Possible High Blood Pressure

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hmm triage. I remember a few years ago following my 88 year old grandfather's ambulance down to Prince Phillip hospital (now that is one place you don't want to go with a kidney problem - unless you're bored with the good one!) He'd fallen on the way back from the garden and cut his head 'only a flesh wound boy, even though I don't agree with drugs, a couple of panadols and a good night's sleep and I'll be fine!' never mind the fact that I had a good look at his skull whilst dressing the ten inch gash on his cranium!!.
Anyway, we were the only people in casualty but we still had to queue for triage!!! we could hear lots of chatter and giggling behind the scenes but no sign of beeing seen. it was an hour later before they wheeled his gurney into an examination room by which time there was a sizeable queue - one drunk who'd slipped and probably broken his finger on the way out of the pub to go home for his tea - still there probably poor dab!

 

[oliver90owner]

I sympathise, Dishmop.

Although I cannot complain at all about my NHS treatment, I remember when my wife went down with gall stones.

£10. On the phone to NHS Direct. Waste of space.
Took her down to A&E and told there was a 2 1/2 hour wating time (01:30h on a Sunday morning), so to sit down and wait.
Fair to them, someone soon realised she needed urgent precedence over the pub brawlers, binge drinkers and their ilk. She was wheeled away after about ten minutes.
I volunteered, later in the morning, to wheel her bed down to X-ray or the wait would have been another long delay.
They decided to operate but attempted keyhole surgery (even after questions were raised) over a previous injury site (spleen removal after a very serious RTA) and caused all sorts of permanent aggravation as well as several units of blood being required!
Didn't give any more blood until she collapsed onto the floor in the ward.
Sent her home in my car (140 miles) as soon as they managed to stem the flow of fluid from the site (by basically blocking the exit for the fluid) even though it was pointed out very clearly to staff nurse, then ward sister, then house doctor, then consultant that the drain rate had miraculously dropped from over 350/day (for over a week) to well under 50 cm cubes per day in just a single day. Apparently, after nearly two weeks for a normal two/three day stay as in-patient, all they wanted was an empty bed!

Three weeks later, admitted to Peterborough hospital as an urgent admission (immediate transport or an ambulance could be called) where they drained two litres of fluid from her lung and 0.8 litres of bloody gunge from around her liver. Little wonder she had not lost so much weight in the interim period!

She was looked after splendidly for the next month in PDH and received the best of attention in her own side ward.
The only complaint of PDH was of the food - I took her out daily, during the second half of her stay, with her tubes connected, for a decent meal.

My advice. Don't get taken ill at Shrewsbury!

Perfectly factual, all of the above!

 

[Tremyfro]

High BP

I was quite ill last year. Very High BP. I was advised not to lift. The reason for this is because until they have concluded their investigations, there is a risk of a stroke(blood vessel bursting in your brain). When you lift, the abdominal pressure goes up and puts more pressure on circulation. If I were you I would not lift anything except your toothbrush! Finish the medical bit first, follow the advise given and make whatever life changes you can to decrease your health risks. BTW.....I was back to riding and competing my horse and all the attendant exercise including stable work by the end of the summer. Hope you are soon on the mend too.