GP and only seeing people for ‘emergencies’

[Echalocha]

I have intense pain in my lower right abdomen which radiates in to my lower back. Feel constipated and just very uncomfortable indeed.
I have suffered this probably twice/three times a year for as long as I can remember but I’ve always assumed it’s some sort of intolerance and I’ve kept food diaries and nothing shows up. The attacks are sudden and very random.
It’s happening again today, came on very quick with no warning and it is so painful.
I rang the GP for an appointment this afternoon to be told that they are only seeing medical emergencies. I get they are busy. But isn’t that what 111 and a&e are for?
I said it’s very sudden so I can’t pre book appointments for this issue. The receptionist said ‘is it life threatening or an emergency?’ I said well I don’t think I’m at immediate risk of dying so I thought the GP would be the best place to start!!
I feel like I can’t get advice on this problem and it’s really bothering me. What do I do in this situation? I feel like asking for any help is a waste of resources but clearly it’s not normal to have this problem.
What would you do in this instance?

By the way, @EgonSpengler2020, I wasn't diagnosing, only suggesting possibilities like other people that you didn't jump on.

Call back. Sorry but in this instance you may need to make a fuss. You shouldn't need to be half dead before you can see a GP that's ridiculous.

@Sweetnhappy1

I'm a GP. Just call them back and say yes, it's urgent and needs to be seen today. And then they'll give you an appointment. I'm not sure why you didn't just say that, the receptionist isn't qualified to make that call. That's why she asked you.

Sorry but I don't think it's the patients job to decide whether they are an emergency either. A lay person can't be expected to know that they may have an acute abdomen. The OP said she was in pain, the pain was in her abdomen and worsening. She just needed to be seen and examined by a HCP. Patients aren't qualified in history taking or triage. It may not be the receptionists job either but someone should have been available to arrange that appointment.

@BriocheForBreakfast - Those were my thoughts too, not my diagnosis! Lower abdo pain is hard to diagnose because its hard to tell exactly where the pain comes from. My GP took it very seriously.

I have had this for about four years. At first I thought it was some kind of period pain which was odd as I have been through menopause. Diverticular disease can cause no pain but flare ups/inflammation are diverticulitis and it is pretty painful and quite resistant to pain killers.

A colonoscopy confirmed mine and tbh the consultant was openly doubtful but it was the case. To be clear, this is just a simple suggestion, no more.

I also had a referral for a scan of my ovaries and the radiologist said to me she thought I already knew what it was. But it is important to rule things out. I hope you get things sorted op. Please ring back.

another case of a medically unqualified receptionist deciding who gets seen!

To give you an idea of how ridiculous anyone trying to diagnose abdo pain over the internet based on a tiny bit of info from OP, here is a list of possible differentials for right lower quadrant abdo pain...

Colonic: appendicitis, colitis, diverticulitis, IBD, IBS

Gynecologic: ectopic pregnancy, fibroids, ovarian mass, torsion, PID

Renal: nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis

Pain in any location: Abdominal wall: herpes zoster, muscle strain, hernia

Other: bowel obstruction, mesenteric ischemia, peritonitis, narcotic withdrawal, sickle cell crisis, porphyria, IBD, heavy metal poisoning

And this is why trying to guess the diagnosis on Mumsnet is a really silly game to play.

I called back and asked the GP to see me, so he did invite me in He said that if this was the first time I’d had this pain he would definitely refer me to the hospital for investigation of the appendix because of the location of the pain and the fact it was clearly tender when he touched it. But, because I’ve had these flare ups before as I mentioned in my OP, he said that’s why he thinks it’s related to my ovaries. He asked if there was a possibility I was pregnant - there’s zero possibility and I told him this - and suggested I take a test to be sure. I’m not going to do this as I haven’t had sex in six months but He said appendicitis is acute and doesn’t come and go? I feel at a loss. I’m going to see how I feel the rest of the evening but if this persists I may ask for a second opinion. I just can’t imagine this being ovulation pain but at least I managed to get seen.

Sorry for the typos I was rushing that message

Bad ovulation pain can feel like a sickening pain low in your hip. One time it was so painful I could hardly walk up the road. The only good thing about it is that it goes away completely (till the next time).

