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This will be a long post, sorry. TL/DR Had an accident, glass in head wound, 2 ops to remove, both failed. Nearly bled out tonight waiting for an ambulance. Still not sorted and no idea how/when it will be ☹️
2 weeks ago today I was staying at a mate's in Warwickshire (I live near Ludlow in Shropshire) for an army reunion weekend. Had a great day, mellow but not shit faced. Got back to his, relived a great day, had some tea and toast and went to bed. About 3am old man bladder got the better of me. Couldn't find the light switch and fumbling for the bathroom door I couldn't open it (old cottage, door very stiff in the frame and needed a good kick to open). Not wanting to wake anyone up, I decided to look for their downstairs loo. In the pitch black in an unfamiliar old cottage. I slipped on the stairs and unbeknownst to me initially, broke a glass vase with my head, just behind my right ear.
Eventually stopped the bleeding with a towel, cleaned up as best I could and went back to bed (didn't realise quite how bad it was).
In the morning, there was lots of concern but I felt OK, thought I just had a bad cut and a lump, didn't know about the glass. Later that morning it started bleeding again, lots. Mate took me to Warwick A&E,long wait and initially they tried to stitch it under local. Then they saw the glass, then it escalated, had a CT scan (showed more small glass frags) saw ENT surgeon and was admitted. Along the way, there was talk of possible facial paralysis and need for plastic surgery, thankfully this hasn't happened (so far). Had an op under general on the Monday and discharged that evening.
Fast forward a week to last Sunday, I was just getting into bed when felt sudden pressure the side of my head. Massive hematoma developed on site of knock by my ear. Called 999, no ambulances available 'for many hours'. I got my wife to drive me to our nearest A&E (Shrewsbury, an hour away). In the car it suddenly started bleeding, lots. Properly gushing. I was covered with blood from my waist to the top of my head. I just about managed to stem it by taking my T-Shirt off and applying pressure. After a few hours at A&E got seen, but they just put a dressing on and sent me home.
Next morning (last Monday) I phoned Warwick and they said come in immediately. It's an hour and 40 minutes away. I was admitted via A&E, they did X-Rays which showed there was still glass in there. I had to wait til Wednesday for a repeat op due to theatre space. I spent the 2 hottest days in UK history shrivelled on a ward whilst 'nil by mouth'!
Op apparently went OK (GA again), ENT surgeon thought "but not 100% sure" they flushed the glass out. Also found an arterial bleed which caused the hematoma. They cauterized that. They put a drain in and kept me in for another 2 days for observation. I was discharged on Friday.
Fast forward to 3pm ish today, when I had a repeat of last Sunday. Large Hematoma suddenly developed. gushing blood through the stitches at an alarming rate. I filled a bin bag with the towels and tea towels I used to stem it but it just kept spouting, sink full, all over the floor it looked like a mass murder scene. Thick red blood with clots in. This time I was on my own! My wife was visiting our son in Liverpool. I managed to phone 999 but was again told 4 hours or so for an ambulance. I said I didn't think I had that long, I had severe arterial bleeding and felt like I was about pass out. I sat down on our kitchen floor and prepared to pass out and bleed out. I kept up the pressure as best I could and slowly, thankfully, the bleeding slowed. I managed to phone my wife and she sent a neighbour round. Thank god, the ambulance got there in around and hour. They put a proper pressure dressing on and took me to Hereford A&E (my A&E bingo card is filling up nicely - we live between Hereford and Shrewsbury).
A&E was manic. 6 to 8 hour wait. Eventually I was discharged (a couple of hours ago) as it had stopped bleeding, they were too busy, and couldn't do anything for me. They sent me to an out of hours GP half a mile or so away, I looked like a blood soaked zombie walking the streets of Hereford and nearly feinted again looking for it. Saw the doc who questioned why A&E had sent me and said there was nothing he could do. I'm still here. In the meantime my son drove my wife back home to Ludlow from Liverpool and is now on his way to Hereford to get me.
I'm going to get him to drive me to Warwick A&E as they have my notes and know the history. Hopefully they will admit me and fix this once and for all.
I've probably just typed a load of gibberish, apols. But I am a bit scared and confused right now. Wish me luck.
Nothing to say except holy shit. Hope Warwick can sort you out and you heal fast
That sounds very scary!
I hope they get you sorted out soon.
Keep us informed.
I don't have much advice, but Liverpool to Hereford is at least a couple of hours. Can you find someone more local (a neighbour?) to keep an eye on you in the meantime or are you still at the GP's?
