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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

With how I was treated in a and e

126 replies

Arcade · 14/05/2022 06:28

I’ve got endometriosis it gets so bad I pass out throw up etc. I’m currently on morphine codine and other meds for the pain. Yesterday it became so bad I was almost hysterical with pain and nothing was working the bleeding was also more extreme than normal. My partner ended up driving me to a and e as I couldnt spend any more time in this amount of pain. When I arrived I was seen fairly quickly and the nurse was lovely she suggested right away I have more morphine codine and some other meds. She said she could only give me the codine as they where tight on space and I really needed to be watched while taking morphine and codine at the same time but I would be seen soon for the morphine. So I took my codine and went back to the waiting room and politely asked the receptionist roughly how long the wait was tonight so I could tell my partner to go home instead of waiting in the car they said it wasn’t long. I then wasn’t seen for 1.5 hours and ended up just silently crying in the waiting room. I went back to the receptionist and said would I be aloud any more pain relief as I’m in agony. She spoke to the nurse who then did after 25 minutes bring me out some morphine . I was in so much pain I did consider going home as I was so uncomfortable but I knew going home wouldn’t fix it and I was throwing up badly. By which point I hadn’t been seen again for 3 hours but was then eventually taken for a blood test and told to have a sleep on a bed as the wait time in a and e was six hours before a doctor could see me. I said in the end while crying through the pains that I would go home to sleep as I live 2 minutes away and was exhausted by this point as it was now 2 in the morning. I then did get home and manage to sleep through sheer exhaustion. But I’ve woken up being sick again from the pain my partner thinks I should go back to a and e but I cant manage sitting in a waiting room for 6 hours again. Atleast at home I can lay down with my hot water bottle and take some of my own morphine. How can and a and e leave someone throwing up and crying in pain with no real pain relief until they beg I get they where busy but I’m at my last end I’ve tried every cure going numerous surgery’s physio therapy private doctors hormones just to have pain like this constantly.

OP posts:
Rosehugger · 14/05/2022 08:43

Definitely go back to your GP and stomp your feet a bit- when I had severe pain in the ovaries area (and ended up diagnosed with endometriosis) they treated me so quickly in case it was ovarian cancer - it was an endometrial cyst and I had it removed within weeks then was put on the mini pill which stops periods. Hardly any symptoms since. Diet and reducing stress helps (after hormonal treatment which is almost always required). They can do surgery to remove some or most of the endometral tissue (they couldn't remove all mine as it was connected to bladder and bowel and it could have caused more issues) then give you hormonal treatment to stop periods and stop it building up again. Some women need to be put into early menopause or have a hysterectomy/oophorectomy. It can be very difficult to treat though and difficult to get the right treatment. Good luck with it all 💐

BIWI · 14/05/2022 08:48

You're starting to sound a bit sulky with your last post ...

As others have said, you were not a priority - can you just imagine the condition others must have been in who were being seen before you?

You also say you have morphine at home, so I don't really understand why you felt you needed more pain relief from the hospital. Or what you wanted them to do.

You may have been seen previously by medics, but you need to go back to your GP and push for further treatment, beyond just pain relief.

emuloc · 14/05/2022 08:52

Louise0701 · 14/05/2022 07:09

Compared to the cases A&E get, you weren’t an emergency. I appreciate you were in pain but you were conscious, breathing and not loosing a life threatening amount of blood.
They gave you pain relief on arrival and more when you requested it. I’m not sure what more they could’ve done?

This.

ludocris · 14/05/2022 08:55

BIWI · 14/05/2022 08:48

You're starting to sound a bit sulky with your last post ...

As others have said, you were not a priority - can you just imagine the condition others must have been in who were being seen before you?

You also say you have morphine at home, so I don't really understand why you felt you needed more pain relief from the hospital. Or what you wanted them to do.

You may have been seen previously by medics, but you need to go back to your GP and push for further treatment, beyond just pain relief.

