To go to A&E or wait for doctor's appointment in a week's time

[Piratepete1]

I am really worried I have ovarian cancer. I have all the symptoms which have been getting worse over the last 2 weeks. Today I have fainted twice (have never fainted before in my life) and have awful stabbing pains low down to one side. I've taken the max painkillers today and am still stooped over. DH says A&E but I think they won't be able to do anything and I just need to wait for a dr's referral.

Any advice please?

Hope you're ok

Pretty panic stricken to be honest. I've negotiated going to see the OOH when my husband gets home.

From what you have said, an ambulance is entirely justified. As others have said, one sided abdo pain and fainting twice could be a lot of things but must be taken seriously.

You must get to A&E tonight.

Hope you get sorted soon

Quick get a bag with the bare minimum for your kids (favourite toys, a pillow?, little jumper, snack and drink, a book, an ipad?) to keep them occupied until your husband can pick them up.

Grab a book, a jumper, your phone charger, some cash and your toothbrush for you.

Good luck!

Hmm. I'll be very surprised if the OOH doesn't send you to A&E.

Low right hand side... Feels about the size of a satsuma... Sitting upright isn't comfortable?

sorry, cross-post.

Really don't worry, the most painful thing is not necessarily the worst medically.

Can you take the dc with you to ooh and get your dh to meet you there?

Have you taken a hpt? Ectopic preg needs to be ruled out with abdominal pain and fainting

I hope you get sorted soon!

Pack an overnight bag for OOH, I suspect they'll admit you.

Is there any chance at all you that you could be pregnant and it's a possible ectopic? I have never known pain like it when I had my ectopic a couple of years ago, I'm good with pain but I threw up and fainted. I also have severe constipation and bleeding.

Appendicitis can cause constipation and an inability to pass wind.

Please to to A&E or ooh when your dh gets home x

Could be lots of things- would not put ovarian cancer on the list.
More likely:
Appendicitis
Ovarian cyst about to rupture
Ectopic pregnancy
Nasty abcess somewhere internally

You MUST go to A and E. Severe abdominal pain should never be ignored. I speak as someone who did and ended up in an operating theatre- not serious but could have been treated less dramatically and invasively 10 days earlier.

When is your husband due to get back? Is it work? Why can't he claim a medical emergency and leave?

Your dh will be home in 40 minutes. Have you told him? Leave dc with a neighbour.

Also, if the pain is really bad- enough for you to faint and feel sick- you should not be driving or wearing a seatbelt. You should have let them send an ambulance to take you to A and E.
Not trying to scare you but if the pain is that bad you should be seen at a hospital not by a locum at OOH. You are being foolish not to take the advice of 111. A locum could dismiss it as something and put in place a 'holding' treatment until tomorrow. A hospital will do a proper assessment - bloods, scan etc.

but OOH will send you to A&E anyway and you can't drive there...

can you call 111 back and tell them to send it ? Or go in a cab?

Has 111 told OOH to expect you? They have done when I've had to take my kids before. How are you getting there? Is your OH coming home early? They should be!

Poor you that sounds awful. Hope you get seen and sorted quickly. It does sound more acute illness than cancer to me xx

I don't know if these things are allowed to be declared on MN but I am an Senior A&E Nurse and if you are truly worried about something you should come to A&E. If you can do so safely without an ambulance thats great. You will see a triage nurse before you see a Dr who will assess you and help you make a plan. We order bloods, x-rays and other tests at triage if we feel you need them and give painkillers, so that when you see the Dr they have everything they need to go on.

You may have a bit of a wait, but if you are waiting thats good because it means that you are able to wait. The worst that can happen re. wasting time is you see a nurse like me, I listen to you, run some simple tests and then tell you to see your GP. A&E is for emergencies but sometimes being truly worried about something is an emergency. Its what we are here for. Hopefully all will be well, you sound exhausted and ado pain and change in bowel can be, but isn't always connected to anxiety.

I hope your Dh has come back early and you're on your way to hospital now.

Agree with others that it is far more likely to be something else rather than cancer. But as others have said abdo pain, particularly with fainting is definitely worth a trip to A&E. Fingers crossed for you OP

I wouldn't bother with OOH I think you either need a&e or a proper urgent referral from your GP to a specialist. as previous poster has said appendix / gynae problems in the form a cyst - actually an ovarian cyst might cause odd bleeding and hurt on bursting.

Agree OOH will either tell you to go to A&E or at the most give you painkillers.

Lots of possibles need to be ruled out, some of them (such as an ectopic pregnancy) need to be seen urgently.

i think you should go to straight to A&E rather than via OOH.