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AIBU?

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AIBU to expect investigation as well as pain management in hospital?

15 replies

Madcatwoman123 · 24/09/2026 02:50

Posting here for traffic and advice more than an AIBU, but also happy for views on if I am being unreasonable.

Currently my DD (young adult, needs help with advocating for herself) is in hospital with undiagnosed severe stomach pains. This has been going on for a very long time and no specialisms have ever really helped despite many referrals by the GP.

DD has been in for nearly a week, focus seems to be completely on pain management rather than looking for the actual cause. Gynaecology has been the main area of focus (mainly at our insistence based on how the pain mostly presents) but they are only really considering tests on more of an outpatient timeline than inpatient and they have only seen her for about 10 minutes in the whole time she has been in. They only reviewed her because we went to PALS!

No one has suggested getting any other specialisms involved and, like I say, the focus seems to be just on pain management with no improvement in pain levels at all the whole time she has been in.

As I said, we went to PALS and the Matron of the ward has got involved and has been really helpful but we aren't getting anywhere. I guess my AIBU is, am I expecting too much for a hospital to be focusing on the cause (and looking at that urgently with tests) as well as pain management?

Also, if anyone has any suggestions on what else I should be doing to escalate our concerns I would really appreciate advice.

I want to emphasise I don't want this to turn into an NHS bashing thread as I have seem some incredible health professionals being severely let down by the system they are operating in. I just need some advice and other perspectives.

OP posts:
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Fieldday26 · 24/09/2026 09:38

I don’t think you are being unreasonable but your experience is what we have experienced with care as well.

My DF keeps getting admitted with various symptoms, they treat the symptoms, discharge him saying it’s now under control and someone from x clinic will be in touch. No one seems to care why the things are happening to start with.

Stormydog · 24/09/2026 09:29

I have endo suspect last 20 years still no lap, just given transamic acid and left to it. Hope your daughter is ok but I’m not at all surprised in her treatment x

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 24/09/2026 09:28

I’m not entirely sure how to phrase this, as it can sound accusatory. But don’t insist on a diagnosis. This is the sure way to get the wrong one. My sister’s husband insisted on a diagnosis and she was erroneously diagnosed with epilepsy. This put her on unpleasant and unnecessary medication, and delayed her eventual diagnosis, which may possibly have led to poorer outcomes.

Best wishes to your DD and you. I hope the right diagnosis and treatment happen very soon.

MissMoneyFairy · 24/09/2026 09:25

I'd call the Martha Rule number and ask for a second opinion, her ct abd uss were normal so she needs further tests. What pain meds is she on now.

MissyB1 · 24/09/2026 09:00

You absolutely shouldn't have to but I would be investigating private options. I had to pay for a hernia repair last year, I didnt fancy leaving it until it got became a medical emergency - which is basically all the NHS was going to do.

Octavia64 · 24/09/2026 08:51

Presume they are considering endo.

yes, it can only be diagnosed via a Lap.

i was in a similar situation twenty years ago who I was a uni student. I used to collapse with the pain and then be admitted but being admitted doesn’t get you any further up the lap queue, just better painkillers.

I paid and went private after my second admission (thanks to my grandma giving me the money).

yes they’ll look to stabilise and get home. You may get better painkillers from them.

not sure how much a private lap is these days but if you can afford it do it.

Madcatwoman123 · 24/09/2026 08:47

ThisSunnyBea · 24/09/2026 08:38

Has she seen the pain management team? They can offer suggestions that perhaps the medical drs aren’t.

Has she has any scans? Ultrasound or CT? If she’s not improving then you can ask to see different doctors- what have medical said? She won’t see gynaecology on a medical ward unless the medics refer to them. She needs to push to see a gynae if that’s what she thinks it is and then ask why she isn’t being scheduled for a lap whilst she is an inpatient. Have they considered other options- gall stones, hernia. Etc?

She saw the pain management team but he wasn't much help. Just kept saying they need her off IV pain relief and meds she can't have at home. They definitely weren't helpful in terms of pushing for the underlying cause to be investigated.

