to anyone else, you can either continue to be in denial and refuse to get medical help and potentially leave your children motherless or you can get back to the hospital and get the medical attention you NEED!
Your children and husband will not forgive you if you lose your life because you were too stubborn to go back and get help.
Make the right choice and GO!

@Whatsthematterwiththebatinthecave how are you feeling if you’re btemperature is still high or low or you have a rappid heartbeat get seen urgently.

The eye thing also does not sound good.

I sincerely hope OP went back to a hospital and is now receiving treatment.

Me too. OP if you're reading this and you're not yet getting these symptoms checked out, please do, it sounds like it's urgent now. Hope you're getting the help you need.

DH was ill before Christmas last year. He had a fever that suddenly went but he felt awful. We visited the GP surgery, where an ANP thought he had flu and wanted to send him home with antibiotics and an inhaler. I said I thought he was quite poorly, as his heart rate was double his normal. At A&E he seemed ok. High heart rate but normal BP and temperature. Feeling really unwell but talking, etc. He actually had a really severe pneumonia, but because he was youngish (late 40s) he had compensated. As soon as they saw that his CRP was 600 and that he had a huge whiteout on his chest x-ray, they whipped him around to the trolleys and then admitted him for IV antibiotics.

Young people always seem really well until they're not.

Why is “complain to PALS” the default cure for everything on here? It’s clinically totally pointless as PALS aren’t going to sort out the OP’s pain, and beyond that it’s fairly pointless too as they aren’t going to insist the OP is admitted to hospital.

What other recourse does the patient have? There have been some really awful stories on here about near misses, fatal outcomes. I have experienced a couple myself.
There has to be a way for patients and relatives to raise concerns via an official pathway so that lessons can be learned or systems reviewed or individuals can have training.
If not PALS, ( Patient Advice and Liaison Service) who should it be?

Video and send off to your local paper in the first instance.

How about going to your GP for an emergency appointment? Then sometimes they can call ahead to a specific department and then when you go in you go straight there?

Please call 111 or go to an urgent care centre near you. The link below allows you to put in your postcode and find the nearest one. The other link is for 111 Online so you don't have to call just fill the form, it gives a recommendation at the end, please follow it. They are much quicker and if they think you need A&E will say so. Please don't be anxious, please just site the NICE guidelines. Most healthcare staff are lovely and will listen, don't let medical misogyny be the barrier.

https://111.nhs.uk/
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-an-accident-and-emergency-service/

PALS didn't do anything for me except gave me a form to fill in, which I was too poorly to do. And they said, couldn't help me with it.