Page 5 | urgent gynae advise needed for teenager please

Crackalac · 2024-04-23T09:34:14+00:00

life's been a bit chaotic and I just can't think straight, so this might be obvious dd13 started with what we thought was severe menstrual cramps on Saturday. this is normal for her but this was more extreme.... vomiting and fainted. but me and other dd experience bad periods so horrid but didn't worry too much it has improved since but she is still getting waves of pain where she can't walk, peeing hurts, keeping her awake etc etc it occurred to us that she has not long finished a period and so we went to OOH last night. they ruled out appendicitis and urine infection, and do think it's gynae. they didn't have access to a CT scanner and told us to see GP today. I have been trying to contact GP anyway since yesterday and have received a text message saying phone lines are down, should get a response in 2 days I think she needs a scan. I don't think she should wait 6 months for GP to refer her to gynae. but currently she isn't in extreme pain so I don't feel like we can go to AnE. she fell asleep about 6am so is currently settled

Maglian · 24/04/2024 09:23

Well done OP. A victory for maternal instinct and your tenacity. Your daughter is in good hands with you.

BabyEmber · 24/04/2024 09:59

This is awful.

Well done op for advocating for your dd and being a great mum.

How is she this morning?

longtompot · 24/04/2024 10:48

@Crackalac I am so glad you've finally got someone to actually listen to your dd and she is getting help now. Absolutely go to PALS about your experience.

As an aside, when I was very anaemic one of my signs was anxiety, to the point I couldn't eat. Hopefully this is the case with your dd and once her heavy periods are sorted out the anaemia can be sorted and this in turn with help with her anxiety 💐

ImNotAPanda · 24/04/2024 11:05

Huge well done for taking her back to a different place and I hope she gets a diagnosis and treatment today

Mynewnameis · 24/04/2024 11:12

Well done for pushing.
I had appendicitis and was picked up quickly by infection markers and then a scan. I was shocked as was starting to feel better by that point.
I recovered really quickly from surgery done keyhole.

YoureAGoodManArthurMorgan · 24/04/2024 11:56

Crackalac · 24/04/2024 06:58

no, they didn't do blood tests at the first hospital. he said that blood test wouldn't be helpful because he had ruled out infection, based on her having normal vitals and a clear urine test. he said the blood test would show raised inflammatory markers for sure, but that wouldn't explain why they were raised.

I wish I had challenged him about the scan being dangerous. in my head I was thinking US scan doesn't use radiation, why is he saying that. I hadn't processed that he was talking about a CT scan. why would he use a CT scan for this, US makes much more sense

I have felt inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt because the nurse we saw in out of hours the night before also said it wasn't appendicitis...although she did caveat that with, need a scan/didn't have access to a scanner.

but the Dr we saw last night when we got to the children's hospital said that she is showing classic signs of appendicitis. she did a blood test straight away. she said sometimes on day 1 or 2 of symptoms, then a blood test isn't helpful because it takes a while to show in a blood test. but 4 days in, then it definitely would. and she DOES have low grade fever. temperature has been consistently high whilst we have been here. I find it hard to believe that it was normal when they took it in the previous hospital

I'm really struggling with why he thought it was ok to send a 13 year old away to wait 3 weeks to see the GP, with pain that was preventing her from standing/walking or even sitting up for long 🤷🏼‍♀️. I do remember a paediatrician telling me once about 'adultification' by professionals (we were discussing teachers at school at the time) because 1) she is very tall and 2) she is Black. And over the years since then I have read about experiences of Black women giving birth and how they aren't given pain killers so early because they are expected to have better pain tolerance. and I KNOW that women in general often have their pain overlooked in health care. I dunno, who could say really. I'm just so glad that I didn't just take her home and put her to bed!

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Absolutely, her pain wasn't taken seriously. That was a clear indication that something wasn't right and shouldn't be left to fester for weeks.

I'm also suspicious about her vitals too. I bet she was also showing as being a little feverish there too and the decision was made to disregard it.

