"Kidney infection"

I experienced the common side effects after my COVID booster. After feeling very unwell for a number of days, I presented to my GP hoping to get some relief or explanation of what was going on.

After discussing my symptoms and an initial urine test, a kidney infection was suspected and suggested that this would be best managed in hospital, especially with my other (worsening and ongoing) symptoms. A letter was provided to me to take to ED, explaining my situation.

I rang the hospital before presenting as I wanted to avoid ED, but I was instructed to present to ED and things would go on from there.

So my sibling took me to ED and we went (quite quickly) through the COVID screening protocols before taking a seat in the Amber area.

Then started nearly a six hour wait before I was seen.....

In that time my temperature spiked, I was shivering with chills, was extremely nauseous and in a lot of pain.

When I finally was seen I was given initial treatment and then shifted to another area. I explained that I lived alone and did not feel safe going home in the state that I was in, but felt that I was an extreme inconvenience and ended up almost begging to stay.

I was moved to short stay and the care I received there was amazing - the nurses listened to me and I finally felt supported and cared for.

But after dawn I was required to leave - I agreed there was nothing else that ED could do for me, but I was not given any information or documentation of treatment received that I could follow up with my GP, and I left feeling worse than went I went in - but at least I was rehydrated.....

I appreciate these are busy times in our ED, and I was conscious of adding to the load, but I only attended on advice of my GP.

It was a most distressing experience.