@Ellapaella
Patients need to take some responsibility in knowing whether they need to be seen urgently or not.
Your method would mean anyone with any symptoms needs a medical review before deciding whether they need a review or not. It is not possible for every single patient phoning being given an appointment or even triage by a medical personnel. This is beyond the fault of anyone working in Primary Care. There just isn't the resources available for this.
In an ideal world everyone would be reviewed as soon as they ring in. Again with the current resources this isnt possible.

For the above service taxes would go through the roof.

Grumbling appendix?

I get ovulation pain that can be crippling — last month I was bent double! I get very bloated and constipated (and yes, very windy but pain with it) too. The most painful bit lasts a few hours — usually centred on one side or the other — but the bloating and ache is a couple of days.

I can set my watch by it! If you kept a food diary and can see when the flare-ups were, could you track your cycle dates alongside it? At least if you know it’s mid-cycle then it’s likely your sodding ovaries are the culprit!

Btw, at its worst it actually hurts to sit down. Javelin arse that shoots right up to my stomach! Grim.

I think the OP's point, which I agree with, is that 111 and A&E are for emergencies. Therefore GPs are for non-emergencies. If GPs cannot see anyone because they are doing jabs instead they should say so rather than asking a worried, in-pain, non-trained member of the public to triage themselves. BTW where I am GP surgeries are not doing Covid vaccinations.

I'm glad you got seen OP and hope you get a definite diagnosis and your pain sorted for good.

[quote Porfre]@Ellapaella
Patients need to take some responsibility in knowing whether they need to be seen urgently or not.
Your method would mean anyone with any symptoms needs a medical review before deciding whether they need a review or not. It is not possible for every single patient phoning being given an appointment or even triage by a medical personnel. This is beyond the fault of anyone working in Primary Care. There just isn't the resources available for this.
In an ideal world everyone would be reviewed as soon as they ring in. Again with the current resources this isnt possible.

For the above service taxes would go through the roof.[/quote]
I disagree. And I wasn't suggesting any 'methods'. I simply said it's not up to the patient to make a call about whether it's an emergency or not. That's why triage exists. If it's not the receptionists job to decide if it's an emergency then how is it the patient's job? You can't expect a patient to make that call.

Could it be gallbladder related? I had pain to the right of my belly button with my infected one. Not agonising gallstone attacks but rumbling

Hi op hope u ok. I had your symptoms. It was an ovarian cyst right sided pain. Still sore on and off. Gp never got back me. Chased my scan up. Do it all myself lol

@EllaPaella
But your point does involve total triage by a medical professional for every patient who contacts the GP surgery asking for an appointment, whether it's a fungal nail or a headache.

With the current resources available there isnt the capacity for this to be a realistic scenario.

Patients need to take some responsibility in knowing whether they need to be seen urgently or not.

But patients don’t always know whether something is urgent. I didn’t have a clue my stomach ache could be pancreatitis, why would I, I’m not a medical professional

Years ago someone I knew was admitted to hospital for suspected appendicitis and it actually was diagnosed as ovulation pain. I also used to get pain on ovulation but it only lasted a few hours but was very painful. About 7 years ago I attended the GP for lower abominable pain and she did suggest it could be my appendix andvto go to A&E if it got worse. It did go away I had did have a strange pain in my upper right abdomen about 4 years ago but it did go away. There is such a thing as a grumbling appendix as far as I know as I used to hear my parents talk about my Gf having this years ago.

@MythicalBiologicalFennel

I think the OP's point, which I agree with, is that 111 and A&E are for emergencies. Therefore GPs are for non-emergencies. If GPs cannot see anyone because they are doing jabs instead they should say so rather than asking a worried, in-pain, non-trained member of the public to triage themselves. BTW where I am GP surgeries are not doing Covid vaccinations.

I'm glad you got seen OP and hope you get a definite diagnosis and your pain sorted for good.

I agree. And a few weeks ago, before the booster drive, I called my GP surgery and was asked the same thing “is it an acute medical emergency?” My surgery doesn’t have any online services at all or pre-bookable appointments so it seems they are now only treating “acute medical emergencies”. I’ve no idea what I’d do if I had a problem that needing seeing to but didn’t fit that description - I’d probably wait until the surgery closed and call 111 🤷🏻‍♀️