CT and ultrasound have been done with nothing showing, however, from a gynae perspective the conditions being considered can only be diagnosed via surgery. Nothing else from a gastro perspective is being discussed (or not with us). The medical team who admitted her have said they are not her treating doctors just agreed she needed pain management and just keep saying gynae need to review her.

OP posts:
Bitsostuff · 24/09/2026 08:40

Madcatwoman123 · 24/09/2026 08:31

They agreed to a laparoscopy a few months ago and have agreed to expedite it but we don't know when it is. Other specialisms who have popped in during some emergency moments have said she needs it while she is in now, so that conditions can start to be ruled out, but as Gynae aren't even regularly reviewing her now whilst she is in (and haven't accepted her as their inpatient) we can't even discuss that with them.

Go back to PALS and start making complaints about gynaecology in particular. Sorry but it sounds as though you're really going to fight this (think velvet bulldozer - look it up if you don't know what I mean).

ThisSunnyBea · 24/09/2026 08:38

Has she seen the pain management team? They can offer suggestions that perhaps the medical drs aren’t.

Has she has any scans? Ultrasound or CT? If she’s not improving then you can ask to see different doctors- what have medical said? She won’t see gynaecology on a medical ward unless the medics refer to them. She needs to push to see a gynae if that’s what she thinks it is and then ask why she isn’t being scheduled for a lap whilst she is an inpatient. Have they considered other options- gall stones, hernia. Etc?

Bitsostuff · 24/09/2026 08:35

YANBU

They should be looking to diagnose now even if the actual treatment comes a bit further down the line. Especially as they aren't able to control her pain.

Madcatwoman123 · 24/09/2026 08:31

HoppingPavlova · 24/09/2026 07:49

So, no gynae tests are being organised on an outpatient basis? In which case, then I do believe you have a genuine concern.

They agreed to a laparoscopy a few months ago and have agreed to expedite it but we don't know when it is. Other specialisms who have popped in during some emergency moments have said she needs it while she is in now, so that conditions can start to be ruled out, but as Gynae aren't even regularly reviewing her now whilst she is in (and haven't accepted her as their inpatient) we can't even discuss that with them.

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HoppingPavlova · 24/09/2026 07:49

So, no gynae tests are being organised on an outpatient basis? In which case, then I do believe you have a genuine concern.

Madcatwoman123 · 24/09/2026 07:21

HoppingPavlova · 24/09/2026 04:13

It’s a bit confusing. You believe the origin of the pain is gynae. They have arranged gynae tests on an outpatient basis. They are managing pain.

If that’s correct, what do you want done? If it is gynae as thought, this will come up in the tests when these occur and appropriate treatment would then follow. If the tests indicate it’s not gynae in origin, then the list of potential specialties would be worked through via process of elimination. That’s how diagnosis works, it would be rare for every potential specialty to be involved concurrently.

My DD is on a general ward as she was admitted to try and get her pain under control and Gynaecology refused to admit her. The concern we have is that other doctors on the ward rounds etc are saying Gynaecology need to do diagnostic surgery now but Gynaecology won't but everyone else is saying serious Gynaecology issues need ruling out now so that they can move onto other possibilities.

They are also not managing the pain and they have said this on the ward. The amount and type of medication being given is only increasing with no positive effect, they just can't seem to get it under control. From our perspective, there is no clarity who is supervising/leading her care (Gynaecology certainly aren't). I hate seeing my DD in such pain and it has been going on for so long now and it just doesn’t feel like there is a focus on getting to the root cause.

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 24/09/2026 04:13

It’s a bit confusing. You believe the origin of the pain is gynae. They have arranged gynae tests on an outpatient basis. They are managing pain.

If that’s correct, what do you want done? If it is gynae as thought, this will come up in the tests when these occur and appropriate treatment would then follow. If the tests indicate it’s not gynae in origin, then the list of potential specialties would be worked through via process of elimination. That’s how diagnosis works, it would be rare for every potential specialty to be involved concurrently.

AlwayAnxious · 24/09/2026 03:57

Do a

Marthas rule

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