AIBU to wonder how much longer I have to suffer like this?

[BarelySurviving]

For 9 months I've been experiencing crushing pains in my chest. It feels like my whole ribcage is being crushed, or like a steamroller is going over it. It's honestly worse than labour, and would happen a few times a week, usually waking me up in my sleep. It was initially misdiagnosed as a blood clot, then the doctors tried to fob me off by claiming it might just be heartburn, then I was told it was just my body adjusting after pregnancy and childbirth, then it was said to possibly be caused by me straining by carrying a baby all the time. And just been having blood test after blood test for months with no answers. It started just after I gave birth and I've spent the entirety of my mat leave just barely surviving on cocodamol.

Well, I had an ultrasound scan over a week ago. Never got the results and had been chasing doctors for them to no avail, told by GP it's only routine not urgent and told to make appointment for mid December. My health has rapidly declined recently and the pain is now near-constant, for example I will have crushing pain in chest for 20 hours straight then I will have discomfort/tightness for a couple hours, then back to crushing pain. I have been vomiting uncontrollably (sometimes struggle to make it to toilet and vomit on the floor), I'm going jaundiced, my wee is brown (and tissue looks neon orange when I wipe myself). I went to A&E on Friday at the end of my tether and the hospital staff were pissed off with me because they said it's not urgent as I've been dealing with this for 9 months already. But I can't cope with it any longer. I was then told that the previous scan showed I had a badly inflamed gallbladder and large gallstones. I was sent home with prescription for morphine and told that I will be referred for surgery.

I have no idea how much longer I have to wait. I'm not well at all now and feel like I'm barely functioning. I feel like I won't be able to work because of my pain and health. I searched online and I'm sure it said 49 weeks was the average wait for gallbladder removal at my hospital. How can I possibly suffer like this for another year? It seems so inhumane.

Does anyone else have experience of going through similar? I just feel at a loss and not taken seriously about my pain.

Well done. You're doing the right thing. Remember that.

Well done you : ) Really hoping you get some help.

Rooting for you OP. You have every right to be there and to be treated. Hope you get seen soon.

[quote BarelySurviving]@BobLemon she knows I have gallstones and inflamed gallbladder because of ultrasound, so she cannot deny that, but she kept saying it's totally normal and people aren't usually affected by it or get jaundice and she can't understand why I've been referred for surgery as I'm so young. [/quote]
That’s crazy.

My dad has had gallbladder issues too and ended up jaundice because if the gallbladder problems. There is nothing surprising about that.

Not the main issue right now but I’d consider putting a complain in about the way she reacted. Telling someone they are too young for that isn’t good enough.

I hope you’ll get the answers you need tonight @BarelySurviving

Do some heavy panting and groaning. List a bit to one side. This is your opportunity - sitting there quietly doesn't smack of an emergency.

I wouldn't play up the suicidal thing too much. You want to be assessed on physical symptoms and not have any doubt that this is a mental health issue so tread carefully there. By all means say you cannot cope any longer with the level of pain and it's lead to dark thoughts but go steady with that

It's time to pull out the big acting guns I think.

Oh OP I feel for you, I haven't had gallstones but I've had kidney stones and the pain was indescribable.

I hope tonight you get somewhere.

Regarding how often I have crushing pain, it is daily basis. It used to be during the night or early in the morning mostly a few times a week, waking me up each time and I'd be in pain for hours (4-6 hours, sometimes longer), the cocodamol helped but I'd be exhausted in the mornings and it was difficult with a baby. However it has become more sporadic and daily, and recently it is lasting a very long time, 20 hours the other day, last week there were days in a row where I had it and constantly taking some form of pain relief but it became useless. It's more often and longer now.

I gave the nurse a wee sample, and not long after I was sent for bloods. Another nice nurse took my bloods, took some faff as I have bad veins (every nurse says this) and he tried to put a cannula in which failed so he's taken it out for now and left with a very sore hand. Is it a good sign that they wanted to give me a cannula? I don't recall having to have cannula when having other blood tests at hospital so not sure.

A cannula possibly indicates they are keeping you in? It's to administer drugs / anaesthesia easily

Also I asked the nurse what my bloods are being tested for, and when he mentioned liver function, I said how my liver function has not been good on blood tests over the last few months. His response was, well you do look yellow. Well I had a moment where I was questioning my sanity thanks to the GP, but seems like others can clearly see I'm unwell. So far today all the staff have been great, it's like I'm in a different hospital.

I only recall having cannula once before and that was when I was in labour. Don't remember having it after blood tests before, so was wondering if that meant they considered keeping me in.

They're probably just doing as a precaution, hope you get sorted OP.

What a thread OP, and I’m so sorry you’ve been passed from pillar to post like this after having initially raised the issues so long ago. I’m glad you seem to be receiving better treatment tonight.

If you find yourself being fobbed off again would you think about contacting your MP? Your quality of life is obviously significantly impacted by this point and your MP may be able to help. I’m honestly gutted for you at having this time with a new baby impacted by this.

Good luck.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you OP. Hope they get to the bottom of it now.

When the dust has settled I think you should kick up an enormous fuss about the GP. Formal complaint procedure, all of it. You have been treated very badly for too long. But let’s hope the hospital cam get you seen quickly so you can get back with your baby

I'm glad you're at the hospital. I hope they properly address this now. Good luck.

Regarding how often I have crushing pain, it is daily basis. It used to be during the night or early in the morning mostly a few times a week, waking me up each time and I'd be in pain for hours (4-6 hours, sometimes longer), the cocodamol helped but I'd be exhausted in the mornings and it was difficult with a baby. However it has become more sporadic and daily, and recently it is lasting a very long time, 20 hours the other day, last week there were days in a row where I had it and constantly taking some form of pain relief but it became useless. It's more often and longer now.

Very comprehensive, so tell them that exactly.

They can put a cannula in as a just in case, so it doesn’t mean they will keep you in, that will depends on blood test results and scans.

You poor thing, very glad you are getting seen, there is so much wrong with this scenario of being fobbed off, I hope some answers are forthcoming.

Everything was looking good until the last doctor I saw. He is completely contradicting everything everyone has told me. Says there was nothing wrong with my blood tests before and previous scan doesn't show inflammation of gallbladder? Yet two doctors have told me it's inflamed, and I have been told multiple times on different occasions about abnormal liver function and elevated d-dimers, and eventually that's what led to ultrasound on liver. He says everything is normal, and has advised paracetamol for pain. I said I was given morphine on Friday, and he was like well you won't be allowed to take anything like that home. I clarified it was a prescription given, not just a dose at the hospital. He doesn't understand how gallbladder and crushing pain are related, he says they're completely unrelated. I said well that's not what I was told on Friday by a different doctor here. And he insisted that it's simply not true. Am I actually going mad??? Still waiting for blood results as they lost my bloods and had to retake them.

Omg OP what is happening why does nobody believe you

I feel like drug-seeking behaviour will be the next accusation I already predicted it will happen before

Is he young? He may be a junior doctor.

Where was your original scan done that you were told showed an inflamed gb and stones as per your OP?

Was it this hospital?

If so is he looking at the right scan? Have they lost your records, or muddled them.

It’s most odd that he I contradicting what you were told by the same hospital.

Since when was gb and acute pain unrelated?

Please get onto PALS at the hospital. Tell them everything you have said here.