Good luck indeed, it sounds like you haven't had much so far. I think you're doing the right thing going back to Warwick. Have you asked whether you need any extra blood to replace what you've lost?
In car with son now on 90 min journey from Hereford to Warwick
Hope it gets sorted for you this time OP. Sounds horrendous for you
Yeah, Warwick A+E is where you need to be tonight. Good luck!
Thanks all. I might be slow with updates but will give one when I get chance
That is horrific. Best of luck.
Oh, and welcome to "The NHS is safe in our hands" Conservative party BS.
Good luck to you pal, that's really rotten luck!
I've never liked glass vases, give me a Ming dynasty every time.
Bloody hell op. That's a lot going on in a short space of time.
You look after yourself and I hope this gets resolved once and for all for you asap.
All the best buddy.
Thanks all. Poopscoop, I know you've been through your own health issues recently so especially appreciate that.
I forgot to mention I missed a prostate biopsy I'm particularly worried about on Friday because I was in Warwick Hospital.
No health issues for years then everything at once.
In Warwick now, I've been through Triage and looking at a 2 - 3 hour wait before I can see a doc. Sounds bad but a lot less than Hereford and Shrewsbury.
Jesus.
I know the NHS is stretched but those wait times are astonishing. Hope everything goes OK, keep us posted.
I don’t have much advice, but Liverpool to Hereford is at least a couple of hours. Can you find someone more local (a neighbour?) to keep an eye on you in the meantime or are you still at the GP’s?
I was still at the out of hours GP when I typed that. I'd been seen but they let me wait there until my son arrived which was good of them.
I forgot to mention I missed a prostate biopsy I’m particularly worried about on Friday because I was in Warwick Hospital
No health issues for years then everything at once.
Oh... and I had an orthopedic appointment in between A&E visits last week to try to progress treatment for a knee injury that happened in January. Snapped my ACL, stretched my MCL and knackered my cartilage and meniscus. I have at least made some headway with that - waiting list for arthroscopy & (maybe) ACL reconstruction. But bejesus what a year!
Jesus.
I know the NHS is stretched but those wait times are astonishing. Hope everything goes OK, keep us posted.
Will do cougar, thanks. Still waiting to see someone other than the triage nurse in Warwick A&E. Might be a couple more hours yet.
"Everything ask at once" isn't that how it bleedin' goes eh?!
Going to be a long night but thank goodness for mobile phones eh?
You should be able to reschedule that biopsy asap I would have though?
You should be able to reschedule that biopsy asap I would have though?
Already have done! And yeah, my mobile has been an absolute life saver - in fact quite literally earlier this evening!
Well that's a hell of a read. And echo the "how long?!" ambulance wait times - what on earth is going on with the NHS.
Anyhow, best of luck fella. Why don't you read some legendary threads to pass the time? Here's one to start you off...
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/legal-advice-please-cancelling-a-new-car-dispute/
Cheers, I will take a look.
I've been seen. It initially looked like they were going to send me home. Rationale, I've stopped bleeding, it's not currently life threatening, there's no beds.
But they did a blood test which shows fairly significant blood loss. But it was a quick and dirty test so they need to do a follow up which will take a couple of hours to come back. It will be morning then. Hopefully I can then sit in the waiting room or whatever until I can see an ENT doc.
Had the dilema whether to let my son go, but he's been driving all day. Liverpool to Ludlow, Ludlow to Hereford, Hereford to Warwick now back to Ludlow. Decided it's best he goes to try to grab some sleep.
Said that I was worried to go home because of our rural location and ambulance wait times and that I don't think I could deal with s repeat bleed like the last one on own.
We shall see. Absolute nightmare?
Sounds horrifying op 😳
If you really need anything, I'm working down the road a bit in Leamington so should be able to help.
Hope you get sorted. Been to Warwick A&E a few times myself over the years.
Thanks @Kayak23 that's really kind 👍 Still sat in A&E waiting for blood test results but don't really need anything right now.
Bloody hell... that's... well... horrific...
Hope you get sorted today and a proper resolution... you must have been sodding terrified...
Congrats on not carking it 😀
Hope you get sorted today and a proper resolution
Thanks 👍
… you must have been sodding terrified…
Oh yes!
Congrats on not carking it 😀
So far....
Blood test just back. Haemoglobin levels confirms I lost a fairly significant amount of blood (I think they maybe though I was exaggerating that bit - I wasn't).
