Left alone in corridor in ED - Asthma Community ...

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Left alone in corridor in ED

Filobabe profile image
19 Replies

I am currently sat in ED after coming in with sats of 84% and a bad attack. After initial oxygen and nebs I have been left alone in a chair in corridor.

Not even seen a doctor yet. And feel a bit lost or as to plan. I am also getting wheezy again.

What are the odds of being discharged?

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Filobabe profile image
Filobabe
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19 Replies
twinkly29 profile image
twinkly29

Oh no that's not good. Is there a nurse about? Anyone to tell that you're feeling worse?

Filobabe profile image
Filobabe in reply to twinkly29

A few have walked past and seen me struggling and wheezy. They dont look too bothered. I just want to go home now to be honest.

twinkly29 profile image
twinkly29 in reply to Filobabe

Sometimes you have to be insistent which is rubbish and what you don't need at all. Even if you just say "I feel worse".

Filobabe profile image
Filobabe in reply to twinkly29

I was made to feel a fool when i came in as didnt look ill apparently. I bucked the trend then! My sats were low and surprised very little wheeze.

Think I may need another neb

Lysistrata profile image
LysistrataAdministratorCommunity Ambassador in reply to Filobabe

Probably very little wheeze because your chest was too quiet and closed up! I almost never wheeze in attacks, I go quiet, but sometimes I wheeze when I've had a bit of treatment, on the way 'up'. I can also have a kind of lull period where I seem better and then they try to send me home, but it doesn't last.

Sounds like you may be in that period at the moment - better than you were but the treatment is already wearing off from the sound of it and you need more, esp if you had those low sats (I mean that's pretty low...don't know if you're usually a sats dropper but plenty of people have decent sats even in severe attacks so clearly something going on! Can't believe you haven't even seen a dr yet!!! Are you anywhere near the nurses' station/desk? Would you be able to get there and say you feel worse?

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow in reply to Filobabe

Have you got a friend or partner who can come in to be with you?

Echoblue profile image
Echoblue

That’s awful and scary for you in equal measure! Been in that scenario before and also when a hospital was so rammed I was put in the corner of a large bay on a drip that was attached to the bed and was behind a curtain ...... then just left for hours!

After a while the drip was finished and I was bursting for a wee!

As it wasn’t a designated bed space there was no call bell and of course was the middle of the night so others were asleep. I tried calling out a polite but tentative “hello, is there anyone there” without success!

I had been really struggling for breath before and was shocked at the lack of anyone even checking if I was still alive!

In the end a really kind and more mobile patient heard me and went to find someone for me!

Such an awful feeling of helplessness so you have my every sympathy. I hope you are looked after and improve very soon.

Filobabe profile image
Filobabe in reply to Echoblue

Well they released me after another neb. Am now home but already coughing and wheezy again. It's gonna be a long night!

Have Gp follow up tomorrow.

twinkly29 profile image
twinkly29 in reply to Filobabe

I hope you got through the night ok. Hope GP is helpful today. Please tell them how you were treated/left.

warmlight profile image
warmlight in reply to Filobabe

I hope you are ok this morning and get some help from your gp today. Are you on steroids? Let us know how you get on .

Good Luck!

Filobabe profile image
Filobabe in reply to warmlight

GP has just extended the steroid course and told me to go to ED again if I need to.

I am just so tired. He didn't seem surprised that I was left alone or discharged as they are so busy.

twinkly29 profile image
twinkly29 in reply to Filobabe

Helpful 🙄

Glad you've got more steroids as sounds like you need them. If you do need to go back, maybe write down before you go how you can present (e.g. don't always wheeze, can appear to be improving before I deteriorate again) in case that helps (as not always easy to explain at the time)?

Hopefully you won't need to go back though as the battles and thought of the battles is hard, particularly when you know it's overrun with other people (some genuinely needing to be there and many with broken fingernails).

Spikedog66 profile image
Spikedog66 in reply to twinkly29

Can I ask a question do any of your areas have an urgent care team whom you telephone when are struggling but not hospital bound or ambulance? They carry everything with them, nebulisers, antibiotics steroids Sats monitors. Do ECG blood work and can fastrack to hospital. Can even advise over phone? You may have them in your area ask gp. Could save hours on end in a corridor to be ignored then sent home😃

Filobabe profile image
Filobabe in reply to Spikedog66

They closed down one near us due to cost! It was amazing, well used and so quick. Said it would be relocated and never was 🤬

Spikedog66 profile image
Spikedog66 in reply to Filobabe

This is a service run by nurses on call 24hrs a day who visit your own home to prevent if possible hospital admission and visits to a&e. Every area should have this I'm sure cost effective and patient friendly. You have to have a long standing condition such as heart or lung issues. I'm so sorry you spent all that time in a corridor being ignored, I do hope you are feeling better this service could have prevented all this.😃

Filobabe profile image
Filobabe in reply to Spikedog66

We don't have one of these either. For a fairly large hospital our nearby services and other services are dreadful

Spikedog66 profile image
Spikedog66 in reply to Filobabe

I live in the northeast we are very lucky then, it's a postcard lottery ....Has your wheeze settled today? it's dull up here so having a bit respite the heat makes me wheeze and cough antihistamines don't seem to help and have tried every make to see if makes a difference.

Off this afternoon for review at Drs for chest but have shingles and they told me to still go I'm so gobsmacked!!!! Said was last in clinic so it didn't matter. I'm worried for others but wouldn't let me cancel, guilt unbelievable😊

Gerl profile image
Gerl in reply to Spikedog66

same crap happened me last Sunday night waited in a and e for 10 hours to get nebs and steroid injections nearly collapsed 5 times my friends sister who is a nurse says fall on the floor they have to pick you up and sort you out

Spikedog66 profile image
Spikedog66 in reply to Gerl

I'm so shocked you could had died maybe your friends sister is right. You must be so worried when you are unwell to face care like that. Can't you go elsewhere?😃

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