MSE Pregnancy Club XV

helen81_2

Hi girlies, will catch up what Ive missed in a mo but I really need to get this off my chest 1st!!! (rant is in 2nd half of post-feel free to skip it)

Been out with hubby and ds today, we went to Xscape and they went tobogganing on the snow slope then we went for a sneaky buffet lunch at Pizza hut Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm pizza.
Then came back, did abit of baby blankets/towels washing then out again to my appointment with the nurse to try get the whole blood test problem sorted once and for all! Im fcking fuming!!! Turns out Ive been in need of iron tablets since June!!! This is my story,in short, of being messed around...

1. Came back from Florida in June with badly swollen ankles, saw nurse-she sent me for d-dimer blood test to rule out DVT.
2. 2 days later,recieve letter in post telling me to contact the surgery asap as my blood test showed me as d-dimer positive! Panic panic!!
3. In the end,was sent to hospital to be checked out fully and rule out a DVT, which luckily was ruled out,I was fine. But it emerged that the blood test I had done was totally pointless as pregnant women will always test positive for di-dimer wether they have DVT or not! So all that worry for nothing.
4. 2 weeks later,recieved another letter from doctors saying that on further inspection of my blood test they would like me to make appointment with a GP to disscuss it. Appointment made.
5. I went to appointment and when I walked in and told the doc I'd been asked to make the appointment to discuss my blood test results he said he didn't know why cos my bloods were fine so I'd had a wasted trip!!
6. 28weeks routine blood test by midwife done- got phonecall few days later from docs saying that results showed I need iron tablets so could I collect perscription and also they'd like me to have another blood test to check other iron levels.
7. I go to collect perscription for iron tablets- no perscription exists and no record of them phoning me to say I needed them!! Im really !!!!ed off now. Receptionist makes me appointment with nurse to see whats going on.

So..went to see the nurse today and it turns out the doctor who turned me away telling me my bloods were ok was WRONG, I was low on iron back then and theyve been falling since. All this time Ive been feeling really tired and had no energy and finding breathing hard cos of that doctor!!
Ive had a shot of B12 to try boost me up quickly and she perscribed me enough iron tablets to see me through the rest of my pregnancy. Feel like making a complaint.
30 weeks today though yayyyyy, so thats good
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BeenieCat

Wow helen, i would definitely make a complaint. Clearly something went badly wrong there, what if it was more serious? Not that i'm suggesting an untreated iron deficiency isn't serious.

three2be

helen81 wrote: »

So..went to see the nurse today and it turns out the doctor who turned me away telling me my bloods were ok was WRONG, I was low on iron back then and theyve been falling since. All this time Ive been feeling really tired and had no energy and finding breathing hard cos of that doctor!!

So it's not just me that has a problem then. at least you got to see a nurse and a doctor all i've had is a voice on the phone and a stuck up receptionist. Although who knows if i get seen tomorrow i may have a post like yours when i try to get the test results lol
Glad you got sorted lets me see their is light at the end of a very very long tunnel.

GemmaE

32B and Helen- I am so sorry you have both had so much trouble with the NHS, it just goes to show the appalling state that some practices are in at the moment.

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) but a GP surg has to reserve a certain no of appts every day for emergencies, and as receptionists are not medically qualified it is not their call to decide if it is urgent or not. My GP used to be the saem, with appts being made over a week in advance if u were ill which was worse then useless! Howevr can't fault them since last year when i became a regular visitor with heart murmur and asthma, and now mini-me in development.

I would complain, and copy it to the Chief Exec of the governing PCT (Primary Care Trust) as this should ensure that these things are at least highlighted as its simply not good enough.

OK Rant over, heard babies heartbeat yesterday, was great, and found out I am resus b neg too so few more needles for me, which was not so great.

Hope everyone else is OK

xx

Sarah_Joanne

Thanks SS!

Helen that's awful. I agree with Beenie you should definitely make a complaint. At the end of the day, that Dr had your results and simply interpreted them wrongly - I'm not saying being a Dr is easy but that shouldn't have been so difficult, surely.

Really glad you got it sorted now and hope you see a big improvement soon

I feel better after my walk to asda anyway. And I bought a tiger tail baguette to have with tea (although I did have 3 slices of it when i got home cos it smelled soooooooooooooo good!)

helen81_2

Beenie, the nurse said if I hadn't have come in to see her and get it sorted,my levels would have just kept dropping and dropping and if it turns out I had to have a c-section for whatever reason I wouldn't be able to have one done with iron levels so low! So what would they have done with me then..??! The nurse was really shocked that this has happened and made a comment about our lives being in the hands of doctors (she rolled her eyes when she said it)
Im not sure who to complain to to be honest? Do I write to someone,phone someone?!

32b, what a horrible time for you, really hope you get to see someone soon..it fcking sucks doesn't it.

Congratulations to SHELVIS- WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BABY!! :T

Sarah_Joanne

Helen you should write then there's a formal trail for your complaint. I would address the letter to the practice manager - you can always call through and ask the name of that person from the receptionist.

csh_2

helen81 wrote: »

Beenie, the nurse said if I hadn't have come in to see her and get it sorted,my levels would have just kept dropping and dropping and if it turns out I had to have a c-section for whatever reason I wouldn't be able to have one done with iron levels so low!

As a fail safe for iron levels and things its routine for midwife to do bloods again at 36ish wks. It looks like the confusion here had been because your doctor had the bloods and was mixed up with the bloods for the DVT. It should be your midwifes job to take the blood for the routine pregnancy screening incl iron levels. Sounds like a big fcuk up!!
I had to have a transfusion of 4 bags of blood before i was induced with DD as my iron was too low (and if i'd bleed during the birth they wouldn't have been able to stop it) and had been missed twice at antenatal screening, although this was 13yrs ago and things in theory should be improved lol To be fair they've had a good eye on me this time, i've had 5 full blood counts done already with another booked for next wed!

csh_2

Very quiet on here tonight! Was really just popping on to see if Glam had been in to tell us how her growth scan went and if she got an induction date (Think it was today anyway???) Think she must be busy with visitors

Sarah_Joanne

Glam said last night that her Mum who was supposed to be visiting from Thursday had changed her plans and was coming today instead so I guess she is busy with her today. I noticed earlier she hadn't been on and thought it seemed quiet without her!