I am still in A&E waiting, they have suggested I stay here 'til the night staff hand over to the day staff at 0800 and someone from ENT who knows my recent history can advise. It's a PITA sat here all night, but at least if I have another big bleed I'm in the right place to get it seen to pronto. The thought of going back to rural Shropshire without a diagnosis/treatment, with multiple hour ambulance waits terrifies me.
Jesus OP. Really glad you’re still in A&E and hopefully once the day shift starts this can get sorted.
Oof that all sounds grim, don't blame you for wanting to stay at the hospital either - what a nightmare. Hope they get to the bottom of it this time and sort it out properly so you can just get on with recovering!
Jings op,you've been through the mill, hope they get it sorted asap. All the best.
Thanks all 👍
Edit:
They are going to admit me to a ward. Might only be temporary til ENT see me or might be full admission. Don't know yet.
Great news on being admitted, fingers crossed for today.
Glad you’re in the right place now OP, I’d have been quite frankly crapping myself so well done for holding it all together.
And if you don’t mind me asking, I really hope you didn’t offer to pay for the vase.
Jeez, sounds like an OTT episode of Casualty. I'm interested why this is ENT, I know it's in your neck where they all are but I thought they did pipework, just an interest thing really.
Congrats on not carking it 😀
From the Clinton specialist range.
All sounds overwhelming!
Can you get hold of the ENT surgeon that operated on you, I think they should be best placed to try and figure this out and hopefully fix that artery!
Glad you have been admitted, hopefully they can get you sorted pronto as that sounds scary. Get well soon
Oh, and OP, don't hesitate to ask if you need someone to look after your Tiger for a while 😉😊👍
False start, back in A&E. They say ENT need to see me here ☹️
really hope you didn’t offer to pay for the vase.
Not the vase, offered to let them stick their flowers in my ear instead, but their living room carpet at the foot of the stairs which I trashed with blood. Looked like a murder scene.
I’m interested why this is ENT, I know it’s in your neck where they all are but I thought they did pipework,
The actual wound is right in the crease at the back of my ear, and one piece of glass actually punctured through into my ear canal. There is also a major nerve around there somewhere which can cause facial paralysis if damaged. Apparently ENT are the best qualified to deal with all that.
Can you get hold of the ENT surgeon that operated on you, I think they should be best placed to try and figure this out and hopefully fix that artery!
Agree, but it depends who is on call. They are a small team and I've met them all, I'm fairly sure they will confer. The two ops I've already had were done by different people
Oh, and OP, don’t hesitate to ask if you need someone to look after your Tiger for a while 😉😊👍
I travelled to the do on it 2 weeks ago and it was stranded here 'til Saturday. I actually could have done with someone to ride it home for me! Then I remembered Triumph Assist/RAC and got it recovered home on Saturday. It will be a while before I can put a motorbike helmet on!
Oh man your are goign through it @blokeuptheroad, hope this time they can properly sort you out mate! Fingers crossed for today
what the hell is going on with the NHS
This in a nutshell plus a bit of COVID backlog
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62267282
If you're hanging around and allowed to eat I can recommend the samosas at lakin stores, just a short walk from A&E
You’ve really been through the mill - hope it gets properly sorted for you today, take care
David
Thanks all. Samosas sound good! But will hold off in case they need to operate
Flippin' heck blokeuptheroad, you are really going through it. That whole experience sounds terrifying. Particularly the uncontrolled bleeding.
Hope your biopsy goes well mate. I've got mine tomorrow (PSA 374, bla, bla, bla).
Don't be on your own again until this bleeding is fixed. I'm happy to come and sit with you... but live near Stockport so need plenty of notice!
Feel for you mate. I was in Hereford a couple of weeks ago with a TIA, the folk that work there are ace! Even with them asking for my BP and blood sugar every hour during the night!!
But you are in the best place despite all the issues that the NHS have at the moment.
OMG blockuptheroad - what a trauma.
I wish you all the best. Good job you seem to be calm and rational.
bunnyhop x
@stanley call me or nbt if you need anything - you know where we are.
Good luck to you both.
Thanks all
@stanley that is an incredible offer, I welled up when I read that! This place is awesome? I do have family and friends relatively close I can call on though. All the very best for you biopsy message me if you want a chat, I'd say phone but it's a bit awkward at the mo. I'm in with ENT now. Talk of blood transfusion and 3rd operation, TBC
All change. Seen ENT consultants. Swelling has gone right down, bleeding stopped some time ago. HB shows blood loss but not sufficient for a transfusion. Still on antibiotics in case of infection. Risk/benefit analysis of stabilise and monitor or open my head up for the third time. They went with the former. Pressure dressing applied. Having a fry up in the hospital cafe and kicking my heels for a couple of hours 'til the wife collects me. Light duties on the sofa 'til I come back here for a follow up on Wednesday.
