@DuLu Said
A&E? is that like our ER/Emergency Room here in the USA?
Here at the hospital we go to, I've spent over 12 hours there from the time I walked in, until the time I walked
out. It is all a matter of prioritizing. And yes, you're in a lot of pain, but you are not going to die from pain,
and you've been triaged as best as possible. I always take a book to read, sometimes I've been so into the book I haven't even heard my name being called. And I always
remind myself these things #1) as much as my complaint is bothering me, I know myself it is most likely not life
threatening; 2) yes, there are others in the waiting room worse off then I am (ewwww, fish hook stuck in his hand);
3) I know there are only a few doctors on hand on staff
at that time; 4) I know that back where I can't see it
there are ambulances coming in frequently that have a
higher priority; and 5) I know that if pain is my major
complaint, I can always take something at home before I
leave to help alleviate it. Usually, I decide to go in
after that doesn't work. I used to go in when home meds wouldn't work and my misery was keeping me awake at nights. Now if at all possible I try to use one of the
other alternative ways of seeing a doctor (which they have
put in place to help decrease the amount of people in the
waiting room): 1) it's really good, they came up with a
way that you can go online, put down why you want to be
seen, and get an appointment for the very next day. If
you can make it through the night. 2) Another possibility
is call first thing in the morning, state you chief complaint, and if it is critical enough and you are one of the first callers, they will make you an appt the same day.
Each day, there are a few slots left open for this type of appt, but only a few, and appts are made based on
severity of chief complaint.
Before I got in there I almost gave myself hypothermia sitting outside in nothing but I nightie because I was convinced that I was too hot. My flatmate tried to give me a glass of water and trying to swallow that made me scream out loud. I was confused and had no idea what was going on except for the vague idea that this maybe had something to do with the surgery I'd had a few days before. My mum called the NHS 24 service which is there to give help and advice for something that you think needs to be seen to but is not serious enough for you to call out an Ambulance. The advisor on the other end of the phone was the one who sent out the ambulance and the paramedics who came to see if the ambulance was really necessary didn't stop to think about it. Next was the fact that I had screamed a few times and bit chunks out of a vomit bowl I'd been sent home with in case I was sick in the car because it was either that or chew my own hand to try to get some relief. I screamed quite a few times from the pain, some of the worst I've ever felt and I was supposed to wait until morning and see my GP?