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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be angry with this Dr in A&E??

86 replies

whenskiesaregrey · 14/11/2011 19:33

I am currently 5-6 weeks pregnant. Yesterday I started getting some pain down my right side, predominantly just below my right rib. I was a bit worried but tried not to let it bother me too much. I had a mmc in August, and don't know if I am just reading into things too much.

Today, at about 11am, I started getting sharp pains in my right shoulder. I was in work at the time about 150 miles from home, and wasn't sure what to do. So I rang NHS Direct, who weren't that helpful to be honest. I remember from when I was miscarrying (there was a period of about 7 days where no-one was sure whether I was miscarrying or the pregnancy was ectopic) the midwife told me, if I ever had any shoulder pain to admit myself to hospital straight away. Having googled this, I know that it can be a sign of some internal bleeding, or irritation. I was worried that I was so far away from home, with a 2 hour journey at least. I also have my 2 year old DS with me, who was being minded by my dad at the time. There is an A&E about 5 miles from where I was working, so after about an hour I decided to go along.

After waiting for about an hour and a half in A&E, a Dr took my blood pressure and pulse, and then walked off. The Dr then came back in and asked what the problem was, so I explained. He then walked off again. 20 minutes later a nurse came in and requested a urine sample. I asked the nurse would it be better if I left my bladder full incase they were going to scan me, and she said 'we won't scan you here love, we don't do gynae stuff'. I was then told to go back to the waiting area. At this point I was wondering what I was actually waiting for if they wouldn't scan me, or they didn't do 'gynae stuff'' I waited for another 45 mins, and another Dr then shouted me in and asked what the problem was, so I explained again. He asked me if I had injured my shoulder, and if I had full range of movement etc, which I do. He then paused and asked 'so, what is it you are here for'. So I said that I was concerned about the possibility of the pregnancy being ectopic and that I had previously been told to look out for shoulder pain. He chuckled and said if I wasn't being sick or bleeding (which I'm not) it won't be ectopic. He said he had never heard of shoulder pain as a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy. I said it was a midwife that had told me about it previously, so he said 'I'll ask if anyone else has ever heard of it'. He then stood on the other side of the curtain and shouting around the assessment area 'has anyone ever heard of shoulder pain being a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy?' to which I heard a few replied of no. He then returned to the cubicle, shrugged his shoulders, laughed and said 'you must have misunderstood what you read, this isn't ectopic'. At which point I picked my coat up and walked out.

AIBU to be upset at his attitude? And AIBU to go to A&E with shoulder pain at 6 weeks pregnant? Is he right and have I misunderstood? I was so annoyed when I left; I felt like he spoke to me like a child. I explained to him I had had a miscarriage in August, but he still treated me like a silly little girl. Am I just being hormonal?

Sorry for such a ramble, I just wanted to include as much detail as possible.

OP posts:
fit2drop · 14/11/2011 21:57

Can I still make a complaint if I don't know what the Drs name is?

Read the link I put up there about PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Services)
It should tell you all you need to know .

whenskiesaregrey · 14/11/2011 21:58

I am still having the pain, but it hasn't worsened, so I am less worried than I was earlier today. Thank you.

OP posts:
whenskiesaregrey · 14/11/2011 22:02

Thanks fit2drop, I have saved the link.

OP posts:
libelulle · 14/11/2011 22:26

Incidentally www.ectopic.org.uk is the website of the ectopic pregnancy trust and there is a load of really useful information on there. They also have a helpline and an excessively moderated messageboard. I didn't have shoulder pain myself but I do know that it is a very very specific type of pain - it may be that hearing the exact description might help identify exactly what you might be dealing with here.

lilbitneurotic · 14/11/2011 22:38

To put your mind a little at ease (sorry I didn't read the whole thread so may be duplicating) by the time I developed shoulder tip pain I was also passing out everytime I sat up. I think its quite a late symptom in the scheme of things, and quite an acute pain worsened by breathing.

Ilanthe · 14/11/2011 22:44

Oh and also to add how seriously some hospitals take it, they scanned me despite my blood test coming up as BFN on the basis I had had a faint positive a couple of days earlier.

It makes me bloody glad to live close to a good hospital. Last time I was at Solihull (many years ago) they stitched my forehead up after a playground football match got out of hand. Grin Still got the scar...

Towndon · 15/11/2011 09:30

Hope you're feeling better today OP?

whenskiesaregrey · 15/11/2011 12:48

Thanks Towndon, I am in work today. I'm still having the pains, but drinking peppermint tea. I'm assuming I would have seen more serious concequences by now if it was something related to an ectopic. So, I guess I was just over-worrying after all (hopefully).

So sorry to hear all those that have been through an ectopic pregnancy.

OP posts:
SusanneLinder · 15/11/2011 13:45

I would definitely complain about the Doctor. Many first line doctors you see in A and E are juniors, so he def needs more training. Instead of laughing at you,he should be severely rapped on the knuckles.Or referred you to Obs/Gyn.Midwives will be more specialised in early pregnancy than most A and E doctors, cos that is their speciality.

And I hope you are okay.

cheesypopfan · 15/11/2011 13:56

Please do complain, that Dr sounds like such a cocky arse. I am a nurse in A&E and, believe me, Drs like this (and nurses) will only ever change their practice if they are held to account. You were treated so poorly, at a time when you were very concerned about the implication of this pain, and were then humiliated by the way the Dr shouted across the room. Dreadful.

Hope you are ok now - do get checked out at a walk in/GP or back at A&E if you are still concerned

Piffle · 15/11/2011 14:05

Worth noting though by the time you get the shoulder tip pain, you are close to being in serious trouble...
But they were wrong to be so dimissive

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