I was really, really grateful for this place in the wee small hours when I was properly crapping myself, as a place to vent and talk (type). Thanks all, you're ace.
"Great news" mate if you know what I mean.
I echo the sentiment about this place in the dark of night, I found it very useful too.
Hopefully you will be well on the mend now buddy.
Rest up, you've lost a lot of blood and take it easy. Have the checked for any more glass fragments.
Poopscoop amen! Thanks mate
Rest up, you’ve lost a lot of blood and take it easy. Have the checked for any more glass fragments
Thanks, will do. The consultant I saw today was the one who did my last op. She's convinced they got the glass last time and the issue is just the plethora of veins, arteries and blood vessels in that part of your head. They had great difficulty doing a soft tissue X-ray to see the two remaining tiny grains of glass last time and only managed because my hematoma was huge and it pushed them far enough from my skull to get an angie to see them on X-ray. Now the swelling has gone right down, they probably wouldn't be able to do it.
I was going to bring you a sandwich, but I'm sure your wife will now. 😊👍
Glad you've got some positive direction.
Maybe we can have a whip round for a new vase?
Maybe we can have a whip round for a new vase?
😂
Thanks for the sandwich thought, but fry up duly despatched! I didn't eat from yesterday afternoon in case of GA/op so was ravenous.
Maybe we can have a whip round for a new vase?
Probably better to have a whip-round for a crime scene cleaner for his mates carpet
Blimey
Sounds like you are lucky to be alive.
Waiting and waiting for an ambo knowing you desperately need a surgeon must be proper scary.
I think this will be the new normal for a while though.
Hopefully they can get at any remaining glasd shards and re seal the artery.
Samosas sound good! But will hold off in case they need to operate
Probably for the best. You wouldn't want to risk slipping into a korma.
Having a fry up in the hospital cafe
I've not had one in there since pre COVID, the sausage sarnies were good!
I'm on annual leave this week otherwise I'd have popped over to peer at your wound. If you're back next week let me know. I know where all the best places for cake are!
Probably for the best. You wouldn’t want to risk slipping into a korma
Deserved 👏👏👏👏
I’m on annual leave this week otherwise I’d have popped over to peer at your wound. If you’re back next week let me know. I know where all the best places for cake are!
I'm back on Wednesday for a follow outpatients at the ENT clinic if you fancy meeting for a coffee.
Probably for the best. You wouldn’t want to risk slipping into a korma
😂 Much needed chuckle, ta muchly!
Glad to read you’ve seen the specialist and are in good hands. Please update the thread after Wednesday.
Blimey a very scary situation to be in!
Unfortunately it’s not necessarily that there are not enough ambulances, more the fact they are sat outside A&E waiting to off load patients
Unfortunately one of the hospitals you mention routinely has 50+ people who are fit for discharge every day, this has a knock on effect to every ambulance arriving
Make sure you have someone close to hand in case you need rushing in again.
Hope you get sorted
@FunkyDunc thanks. The West Mids ambulance staff were superb and I had a long chat with them on the hour or journey to Hereford. They confirmed exactly that, they weren't particularly stretched, they just faced huge queues to unload at most of their destinations. As it happened I didn't have to wait in the ambulance at Hereford, but I was never really dealt with because it was just swamped with dozens of cases and some very serious. They quoted a 6-8 hour wait, but I spoke to people who'd been there 10 hours, some quite clearly in a lot of pain. They effectively just discharged me early without any treatment because they couldn't deal with me. The ambulance crew had stopped the bleed so that was it.
My wife is now home and my son is staying over for a couple of days to help if needed. I am laid flat and taking things very slowly. I think I am still feeling the effects of blood loss - dizziness etc when I stand up. I am taking iron supplements and trying to eat healthily and keep fluid intake up. I am also trying very hard not to exert myself which I think is what caused the vein to pop and bleed. I am basically acting like I'm still in hospital and will do for the next few days at least.
@funkmansterp, I will do, thanks 👍
Take care, whilst your body will have replaced much of the fluids, it will take time for your red blood cell count to get back to normal, a few weeks I think, so you'll be running a bit low.
Good to hear that things are improving.
It will be a while before I can put a motorbike helmet on!
Don't walk down any stairs in the dark until you can!