I hope she's going to get some answers and treatment today and feels better soon. You're a great role model to show her to put your foot down about poor treatment. I wish I'd had a mum like you with me when I was sick 🌺

Original poster

Crackalac · 24/04/2024 20:59

if any one is interested, it wasn't appendicitis!! (so maybe first 2 hospitals had a point). her diagnosis is Pelvic Inflammatory disease! and fallopian tube infection. she has a 2 cm cyst on her ovary and free fluid which they said suggests there was another one which burst. she is home on substantial course of antibiotics and then she will have an outpatient appointment with gynae to rescan and discuss

something I have noticed in the report since I got home, which they didn't talk to us about...the volumes of her ovaries are 9.5ml on the non painful side and 17.4ml on the painful side. I don't know about the significance of volume but Google is telling me that normal is 6-7ml. and over 10ml is suggestive of PCOS. does anyone have any knowledge of significance of ovary volume?

I'm a bit worried that she will have fallopian tube damage, but we will have to wait and see

OP posts:

Original poster

Crackalac · 24/04/2024 20:59

YoureAGoodManArthurMorgan · 24/04/2024 11:56

Absolutely, her pain wasn't taken seriously. That was a clear indication that something wasn't right and shouldn't be left to fester for weeks.

I'm also suspicious about her vitals too. I bet she was also showing as being a little feverish there too and the decision was made to disregard it.

I hope she's going to get some answers and treatment today and feels better soon. You're a great role model to show her to put your foot down about poor treatment. I wish I'd had a mum like you with me when I was sick 🌺

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aaah shucks, that's a lovely thing to say

OP posts:

Mumaway · 24/04/2024 21:07

Crackalac · 23/04/2024 12:02

well, when she pressed on her uterus, it was painful

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Bobbins. The uterus is behind the bladder, and depending on when she last pooed also behind a loaded colon. Not even someone with magic fingers could say pain was from a uterus (which incidentally is the least likely of the female Gynae organs to actually cause acute pain).
You daughter needs a scan- appendix would still be top of the list with fever and lower abdomen pain

YoureAGoodManArthurMorgan · 25/04/2024 02:11

Crackalac · 24/04/2024 20:59

if any one is interested, it wasn't appendicitis!! (so maybe first 2 hospitals had a point). her diagnosis is Pelvic Inflammatory disease! and fallopian tube infection. she has a 2 cm cyst on her ovary and free fluid which they said suggests there was another one which burst. she is home on substantial course of antibiotics and then she will have an outpatient appointment with gynae to rescan and discuss

something I have noticed in the report since I got home, which they didn't talk to us about...the volumes of her ovaries are 9.5ml on the non painful side and 17.4ml on the painful side. I don't know about the significance of volume but Google is telling me that normal is 6-7ml. and over 10ml is suggestive of PCOS. does anyone have any knowledge of significance of ovary volume?

I'm a bit worried that she will have fallopian tube damage, but we will have to wait and see

Oh, bless her! She has all my sympathy. It's not a fun thing to happen to you.

Wow, I'm even more impressed now you pushed for help. I know myself how incredibly painful it can get so honestly I'm just so glad for her that you saved her from letting it get any worse.

I recommend raising her knees up with some pillows to relieve any pain she's in. That really helped me. I'd say it took me a good couple of weeks to feel well enough to walk around easily so would be great for her to have some nice things to do while convalescing. I had some lingering pain for several weeks, but it has all resolved now and I've had no trouble at all since.

I did have some quite delayed periods for a while too. So look out for that. Again, they're all resolved now and like clockwork again. Hopefully she might find they're lighter once she's better, as you did say they were quite heavy.

Sending her all my best wishes for a full recovery 🌺🌺🌺

Nat6999 · 25/04/2024 03:15

Speak to your GP if you don't think things are moving fast enough with appointments & ask for a choose & book referral to your nearest private hospital to see a gynacologist, you get treated but the NHS pays & you get seen much quicker. The gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis is a laparoscopy, I was initially diagnosed with PID until I had the lap & then they found endometriosis, they can remove the cyst at the same time. She could also be given norethisterone to stop her periods in the meantime instead of the pill.

MumMumMumMumMumMumMum · 25/04/2024 06:21

Crackalac · 24/04/2024 20:59

if any one is interested, it wasn't appendicitis!! (so maybe first 2 hospitals had a point). her diagnosis is Pelvic Inflammatory disease! and fallopian tube infection. she has a 2 cm cyst on her ovary and free fluid which they said suggests there was another one which burst. she is home on substantial course of antibiotics and then she will have an outpatient appointment with gynae to rescan and discuss

something I have noticed in the report since I got home, which they didn't talk to us about...the volumes of her ovaries are 9.5ml on the non painful side and 17.4ml on the painful side. I don't know about the significance of volume but Google is telling me that normal is 6-7ml. and over 10ml is suggestive of PCOS. does anyone have any knowledge of significance of ovary volume?

