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Original poster

Doctor visit at midnight to give injection.

36 replies

BananasAndApples · 19/08/2020 09:12

Brief background, I think I had Covid in March and was moderately ill, left with sore/tight chest and ribs and getting out of breath when walking up hill. Last week this has been getting worse so out of breath a lot more. Husband nagged me to go to the doctor.

After being triaged I was asked to go straight in and have bloods taken, quite a few samples taken one of which was to check for blood clots. I expected the results the next day or day after.

Anyway just before midnight I was woken by the doorbell ringing frantically. (Sent husband to check the door). It was a doctor (in a taxi) in scrubs, apron, mask and gloves saying my blood test results had come back and I needed an injection to prevent blood clots. He gave me the injection in my stomach and then left, must have been here less than 1/2 and hour. All very strange/surreal.

Now waiting for either my doctors or the hospital to call and see what happens from here, the doctor last night said I would probably need to go in today for a chest scan.

Anyone experienced similar? Waiting and not knowing what is happening is making me a bit nervous!

OP posts:
Whitegrenache · 19/08/2020 09:14

Wow great care! This is life saving

FoolsAssassin · 19/08/2020 09:17

Oh goodness , that’s so good ! Can imagine how weird it must be.

I think I had it in March and am wheezing permanently at the moment the last couple of weeks , it had cleared up.

IslandbreezeNZ · 19/08/2020 09:19

Not quite the same but my father in law was very sick about a month ago and doctors and nurses continually arrived at the house night and day to tend to him. We usually had some level of warning however but the NHS was amazing at coming and helping.

Aquicknamechange2019 · 19/08/2020 09:29

So the blood test would have been looking for something called a D-Dimer level, which indicates that the blood is clotting. It sounds as if they've seen something they want to investigate further and have given you an anticoagulant such as clexane or warfarin to prevent further clots in meantime. They will likely call you today to say they want to do some MRI/scans to check for clots.

I had pulmonary embolisms (lung clots) in my last pregnancy and was put under haematology care, anticoagulants were prescribed.

Original poster
BananasAndApples · 19/08/2020 09:45

Thank you all. I have called my gp and they are going to get a doctor to call me back this morning. Didn’t sleep very well ( or surprising) which isn’t helping the jittery feeling.

OP posts:
Original poster
BananasAndApples · 19/08/2020 11:49

Doctor has called. I need to go on blood thinners until the CT scan, and I should hear from the hospital today or tomorrow.

OP posts:
Lissy23 · 19/08/2020 17:47

Is this definitely linked to the Covid you had in March?

chickenyhead · 19/08/2020 17:52

sooooo....

A stranger turns up at your door with a syringe, dressed in medical gear.

You didn't know he was coming or have any clue you needed an injection.

He injected you and left.

Grin

This could be an excellent horror film theme.

But seriously, cool

Cornettoninja · 19/08/2020 18:07

Wow, that’s some fantastic care right there. Your GP sounds really on the ball as does your local laboratory.

I hope you’re okay and have more of an idea what’s going on right now.

RedRosie · 19/08/2020 18:21

This happened to my elderly mum at 2am after a warfrin test had been analysed. A doctor turned up with minder (car full of drugs presumably). She felt fine!

I think if it kept a vulnerable elderly woman out of hospital it's all good really as they could have told her to present herself at A&E. A district nurse checked on her in the morning as well (she was cross about that as she was woken up again).

I suspect you are a bit younger OP!

Medstudent12 · 19/08/2020 18:37

You will probably have a CT scan of your chest to check for clots. We play on the safe side and give people blood thinners (usually) until we have the scan results. Covid makes you more predisposed to clots.

user1468766051 · 19/08/2020 18:43

Hi, several years ago when I was poorly (chest infection) I had some bloods taken at the Dr surgery. I had a call That night at about 9.30pm from the hospital saying I had to go straight in to have an injection. I went in, had the injection and a chest x ray and then was allowed to go home several hours later.
Such an excellent service from our NHS!
I guess they are trying to keep people out of hospital at the moment hence your home visit.

