"Feeling validated and cared for"

After suffering one of my many dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) attacks I found myself at A&E for a 4-hour wait to be seen. Scared, in pain and unable to swallow my own saliva, I was a bit traumatised by my time in A&E. After the long wait I ended up being kept in to wait for an endoscopy. A&E was horribly busy and I spent the night in pain and unable to eat, drink or swallow lying on a trolly in the packed aisles. It was truly awful.

This was not due to the A&E staff- who were lovely. Just circumstances. It was busy, and I felt vulnerable being so distressed without a room. I felt like no one really understood my problem and staff seemed confused that I couldn’t even swallow saliva. I felt like I was very low priority most of the time (which I understand). They did escalate my case and get me to endoscopy very quickly though, and accommodated my baby daughter coming in to breastfeed. I was very grateful for that!

When it was time to go to endoscopy my experience changed. The environment was calm and all of the staff were just lovely. They were friendly and reassuring. They acknowledged my experience and understood it. I felt safe and cared for and instantly that I was in good hands. They asked if I was nervous about the endoscopy and, honestly, I wasn’t at all. I was just so incredibly relieved to be in the hands of this team.

Dr McGowan said to me that I was in the right place and getting the treatment I needed a long time ago. He said they were going to make me feel a whole lot better. I have had these swallowing issues for a long time and didn’t seek help as I felt it was just my anxiety. It was so nice to have a specialist tell me otherwise. I remember the majority of the endoscopy and, while not the most pleasant procedure, the staff were comforting and supportive throughout. They explained everything they were doing and the outcome. They were also lovely after the procedure too. 

I just wanted to say thank you to the staff there for looking after me. For making me feel safe and somehow managing to undo the nightmare experience I’d had overnight in A&E. You made me feel like I mattered and made the endoscopy as good as it could be. 

A little side note - as someone with some knowledge around dysphagia, I think A&E staff could use a little more training around it. I really don’t think people understand how distressing and frightening it can be. How embarrassing it is to be spitting out your saliva around other people. The first doctor I saw told me to just keep trying to swallow until it goes away (after 9 hours!) and said they didn’t know what they could do for me. Thankfully, whoever their superior was gave them guidance and explained that I needed a bit more than that! 

Thank you so much Endoscopy department! And also to those who helped me in A&E. I have no idea how you cope working in that environment- it’s awful!