First time in A&E (Emergency Department)

Dolly · #1 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 10:40 PM

Well,

Got a phone call from school yesterday saying that No.1 son had fainted in class.

When I arrived at school I was ushered into the Asst. Principal's office. Apparently No.1 son was unconscious for about 1 1/2 minutes and was shaking (but it wasn't a fit).

Anyhoo, brought him home and phoned the doc. Doc said to take him to the Emergency Department as he was unconscious for a while. So, we went straight there (this was 10.30am). We were in the triage department of the ED for 4 hours. Tom had his blood pressure checked and blood checked for sugar levels. Finally, we were called into the assessing area. He stripped off to his jocks and put a hospital gown on (to his teenage angst). He had an ECG. He was then moved out of the bay and his trolley was put in another assessing area but not in a cubicle, just out in front of the nurses station (as there were a lot of people waiting to be assessed as to whether they needed to be admitted or sent home).

He had some more blood taken and after another 2 1/2 hours we were told he could be discharged. So at 7.15pm we went home. They can't pinpoint why No1 fainted but if it happens again we've got to go back. I'm not unduly worried as I think continually having no breakfast and hardly any fluids in the morning has taken it's toll. The nurses were really good, explaining to son what they were going to do and why and they made him laugh (which was a good thing as I could see that once he'd stripped off and put on a trolley the seriousness of what had happened was just starting to dawn on him)

So, the motto of my story is that the waiting time here is no better or worse than back in the UK. It's tortuous which ever side of the hemisphere you're on!

Dolly

tmrei · #2 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 11:37 PM

Dolly, I have the feeling that your sense of humor has gotten you through a lot. while I don't have children I am convinced it should be a prerequisite for birth and teenagers. I'm glad everything is okay. I send good wishes to your teenage son's stomach (so he'll start to eat in the morning). I had my own scare on Friday when my husband had a bad reaction to a medication and was so disoriented he couldn't speak to me. I called 911. Right after I called he was fine and telling me to "call them and cancel it". We had a mini argument later when he said that he learned in martial arts to "go in" when the body is having a negative reaction. You can imagine my responses to that...anyway at least on this end I know stress is not helping us any.

Hey, I also realized recently I never read a response of yours to me--i responded, albeit belatedly.

Thanks for all you do here and for us.

Warmly,

Tiffany

Tiffani · #3 (**permalink**) 29th July 2008, 11:55 PM

oh nightmare

I hope your son will be fine. And yes, I don't think there's a "fast" Emergency wing of any hospital in the world LOL

British Kiwi · #4 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 07:10 AM

Hi Dolly, glad to see your son is feeling better.
This is going to sound like a stupid question, but how does the whole medical emergency thing happen? I'm guessing from your post you dial 911, and I know my boyfriend has paid for ambulance cover(?) but I'm a bit confused. I know I'm going to have to get use to no NHS, I know it's not great, but at least I know what to do over here if there was an emergency.

Dolly · #5 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 07:18 AM

Hi,

Well, luckily the hospital is less than a 2 minute drive from us so I drove there - plus it wasn't an 'emergency' so didn't need to call for an ambulance.

If you do phone for an ambulance (you dial 000) and you've not got ambulance cover, I think you'll end up paying $2K or more.

Dolly

anj1976 · #6 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 09:04 AM

God,
How is the little one feeling now? I hope all is well.
This could be not eating proper food in the mornings, this used to happen with me a lot, not unconscious but i used feel light on my head every now and then till I realised that good food first thing in the morning will help the body to retain all the energy we use up. And with kids I know how much they keep running around without even realising they are hungry or they have not had a thing to eat

.

Dolly · #7 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmrei

I had my own scare on Friday when my husband had a bad reaction to a medication and was so disoriented he couldn't speak to me.

Hey tiffany,

Hope your other half is as good as new now. It must have been really scarey.

Dolly

tmrei · #8 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 03:48 PM

Thanks Dolly.

He's okay, there is just too much going on here that's for sure. I hope the same on your end!

scottishcelts · #9 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 08:37 PM

Hi Dolly, my goodness, you must have been worried sick, it also doesnt help being in the A&E for so long and being in Oz etc. i assume that was the first time you had to phone in the doc/use the hospital there?

I know all about skipping breakfast and not having enough fluids, both my sons (just going into p.2 & p.5) refuse breakfast, the utter thought makes them want to vomit it's outrageous but what can i do, they will tolerate yogurt (just). But any mention of toast or cereal and they just cringe, although they will eat toast at any other time of the day but they have never taken to cereal, which is weird as myself and hubby do! And again, sometimes they come home so thirsty, god knows what they get up to in school.

I'm going to be worried sick myself at first as we are going to Brisbane and so many of the schools do not have aircon, so trying to get them to drink even more in school is going to be like hitting a brick wall.

Anyway i hope your son is well.

Dolly · #10 (**permalink**) 30th July 2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottishcelts

Hi Dolly, my goodness, you must have been worried sick, it also doesnt help being in the A&E for so long and being in Oz etc. i assume that was the first time you had to phone in the doc/use the hospital there?

I know all about skipping breakfast and not having enough fluids, both my sons (just going into p.2 & p.5) refuse breakfast, the utter thought makes them want to vomit it's outrageous but what can i do, they will tolerate yogurt (just). But any mention of toast or cereal and they just cringe, although they will eat toast at any other time of the day but they have never taken to cereal, which is weird as myself and hubby do! And again, sometimes they come home so thirsty, god knows what they get up to in school.

I'm going to be worried sick myself at first as we are going to Brisbane and so many of the schools do not have aircon, so trying to get them to drink even more in school is going to be like hitting a brick wall.

Anyway i hope your son is well.

Thanks!

All I can say is fluids, fluids and more fluids. It's incredibly important, especially in summer. My boys have their drink (which I chill overnight in summer) and then they top up the drinks bottle during the day from the water fountain.

Kids, eh!

Dolly