to be embarrassed at having to go to A&E for this?

[RentANDBills]

I realise the title sounds like I've shoved something where I shouldn't have (or "tripped and fell") and need it removed. Sorry to disappoint, not one of those stories!!

I had a coil fitted this Saturday and it was excruciating (literally a whole other thread), according to the little booklet afterwards, it shouldn't have been that painful.
Afterwards, Satan's mistress the doctor tried to use an ultrasound on my belly to check it was in the right place.
Because I have, and I quote, a "backwards" uterus, and I was in so much pain I couldn't stay still, she gave up before seeing it.

Cramps are totally normal apparently, but I've been distinctly feeling a stabbing pain - always in the same space, and alongside the cramps. Its not constant, but frequent enough and when I feel it it makes it difficult to stand up.
It feels a lot like something is stuck and is pressing into the side of my uterus, but I'm not convinced that isn't me just with that idea in my head IYSWIM.

I put up with it for several days but in the end called 111 yesterday to ask what to do.
I spoke to a lovely nurse who told me I should get an ultrasound again to try and see that it was in the right place, hadn't perforated my uterus or got stuck in my cervix. She said to go to A+E.

I said I didn't really fancy getting out of my PJs and wasting an evening in A+E that I could spend eating ice cream - which in itself is a good sign of someone who doesn't need to go to A+E. She laughed, agreed and said then if I felt I could cope, to call family planning in the morning (who fitted it).

Now after hours and hours of phone calls, I have found out that there are only two places within travelling distance that have ultrasound that aren't the hospital - neither have doctors present until next Tuesday.
My GP can refer me to the ultrasound at the hospital for an appointment, but again that won't happen until Tuesday. None of the walk in centres have the right equipment.

I don't think I have a choice but to go to A+E (which is literally 2 minutes from work) after work.

But it isn't an Emergency. I feel ridiculous for going, I feel like I'll be wasting their time! This is not the purpose of the service, surely?
I'm embarrassed to trot over and whinge that my "belly hurts" whilst people come in holding their own heads under their elbows etc and have swords coming out their chests.
Though I appreciate that beheadings and sword injuries will have priority.

AIBU?

If you see your GP tomorrow as an emergency then he/she should be able to write you a letter & refer you to the gynae ward of a local hospital to be seen that day. This can even be done via a telephone appointment. I am not sure where you are in the U.K. but this is how we work.

That said, the pain from a migrated coil can be utterly horrific. I would not expect you to be able to climb on a bike, never mind cycle. You can feel the strings so it doesn't sound like it has migrated.

When my first coil part-expelled* the only people who agreed to help me quickly were the gum clinic who fitted me in as an emergency that day, after I sobbed down the phone after the GP refused and told me it would be a 6 week wait for the hospital to scan and take action! (Lots of bleeding and the feeling of sitting on a nail.) Utter bliss when she pulled it out.

*I don't have a good history with the coil. I've turned down the offer of a third.

AgathaMystery There are times in the day where it is so painful I have to stop what I'm going, most of the day its like a bad cramp and sometimes its okay.
I'm very confused by the whole thing.

*what I'm doing

sorry to be thick was it a minors only a and e?

what hospital doesnt have the facilities to scan you?

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

It is MASSIVE.

I was specifically told by the family planning hotline and NHS direct that they'd be able to ultrasound me.

It has an ultrasound department as I actually called them up and spoke to them directly this afternoon

Unless it's a community hospital without an A&E I am confused about the lack of a sonographer too.

Some people just don't get on with the coil, me included.
It was very painful going in despite taking painkillers beforehand and in the weeks following it just felt like it was stabbing me, everytime I bent over or moved in a certain way, I could just feel it and it was like it wasn't meant to be there so I got rid.
Not recommended by the way! It is however a LOT easier coming out as it folds up and pulls straight out. I felt immediately better ☺.
Hope you get sorted soon though. 😊

No out of hours sonographer by the sounds of it & no intention to refer to gynae on call. How weird & unhelpful.