The OP is being sick with pain - I'm not surprised she sounds 'sulky'. It must be awful to have pain that severe and know that you can't just go to the hospital and have it fixed.

ineedsun · 14/05/2022 08:55

Did they do the lasering thing when you had your laparoscopy?

I’m not sure what A&E could have done for you if you were able to go home and take your own morphine, what were you hoping for?

EgonSpengler2020 · 14/05/2022 08:59

You are not BU to want to rant about your situation and the pain you are in. But YABU to expect to be triaged above other higher priority patients for a chronic conditions that is not acutely dangerous.

But rant away about the state of the NHS, most HCPs do on a regular basis. It is sh*t!!

EarringsandLipstick · 14/05/2022 09:01

You probably need your GP to refer you for a specialist gynae appointment.

This.

I'm really sorry to hear of the pain you are in

EarringsandLipstick · 14/05/2022 09:03

I’ve had two laparoscopy’s I’ve seen a million gynaecologist I’ve seen an endo consultant on the nhs and private. My go has told me to go to a and e in the past as want me to bee seen and checked over when I’m like that

And what are they doing to help you? There absolutely is treatment that can help, your consultant must have provided options (family member is a specialist consultant in this area so am aware of treatments). You must press for a solution.

I really can't believe your GP has recommended A&E. It's awful for you - but what can A&E do?

Branleuse · 14/05/2022 09:04

Im sorry OP. To be in that much pain with no way of getting any relief.
The NHS being like this now is terrifying

EarringsandLipstick · 14/05/2022 09:05

The laparoscopy is just exploratory to see what's going on - eg adhesions. The next step is treatment eg ablation.

I'm really sorry for you as care for women with endometriosis has been poor but there are options to improve the situation.

EarringsandLipstick · 14/05/2022 09:07

The NHS being like this now is terrifying

But in this case, A&E could do almost nothing, other than provide pain relief, which they did.

She needs treatment by specialist obs & gynae.

Mischance · 14/05/2022 09:07

I am so sorry that you suffer this dreadful pain and that you were unable to get speedy help in A&E.

Have you thought that the vomiting might be related to the morphine itself? You can be given an anti-emetic in these circumstances.

I am surprised that you have exhausted the possibilities of treatment, both within the NHS and privately.

It concerns me that pain is no longer seen as a priority. It is understandable that life-threatening conditions take priority, but there is a general absence of proper consideration being given to pain. I have chronic pain, and am due to undergo surgery but have been told that if this fails the only option will be to see a pain specialist privately.

Pain may "only" be a symptom, but I believe that it should be treated as a condition in its own right with resources allocated for research and treatment. It causes untold misery and many many weeks out of the workplace for so many people. It amazes me that we are 50+ years on from putting humans on the moon, but large swathes of the population are in intense pain every day of their lives.

growandhope · 14/05/2022 09:16

get it off the internet, really easy answer

AnnaSW1 · 14/05/2022 09:18

There were probably some people dying in resus. I doubt they were just ignoring you on purpose.

maeveiscurious · 14/05/2022 09:18

I've been in A&E recently where I was there for 12 hours without being seen. When I discharged myself the doctor said "you are already in the maximum medication and we couldn't give you anything else" 🙄

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 14/05/2022 09:20

Arcade · 14/05/2022 08:42

I’ve had two laparoscopy’s I’ve seen a million gynaecologist I’ve seen an endo consultant on the nhs and private. My go has told me to go to a and e in the past as want me to bee seen and checked over when I’m like that

It's a good thing you were seen then. It's just simply you aren't a priority as you're in pain but not life threatening.

Woolandwonder · 14/05/2022 09:25

It sounds like you were in terrible pain, and so awful to have to sit and wait in that state. It does sound like they did the best they could, they just can't magic up beds or drs, and would have been dealing with cardiac arrests, strokes, breathing difficulties, RTAs etc. It's not that your pain isn't important or that they are not empathic just that there isn't anyone to see you or space to move you to.