Original poster
BananasAndApples · 20/08/2020 08:33

@RedRosie

This happened to my elderly mum at 2am after a warfrin test had been analysed. A doctor turned up with minder (car full of drugs presumably). She felt fine!

I think if it kept a vulnerable elderly woman out of hospital it's all good really as they could have told her to present herself at A&E. A district nurse checked on her in the morning as well (she was cross about that as she was woken up again).

I suspect you are a bit younger OP!

I’m only 43!

Last night the rib pain got a bit worse so I followed by gps advice and called 111. Who said ambulance in to hospital. Which felt a bit of an over reaction but I know that with possible Covid complications they are being uber-cautious.

Spent an uneventful and boring (which is a very good thing) few hours in A&E to check everything out. Home now.

Really glad I went in just to get everything checked. CT scan booked start of September so I need to stay on blood thinners until then.

OP posts:
premiumshoes · 20/08/2020 08:34

A doctor turned up with minder (car full of drugs presumably)

They are not minders here, just drivers Grin

pandafunfactory · 20/08/2020 08:38

I agree this is impressive care. The alternative would to be to call you to say come back in now. They may have tried that but couldn't get through?
If you develop a clot in your lung it can be life threatening. This is one if the difficulties when an illness like Covid is around. You have assumed you are breathless because of that - but it could be coincidental and a sign of a clot which may or may not be a result of Covid. Anyway you're being well looked after though I'm not impressed they can't get you the ct till September.

Pomegranatepompom · 20/08/2020 08:54

Good to see this, lots of negative comments about NHS at the moment (reprieve didn’t last long!). Hope you are ok OP.

AugustBreeze · 20/08/2020 08:55

That is amazing (and am obviously glad you're being well looked after!), but rides a bit of a coach and horses through data protection, never mind stranger danger etc! Did they go to some lengths to establish your identity, and theirs, before injecting you?

latticechaos · 20/08/2020 09:23

Sorry you're not well. Would be very worried by an unexpected midnight doctor visit!

Original poster
BananasAndApples · 20/08/2020 11:43

@AugustBreeze

That is amazing (and am obviously glad you're being well looked after!), but rides a bit of a coach and horses through data protection, never mind stranger danger etc! Did they go to some lengths to establish your identity, and theirs, before injecting you?
They did yes. Name, address, DoB from me and showing credentials from him. Plus I had had bloods taken that day so it was plausible if a bit unusual!
OP posts:
ohthegoats · 20/08/2020 12:14

How cool.

I've been on heparin/fragmin/warfarin etc on and off since I had a DVT in 1999 (I was 25). It worries me that covid seems to have some indication of being a blood vessel disease.

MissRabbitIsExhausted · 20/08/2020 12:22

@chickenyhead

sooooo....

A stranger turns up at your door with a syringe, dressed in medical gear.

You didn't know he was coming or have any clue you needed an injection.

He injected you and left.

Grin

This could be an excellent horror film theme.

But seriously, cool

I agree, I was reading that op expecting a "it was all a dream" at the end 😂

Hope you feel better soon op Thanks

Whitegrenache · 20/08/2020 13:54

Just a heads up - no one really should
Be on warfarin these days for long term prevention of DVT or PE the newer anti coagulation drugs are far safer and no need for INR checks

Original poster
BananasAndApples · 24/08/2020 20:15

It is only 8 in the evening but I am so tired/sleepy I am considering going to bed. On the safety leaflet it says one of the side effects of rivaroxaban was tiredness. Anyone any experience of this? Do you adjust and get used to it?

OP posts:
ohthegoats · 24/08/2020 20:29

Not having to do INRs would be amazing. I travelled through SE Asia having to find hospitals to get my blood done.

OP - they do make me feel weird when I fired start taking them, you get used to.

Borderscotch · 24/08/2020 21:53

@FoolsAssassin

Oh goodness , that’s so good ! Can imagine how weird it must be.

I think I had it in March and am wheezing permanently at the moment the last couple of weeks , it had cleared up.

Snap, been putting off speaking to GP but think this thread has pushed me to go. Had pain under run and tight chest/wheeze since what I think was covid in March