In a similar boat, but for different reason. A month and a half of constant knee pain has lead to excrutiating thigh pain that i cant get in and out of cars or do stairs, get up from sitting down etc. Earliest appointment as 2 weeks away, it's FINALLY coming round on friday, but i had to make the A+E or not decision a few times when i've been in tears from the pain, but reading how so many have 5 hour+ waits and patients on trolleys in hallways i couldn't justify it either. I hope you get sorted and are pain free soon!

Oh no. Hope you're ok and get it sorted out soon. I'm surprised Chelsea and Westminster doesn't have the facility to do an ultrasound scan.

Not unreasonable at all. I too have a retroverted uterus and it sounds like that can make it more painful. I had a lot of pain for the first week and then a lesser amount (like bad period pain) on and off for the next few weeks. At first checkup they referred me to have an ultrasound as the pain was so specific and shooting down one leg. It was all fine and four years of no periods has made it worth it! Dose yourself up with painkillers and get it checked out - if there is a problem then you'll catch it earlier rather than later, and if no problems then it'll put your mind at risk.
My problem now is that the strings have moved and DH has been stabbed in the penis a few times (he's not really complained as it was more the shock than anything - just suggested a different position so it can't have been too bad and I couldn't see a mark on him), however I think I need to get it re-checked as the strings do feel different than before.

They don't usually scan you for "minor" problems. I remember going to a&e when I had my first miscarriage as I was so scared and was told their scanning department was closed. They'd probably scan someone who was seriously injured though. I never went back again for the miscarriages that followed.

What you should have done is have an emergency on the day appt with your GP who has the power to ask for a daytime review in hospital by gynaecology..who can do the US . General Ae Drs can't do it and OOH gynae Drs may be able to or at least can keep you in until they get someone who can. It all depends how much pain you are in.

Routine USS is a daytime thing. OOH USS is for emergencies ..fasts scans etc or clinician led scans .

Unless it's an emergency they won't scan out of hours.

I'd never have classed it as an emergency.

I simply couldn't get through to my GP today. It was either engaged or rang through to voicemail. Very frustrating.

Please go Op, don't leave anything to chance.

I used to have a copper coil as well (I can't take the pill because of a hereditary condition).

I'm around 99% sure I actually fainted when it was fitted

But yes, you should definitely go. Take a cab and go to the a&e. Please.

Go. my ultrasound was fun but it had actually perforated my womb and slipped behind it. Because they didn't read the ultrasound properly they sent me home. A week later it was lodged in my bowel with an infection.

I was in so much pain with a fever I insisted on removal. They couldn't find it (during a hysteroscopy with no pain relief). I nearly fainted from pain. They then did the laparoscopy. I was very lucky to keep my bowel. V nearly ended up with a colostomy bag for life.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE GO TO A&E AND INSIST.

Fine not fun

Sounds like the triage nurse was trying to get you to leave from how you have phrased it. The reason for the dr doing the external examination is to check whether their are signs of perforation and if so they would then have referred you to one of the inpatient teams and then done bloods and arranged any investigations that are needed. GP will not be able to get a quick scan however if there are signs on external examination that are worrying they can send you back to the big shiny building but probably direct to gynae.m
So sorry you had a wasted trip but examination is the key first step.

Go, this isn't something ridiculous like a blister on your heel. You've done the right thing by phoning 111 and they have advised a+e. If the coil is in the wrong place or has perforated something it needs to be dealt with in case it causes an infection - which would cost the NHS more to deal with than a trip to a+ e. Hope you feel better soon!

This happened to me. While I was waiting a member of my family had an emergency too so I ended up in hospital looking after him for two weeks whilst also bleeding. Eventually got an out of hours dr appt and thankfully doctor was able to take it out. God I was thankful! It was digging into my vaginal canal and causing it to bleed apparently!

fair enough but i dont think u should have been fobbed off

try and get emergency appt tomorow