Bloody Catastrophe

I woke up yesterday morning after a good night's sleep, but as soon as I swung my legs out of bed, my nose started to bleed heavily. I managed to eat a little, then Clare's study group people arrived. My nose continued to bleed profusely and the mess could only be contained by keeping my head over a plastic beach bucket.

The GP surgery referred me to A&E, and Fran, one of the group members drove Clare and I to A&E at UHW. It was very busy fifty people waiting and being processed continuously.

There's now a touch screen self registration procedure to get you started with triage. Just as well Clare was with me as I had to hold the bucket to avoid making a mess. One handed typing standing up while bleeding isn't easy. I was seen three times by triage nurses taking blood tests etc before been treated by an ENT specialist after a six hours wait.

The initial remedy could't be made to work due to the bleeding, so my left nostril was 'packed'. Not with gauze and chemicals but with a slim inflatable balloon which reached up into my sinuses, uncomfortable to have inserted, but quite  effective. I was then given an intravenous drip and shown into one of two IV lounges, kitted with recliner chairs and medical support kit, enough room for four or five.

An overnight stay was necessary for the procedure to be concluded. Longer if it failed. I was feeling very congested and groggy, in shock from the impact of both nosebleed and treatment. But I reckon I was the least worse of others there on a drip, waiting for an available bed or discharge from A&E. There was nothing to do but accept and wait. Be a patient in other words. It was lovely to see nursing staff teams, so diverse, so busy, so much enjoying working together on all three shifts. So impressive, despite the stress, poor recompense, and long hours. 

I dozed away the night, punctuated by blood pressure and temperature checks, and succeded in getting three hours of proper sleep before the day shift arrived. At nine, another ENT team member arrived and said I would be transferred to the Ambulatory Day Care unit for the next and hopefully final stages of the procedure.

While I was being briefed, the breakfast trolley came and went, but a kind nurse hunted down a couple of packs of ham sandwiches and a cup of black coffee, which was such a blessing. I feel so well looked after despite the long wait to get started.