Medics - what should I expect to happen?

[WTFiswrongwithmyVag]

I'm not symptomatic (yet) but feel it is probably inevitable at some point as the virus works it's way through the population. I'm quite anxious about this as I have an underlying condition (albeit well controlled). If I get ill to the point where I cannot breathe properly (and have to call an ambulance) what should I expect to happen when I call, in A and E, after that, in terms of treatment, environment, nursing care, doctor involvement?

I'm hearing that it is pretty grim, but what does that mean in practical terms?

What can I do to help the medics stay safe and help me when I'm already sick?

At what point should I call an ambulance (nobody could drive me), as I worry that if I can't breathe properly maybe I've left it too late?

Will 111/999 even send anyone to me at all? I'm worried they will fob me off.

I need to bring my anxiety levels down and knowledge about what to expect will help this.

I'm very grateful there are people working in hospitals and ambulances who are facing this stuff every day, and still going into work and risking their lives too. Thank you.

I'm not a medic but want to reassure you that I would thinking would be the same as any other hospitalisation and remember they have to do everything they can it's their oath so no fobbing off xxx

I'm not so sure that is the case Doris. If they are overwhelmed then standards cannot be adhered to, people get left in the waiting area/corridors, don't see a doctor for ages or delayed assessment/treatment/admission. I've had experience of normal A and E several times in the recent past, and it was already dire, with understaffing and overcrowding let alone this current crisis. The staff do their best but in ordinary times the NHS is massively overstretched due to decades of underfunding. I'm very worried about what it is like now, and wanted some honest accounts by medical staff on the frontline so I know what to expect if I need admitting.

(1) Why can no one drive you? If it's an isolation thing, you need to get them a mask, and they may have to drive you. You in the backseat and them in the front. The ambulance services are extremely stretched at the moment.

(2) A and E was not "grim" when I was in last week - I was treated, and discharged earlier than NICE guidelines advised but I had prompt and safe treatment with a number to call should I need to go back in. It was functioning and C-19 patients were in one wing, and other patients were in another.

(3) Do you have some deep breathing exercises you can do?

I'm not a medic, but I do worry that all the 'most people get it mild, only old people get it bad, the nhs will be overstretched' stuff will discourage some younger people with severe symptoms from getting help. I think if you are worried contact 111. If you think its an emergency contact 999. I don't think anyone should be delaying seeking help to 'help the nhs', especially people who have health conditions or live alone. Personally I'd rather be in a hospital corridor if I get drastically worse than alone at home. That's not to say be an idiot about, but I get the sense that people feel reluctant to ask for help and it could cost their life.

Dragon, I literally have nobody I could ask to put themselves at risk and take me if I had the virus. I am single and live with my DC.

Thanks for your positive story. Maybe it's a regional thing as to what service you get.

Esjee this is exactly what the gov/nhs is telling people from what I've heard. Stay at home and self medicate and don't bother them unless you think you are dying. Because the services are so stretched.

I've left it almost too late to go to hospital in the past for other very acute and life threatening conditions, as I tend to downplay my symptoms to myself and just soldier on. Doctors have told me off for this!

@WTFiswrongwithmyVag You need to come up with a plan, particularly for child care. It's really important you think of options now, although hopefully it will not come to that.

Do you have support from the DC school at all? Do you know any parents well enough who you could ask in an absolute emergency?

Dragon, no support from school. It is closed. Older DC can look after younger DC at home. I would normally drive myself, but envisaging that if I was struggling for breath then I wouldn't be safe or possibly even conscious to drive!

Surely someone in severe respiratory distress is the very person the ambulance service is there for. I'm not going to be deterred from calling them if I felt it appropriate. I'm just not sure how they are responding to calls like this, hence the thread.

Look up the symptoms of pneumonia and go at that stage... I think it's pain on breathing or deep pain on coughing, crackling or gurgling in the lungs etc, coughing blood. Obviously depends on your health condition. But 111 will advise or you could leave the query with your GP as a non urgent call tomorrow?

I think it's a pointless thread then based on your above post? They're not going to say on here if mistakes etc or whatever it is your looking for on here are they?

I don’t think anyone is equipped to answer your hypothetical scenario. There are too many variables. You don’t even have it! You need to work on calming and planning for what you can control.

A+E is a relative ghost town at the moment. Attendances have dropped by up to three quarters after an efficient public health drive. If only people had listened before this and not abused the service !

Anyway, the upshot is that anyone currently arriving with breathing difficulties will get seen quickly.

thank you AnyFucker. That is reassuring.

Are there any frontline medics that can tell me what they are experiencing?