What’s the best time of day to go to A&E?

[Wonderwalll]

I had a spinal anaesthetic a few days ago along with a general for an op, since then I’ve had an awful headache. I’m sure it’s a spinal headache as it’s ok when I lay flat and worse when I stand up.

I’ve contacted the ward I was discharged from, 111 and my gp, all have said to wait a few days to see if it settles and if not go through A&E. My anxiety is bad about this and having a plan helps.

If you were to have to go through A&E for this what would be the best time?

I'd guess maybe early morning like 6 or 7am maybe?

have you done what was advised and waited a few days? I have had spinal injection and its more a case of waiting for it to totally go out of your system. As for a and e it is fairly chaotic most of the time with the current situation at GPs

In the day time when they are fully staffed.

Early morning. Or anytime Engerland are playing in the World Cup.

I'd go just after 9am. You should get it when it's less full of people who have had too much of some substance or other, and before the referrals from the GP for that day arriveg Hopefully things get sorted for you.

I had surgery Friday, it was better yesterday but the headache is bad again today. How long did yours take to settle? I was thinking I would give it to Thursday. I’m scared something bad will happen if I leave it

So annoying and resource-wasting to have to go via A&E, for a blood patch. Agree with an early morning trip, unless you have any escalation of symptoms in the meantime. It's not something that should be left much longer than Thurs I'd say.

Has anyone had a blood patch? Was it done as a day procedure?

It’s very annoying as I do actually have a small baby but he’s too old for me to go through maternity triage which I’m sure would get me seen faster. I had surgery to fix an issue in my original caserean!

Arriving between 8 & 9 am. Nurses change shift @ 7:30 so arriving before then pointless. Handover is 8am or 8:30 hopefully you will triaged just as the fresh shift are coming on. Not on a Sunday.

6.30-7am just before shift changeover so you’re already in the system when new docs come on.

If you are scheduling a time you don't need a&e

That’s not necessarily the case. You can feel too Godawful to sit there for 5+ hours.

If I need a blood patch I want to make sure I go at a time of day when I’m going to be able to get it! I would much much much rather not.

Out A&e shows the current waiting time on their website (or it did last time I looked!!)

Why can a GP surgery not do this? If I had a bad headache I could not leave the house! I’ve had vertigo and could not move at all! Gojng to A&E would be impossible.

Ask your GP to refer you to same day emergency care

I’ve just been to A&E, waited 5 hours and I arrived at 11 on a Monday morning, considerably less traffic at around 2-3pm and wait times got shorter. So early afternoon I would say.

Ah yes Monday morning is not a good time.

Anaesthetist. if it's a spinal for obstetrics (i assume so from the baby comments) you don't need to go to a&e. Just phone maternity triage, they'll get the anaesthetist to talk to you and bring you in to be seen on the ward

Most blood patches are day cases we only tend to keep people in for pain relief sakes.

Drink lots, there's weak evidence caffeine can help

https://www.labourpains.org/downloads/english-resources/Headache_after_epidural.pdf

A lot will self resolve within a few days. We decide to blood patch depending on severity of symptoms and how much it is affecting you looking after baby

Cos it can be vision and life threatening at the extremes (incredibly incredibly rare) so needs assessing by someone that can do the procedure and the procedure to treat it. My gp mates wouldn't know anything more than they need to go to hospital

This. A and E is for serious and life threatening issues.

Sorry the problem is the surgery I had was an urology surgery repairing bladder damage caused by my csection. My baby is 4 months old, so maternity triage not helpful. I’ve already called the ward and 11 for advice who have said to wait it out as it comes and goes. This evening it feels clearer.

3 or 4 in the morning, after the drunks and before the we'll go when we get up.