I'm a bit worried that she will have fallopian tube damage, but we will have to wait and see

Oh bless her, I've been there with ruptured cysts, pcos, very painful. I hope she's feeling a bit better soon

Neurodiversitydoctor · 25/04/2024 06:24

arsey23 · 23/04/2024 10:36

Could it be a cyst? Definitely sounds like she needs a scan. A&E might be your only option, as you say referrals take forever these days.

Please, please don't clog up A&E with this. Do a home pregnancy test and make a GP appointment. Until then regular ibruprofen not on an empty stomach.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 25/04/2024 06:26

Sorry just seen your update poor Dd hope she is feeling better soon.

theduchessofspork · 25/04/2024 06:37

Well done for getting this sorted OP, and you really had to persist.

I would write the mother of all complaint letters to pals, as this case needs to be investigated at all stages.

It’s absolutely unacceptable that anyone - never mind a 13 year old - could have been left in this pain for weeks, simply because no one would do a scan that could lead to a proper diagnoses.

Some of the things it could have been, could have been dangerous.

You’ve done an exceptional job managing this, but not everyone is as well informed or determined as you, so do take this up with PALS if only to advocate for those future patients.

I think going on the pill probably is a good idea for your daughter.

theduchessofspork · 25/04/2024 06:39

Neurodiversitydoctor · 25/04/2024 06:24

Please, please don't clog up A&E with this. Do a home pregnancy test and make a GP appointment. Until then regular ibruprofen not on an empty stomach.

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The OP had every right to go to A&E, having a 13 year old crying in pain with an unidentified gynae issue is not ‘clogging up A&E’ it’s using it correctly.

The comment about a home pregnancy test is also offensive and unnecessary.

RedHelenB · 25/04/2024 06:41

AbbeFausseMaigre · 23/04/2024 10:49

If my 13 year old DD was in so much pain that she vomited and passed out it wouldn't occur to me NOT to go to A&E - and between three children I can count the A&E visits we've made on the finger of one hand. I hope you get some answers and she feels better soon.

But that was due to her period, my dd was the same.

Hols24 · 25/04/2024 06:51

RedHelenB · 25/04/2024 06:41

But that was due to her period, my dd was the same.

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She wasn't even on her period.

HaPPy8 · 25/04/2024 06:52

there is a massive issue with scanning services as there just isn’t capacity in most hospitals for the number of scans required. Our hospital has “extra” lists on every single week for sonographers willing to do extra hours but there is a limit to how many scans they can do and “two week wait” scans are constantly a pressure. The OP daughter doesn’t seem to have been treated well at all but sometimes it’s not as simple as getting a scan when there is huge number of people in the same position and a limited number of people with skills needed to do the examination. The system is failing.

Original poster

Crackalac · 25/04/2024 10:15

Mumaway · 24/04/2024 21:07

Bobbins. The uterus is behind the bladder, and depending on when she last pooed also behind a loaded colon. Not even someone with magic fingers could say pain was from a uterus (which incidentally is the least likely of the female Gynae organs to actually cause acute pain).
You daughter needs a scan- appendix would still be top of the list with fever and lower abdomen pain

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bobbins 😁❤️ I love this

OP posts:

Original poster

Crackalac · 25/04/2024 10:21

HaPPy8 · 25/04/2024 06:52

there is a massive issue with scanning services as there just isn’t capacity in most hospitals for the number of scans required. Our hospital has “extra” lists on every single week for sonographers willing to do extra hours but there is a limit to how many scans they can do and “two week wait” scans are constantly a pressure. The OP daughter doesn’t seem to have been treated well at all but sometimes it’s not as simple as getting a scan when there is huge number of people in the same position and a limited number of people with skills needed to do the examination. The system is failing.

the system definitely is failing, isn't it

once in the children's hospital everything happened quickly and thoroughly..so, there is that. I don't know if it is to do with funding/less pressure on resources?

OP posts:

HaPPy8 · 26/04/2024 08:29

It is. I don’t know the answer. I hope your daughter is feeling better.

urgent gynae advise needed for teenager please

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