A&E Tonight, GP Tomorrow or Woman Up?

[MoonOnTheRain]

Just curious to see what most people would do. Don't want to waste anyone's time.

I'm anaemic, taking daily iron supplement, but the reason for the anaemia is ongoing. Last blood test about 6 weeks ago.

I'm under a consultant, but no recourse to message them. Expecting biopsy results in about ten days, when hopefully treatment plan will be come up with. Consultant will be in touch then.

Last week, have felt more tired and weak. Am pretty much on bed rest due to issue, plus anaemia. Tonight while going to loo, almost fainted. Made it back to bed, but couple of hours later, heart still pounding and feel dizzy. Feel quite unwell. However didn't eat much today, just didn't want it, so that could be part of it. Have now forced small snack in.

Not sure what I should do. Go to A&E tonight? Emergency GP appointment tomorrow if I can get one? Or am I just being a total drama queen and should just woman up until results are in, in ten days?

And again, you know it’s not an emergency, how?

Are you there taking vitals? Speaking directly with the OP?

No?

Then you cannot possibly know.
So tired of watching ambers give out ‘it’s not an emergency’ advice when in actual fact they cannot know.

It’s dangerous.

How did you get on at the doctors?x

Can you imagine if a man went to the doctors because he'd been bleeding profusely from his genitals for 100 days? I'd bet my house that he wouldn't be months in, taking iron tablets.

In our area, if you phone 111 and they think you need to be seen right then instead of waiting to see your GP in the morning, and they don't think A&E is appropriate, they will arrange for you to get an appointment at a booked time, with the on -call GP for the area (as you have described) but that appointment is in our local hospital, accessed via the A&E dept ( there is a buzzer on the wall by the A&E reception area). So if the GP that you then see thinks you need further urgent treatment, they will arrange for you to be seen elsewhere in the hospital, but very often they can help without you needing to sit for hours in A & E.

I saw one last summer. It was great. Was phoned back by the actual health board staff about 4am - 10 minutes after 111 had said they would arrange an appointment. Got an appointment for 5am (soonest I could get to the hospital) and not another soul around in the GP area, so got seen immediately. A&E, on the other hand, was pretty busy.......

If you're not sure whether you need A&E or not, my advice would be always check with 111 first.

I usually advise people do go but not for low iron. Even nhs advice doesn’t advise that. A&E is for more urgent/life threatening situations. If she is concerned then of course 111 is the obvious answer.

Have finally spoken to GP. GP reviewed previous blood test from some weeks ago, discussed last week's consultant appointment, and has told me to go to A&E. So just getting ready to go.

Well OP is now going to A+E after medical advice.

If you are so anaemic you wobble all the time, and are losing iron faster than you can replace it then absolutely it's an A&E issue.

@MoonOnTheRain try and get them to give you an iron infusion as you will never catch up on oral alone while you are still bleeding.

My DD ended up with an emergency blood transfusion when her period wouldn’t stop (first one). She has just had an iron infusion after feeling crap for so long. Best to get bloods checked. Are you on meds to reduce bleeding?

Good luck, Op

Sat in A&E. Waiting for bloods result, cannula in, ready.

They've tried different meds over previous weeks, nothing has reduced bleeding.

Iron deficiency anaemia due to blood loss can be an emergency. If severely anaemic and compromised as a result, OP could even need a transfusion, which would be given in the emergency department.

Please don't ever give medical advice on this forum again!

🤞🤞🤞 best of luck!

Hope you get some answers and start to feel better soon.

Just had doctor round. Apparently I am very sick. Doctor says critical. Currently in resus.

Blood now, then blood test tomorrow, overnight stay, then take a view tomorrow.

Oh crikey OP. You’re in the best place, hope they’re taking excellent care of you

I am sorry you are in such a state OP - are they looking at options like a transfusion, or do they think there's another issue on top of the blood loss/whatever is causing the blood loss? Glad you are there and being looked after now.

Oh OP. You poor thing.

I'm on 9 months of bleeding now. So heavily I've been admitted a couple of times. I finally have drugs which have reduced the bleeding to around 3 days out of every 7 and it's no longer catastrophic but I bled daily for 6 months at first. I'm awaiting an urgent hysterectomy but won't be for a few months.

Have you had ultrasounds? MRI? What drugs have you tried?

You're in the best place. I'm so sorry it's so bad.

Just catching up OP, glad you got down to hospital and have been seen!

Gp in the morning . Is your BP low , you describe how I get when mine is low . If it's low then drink as much as you can and go to bed or lie down on the sofa . If you go to A &E you will possibly sit there all night waiting !

FFS - at least read the OP’s updates!

Oh wow, OP, I just checked back to see how you were. So glad you made it to A&E and are getting treatment. Fingers crossed this gets sorted.

Thank goodness you’re there!

So glad you went to the hospital and they've got you seen very quickly. 100 days jakers that's horrendous.

@TeenLifeMum clearly a&e was appropriate.

Sorry this happened to you OP. Hope you get to the bottom of things quickly and receive appropriate treatment asap. Wishing you a speedy recovery - I've been where you are and it can be hard to ensure you're heard, so do push if need be.

Anaemia is regarded by some as a minor problem but if you are losing so much blood that your haemoglobin is in your boots then it is a serious condition and requires urgent (A&E) treatment. Sleep and an iron tablet ain't going to cut it.