Waiting in A&E

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After a week long of right abdominal pain, vomiting and just feeling awful!! The last 24hr have been unbearable called 111 and have been advised me to go straight to the hospital.

Over the last few years I have had scans that suggested I have endometriosis by 3 different consultants, but this was not confirmed- lots of things happen during those times and so I never followed it up because I was not experiencing serve pain. I guess just "normal" period discomfort.

So following my admission to A&E the first doctor I see regarding my symptoms suggest that's is a gyne issue and he would like me to get check out- great! The second doctors suggests that she thinks it could be my kidney and so has taken me for a CT scan and said that my bloods and obs are fine so if my Ct scan is ok then I can go home and if the pain persist I should come back to A&E....

I have been taking codeine and paracetamol and the pain is still perisited..

I don't see the point going home to only come back the next day, I'm still in a lot of pain..

What should I do anyway advice?

"
I don't see the point going home to only come back the next day, I'm still in a lot of pain.."

Then get a hotel.

The point is they don't want someone who's tests all say their fine filling a bed they may need

A few hours in your own bed would be nicer than hanging out in cold noisy A&E - is why I would go home if possible, even if just for hours.

Sounds like they are investigating loads so will figure out a lot of things it isn't, which is good. Can they give you stronger painkillers?

I don't have any advice I'm afraid but it sounds very stressful. It's hard to assert yourself when you're in pain. I would keep looking to get the pain dealt with. I wouldn't be happy to go home without knowing what's actually wrong.

@Sapho47

" I don't see the point going home to only come back the next day, I'm still in a lot of pain.."

Then get a hotel.

The point is they don't want someone who's tests all say their fine filling a bed they may need

Is there any need for snarky comments? Towards a woman who is clearly unwell and in pain. Grow up.

I know exactly how you feel, there is no point sending you home. Because there is clearly something there! I think they will find something though so I wouldn’t worry. Hope you feel better soon

I too have the probable but unconfirmed endometriosis. The pain is unbearable. Have you tried naproxen. I take cocodamol (60mg/1G 4 times a day), naproxen (500mg twice a day) and tranexamic acid. It doesn’t completely manage the pain but it brings it down marginally.

It sounds like you need a review by Gynae. If they’ve done all the blood tests, CT etc and you’ve been reviewed by specialities then your GP needs to think about how to manage this pain effectively. That may mean referring to a chronic pain team who can tailor your meds to manage the pain.

I am also in A&E and probably about to be sent home. It’s really difficult but the reasoning behind is if the patient is clinically well (no signs of infection/sepsis/hypotension/serious condition). Unless they were going to do something different in hospital (e.g. IV abx, IV fluids, surgery etc) they’d probably be doing the same as you are able to do at home (rest and pain killers). Sadly it’s very difficult to clinically justify hospital admissions nowadays.

Hope you get some relief and answers soon x

Go home, try to rest and push for an endometriosis diagnosis (whether that’s through going back to a&e tomorrow or through your GP). Unfortunately 111 always send you to a&e, it seems pretty standard. My sympathies OP endometriosis is aweful.

It's awful - I ended up in A&E for the same reason. I was kept in for a few nights (this was 5 years ago so no pandemic) but they weren't able to do anything other than stick me on a waiting list for a gynae appt, which at the time was a 6 month waiting list.

You need a firm diagnosis and then a treatment pathway specific to endo assuming this is confirmed.

Endometriosis UK is a good resource:

endometriosis-uk.org

As a short-term measure you need the right pain relief which may be a case of trial and error.

Above all, be persistent because, typically with women's health issues, it's something we are all too readily expected to put up with, even if we are doubled over and screaming in pain.

Do you feel like they are minimising your pain because it seems to be a 'gyne' issue? Ask for clear, confirmed next steps and adequate pain relief.

Ask to speak to the consultant and say you are happy to be discharged home but would like written confirmation of a requirement to refer you urgently to gynaecologist for your GP to act on.

If it's possible for you then go private. I got my diagnosis privately after having a GP tell me that all women have period pains and explain how menstrual cycles work.

@Sapho47 do you feel better after that nasty comment? You clearly haven't been in a similar situation so you can sit there and judge me- like I really want to be in the hospital at a time like this?

@Tagsisbk this have only popped up recently and so I've only just been taking the codeine and paracetamol, will definitely take note of the pain medication you take. I'm sorry to hear you too are going through the same thing- yes it is awful.. I hope you too get your answers.

@LApprentiSorcier thanks for the info will be definitely looking for some more info on this.

@DublinDoris2000 Yes I do felt like they are minimising my pain..

I'm back home now they discharged me not long after I made this post, I came home had a good cry and a few hours of sleep. I have just woken up with the same excruciating pain

You see the things is I am grateful that I was able to attend A&E to check my bloods and obs and perform a CT scan to check in that region where I am in pain. Its reassuring that these came back normal however bloods and ct scan cannot pick up gynecology issues and so I do feel like they just put it down to that and accepted whatever it is is not life threatening (which I totally understand) and sent me on my way.

At a time like this I'm sure they are encouraging those that if its a emergency attend A&E. To be told that if the pain persit when I go home then just come back.. I should of asked what will happen when I come back but to be honest I was quiet upset and didn't want it to seem I was pre predicting I was already going to come back before I'd even left- if that makes sense.

I was maybe expecting to just be pushed in that direction, i wasn't expecting to get a diagnosing there even though that would be great i just wanted to get the ball rolling rather that just feeling flat and unsure.

I could be wrong but my "gut" is literally telling something is wrong wrong wrong. I literally tick all the boxes for endo and like I said with previous semi confirmation I'm confident it is that I have had 3 sections aswell and my uterus is tilted backward.
Im going to push though today with 3 little ones and if no relief I think I will go back to A&E this evening.

I cant cope with the pain is making me physically sick.

The more research I do and see so many women struggle for so long before getting a diagnosis! What's with that?

Thanks for everyone replies!! I really do appreciate it. ☆☆