I was admitted to A&E after waking up with vomiting and diarrhoea. I have adrenal insufficiency, so this was the start of an adrenal crisis. My partner did my emergency injection and called an ambulance. The Paramedics gave me some gluco-gel to take and they gave me another emergency hydrocortisone injection. I was then taken on blues to my local A&E, on my own.
A big failure was being left in a cubicle with no way to relieve myself. I had just been brought in with D&V. So the minimum would of been a sick bowl, nope. Or a urine bottle, nope. Or a bed pan, nope. I wasn't given anything. The buzzer to call for help was on the wall behind my bed! I asked if I could go to the toilet and they said they will be right back. 30 minutes later in pure agony, I decided to get up and get some help. I had a badly fitted cannula, which fell out, while I was reaching for the buzzer! I'm Autistic, so shouting for help was quite difficult for me.
The doctor poked at my stomach and I said it was painful. Remember I was admitted with D&V, so obviously it would be hurting. But by this one assessment, he came to the conclusion it was gastroenteritis. No stool samples were taken and they did take my bloods, which they said were 'normal'. They should of said High sodium (dehydration) and a high white blood cell count (due to the gastro'). So how the doctor came to a medical diagnosis is still a mystery to me.
The main mistake was not giving me a urine bottle, anything to drink and especially no medication! For some people, medication stops them from being poorly. But for me it keeps me alive. An NHS Stage 1 Warning is issued: to never omit Desmopressin for anyone with Diabetes Insipidus (Not Mellitus and not glucose related). I also wasn't given anything to drink. I was put on a Saline drip, that didn't work as it was badly fitted. The IV bag was still full 30+ mins after it was done. When they finally got an IV in me and I started to receive the Saline, I was discharged! I was admitted with dehydration, due to the D&V. The doctor repeatedly said I was dehydrated. The urine bottle they gave me, I filled in one go. I was urinating out more than they was putting in me! So I left the hospital more dehydrated than when I arrived. Dehydration is a known trigger of an Adrenal Crisis.
I was in the A&E for around 5 to 6 hours. Paramedics needed to give me some emergency glucose to raise my blood glucose. But at the hospital I wasn't given any glucose or any food. I was also not given any of my life preserving medication, so no Desmopressin and no Hydrocortisone! I did have my own medication with me, but that was in a bag behind me, were I had ripped out a cannula trying to get near. And I wasn't given any water to take any life preserving medication.
"Put in a cubical and left"
About: Fairfield General Hospital / Accident and emergency Fairfield General Hospital Accident and emergency Bury BL9 7TD Fairfield General Hospital / Endocrinology Fairfield General Hospital Endocrinology BL9 7TD
Posted by Jamjam (as ),
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