My personal thank you to the NHS.
Yesterday I needed help after meds prescribed in the morning for my RA and complications gave me a horrendous reaction. Had amoxicillin over many years when needed, so no qualms in taking it when my local GP said let’s do this for a week to make sure you are safe!
30mins after taking drug I was in a bad place, rash, burning up, swelling over throat and face, blood pressure sky high and heart thumping away. Told Shawn get me in car to our local GP as he will know what to do.
So Long Sutton Medical Centre at the end of their day had to deal with me and they were wonderful. Within minutes of seeing me, my GP got me on steroids, adrenaline and nebulizer and the nurses just kept me calm and reassured me all the way. My Doc even apologised as he gave me the steroid injection with me saying ‘just do it’ Doc I don’t care. They called for ambulance and wrote up letters for the hospital and within an hour I was on the ambulance going to Pilgrims. However there a moment of laughter as the nurse allowed Shawn in and when he left ' is that your son' - my reply was almost unprintable but I asked had I aged that much in 30mins! Nurse laughed the masks do well in covering peoples ages too!
The ambulance crew were fantastic and asked why I did not call 999- I told them I did not want to bother you and the reply was ‘the ones that need us don’t call and the ones that don’t need us DO and are rude’. They kept me calm as my body went through the jitters and helped me breath through the awful heart and blood pressure moments. They also pre warned me of how a&e would be as I would be in covid section as respiratory issues.
They made sure Shawn knew what was going on as the hardest thing was he could not come in.
The Pilgrims team again superb- kept me calm and at this POINT I realised MASKS conceal a lot of your face so when I eventually smiled, they could not see it, to say I am ok. The nurse said it was the biggest change not being able to read people's faces but they do a lot of verbal calming checks. Their aim was to get me home and check I did not get a repeat spike. I had a moment of feeling bad again and they stuck with me. So chest x rays and bloods and then discharged at 10pm.
Guess what no more penicillin for me!
We as a country have a very special thing called the NHS - don’t abuse it, use it when needed but also say thank you and be polite. The ambulance team said everyone was clapping for the NHS a few weeks back but now lockdown off the rudeness has risen. It seems a few will never learn.
I might be wiped out this morning but I am very thankful for the people that helped me through a scary moment.