StScholastica · 14/05/2022 09:42

The majority of British people do seem to want this though, otherwise why would they continue to vote for this utter joke of a government.
Do you really think that Rees-Mogg, Sunak, "coke head" Gove and Boris, care about the NHS? They care àbout nothing but themselves.
13 hours we waited for an ambulance when my mother collapsed.

Arcade · 14/05/2022 09:43

EarringsandLipstick · 14/05/2022 09:03

I’ve had two laparoscopy’s I’ve seen a million gynaecologist I’ve seen an endo consultant on the nhs and private. My go has told me to go to a and e in the past as want me to bee seen and checked over when I’m like that

And what are they doing to help you? There absolutely is treatment that can help, your consultant must have provided options (family member is a specialist consultant in this area so am aware of treatments). You must press for a solution.

I really can't believe your GP has recommended A&E. It's awful for you - but what can A&E do?

There is treatment mainly birth control In trying to get pregnant so can’t take any. I’m on numerous meds as treatment and they help a little. I’ve had my endometriosis removed twice. A and e can offer me better medication that I can’t get at home they often give me drip as I’m so dehydrated from not keeping anything down. The consultant had provided options that won’t work while trying to get pregnant I’m giving it a year and then I’m going to have to give up on the idea of children as I need some relief. Although there is no cure for endometriosis

OP posts:
Catshaveiteasy · 14/05/2022 09:46

My family have many experiences of A and E over the past few years. Waiting times have gradually got worse - 10 hours is not unusual. My mil had to wait in an ambulance outside for hours on several occasions some years back, thus meaning the ambulance staff were stuck and unable to deal with further patients.

The system is a mess. In your case, go back to the Dr who told you to go to A and E and insist on further investigations/ treatment / drugs, or whatever you need.

Going to A and E for acute pain due to a long term condition is not a sensible way forward.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/05/2022 09:46

YANBU to want better treatment but YABU to blame the staff at A&E. They are chronically underfunded and overworked, they have to deal with patients in order of priority. It's not their fault. The blame lies elsewhere.

Spagaps · 14/05/2022 09:50

You'd be very low down the list as the primary function of A&E is not to administer pain relief during a flare up. Your consultant If you have one should be reviewing your treatment plan to try and mitigate the instances you are in this much pain, but it sounds like you have consciously chosen to stop the medication that helps in order to get pregnant. Understandable but the crux of that is that unfortunately these episodes are likely to be more frequent- you'll find the same happens if you keep presenting at A&E. I'd get back in touch with your GP or whoever else and review.

PrtScn · 14/05/2022 09:59

My sister has/had endometriosis. Not as bad as yours though, although she did end up in hospital once. She was told she’d probably never be able to have children. Her then fiancé dumped her because they said that (close call for her there I’d say!). She has since had an ablation procedure. She’s now married with 2 children and having her first along with the ablation markedly improved her symptoms. Some Drs have poor understanding/ little experience of dealing with stuff like this.

I think you are at a disadvantage having “women’s problems”. Generally they aren’t taken as seriously. The NHS is also in shambles. My 4 y/o son ended up in A&E with a head injury when he was 2, and we had to wait just over 5 1/2 hours to get it glued. They are supposed to see children his age within 4 hours according to posters that were up. I’d dread to think how long we’d have to wait now.

GodspeedJune · 14/05/2022 10:02

I wonder how many people who have posted on your thread have any idea what severe endometriosis pain feels like OP. Women often report it to be as bad, or worse, than labour pains. Is anyone advocating women don’t receive adequate pain relief in labour?

Leaving you in that state is inhumane. It might not be life threatening, but it’s cruelty.

There’s no quick or easy fix for endometriosis. My specialist consultant was clear that multiple surgeries across my lifetime are likely. It cannot be cured. The waiting time for a laparoscopy in my area is 2+ years.

MozerellaSalad · 14/05/2022 10:03

Sadly ii us accident and emergency and you were not either

Doe your GP have an out of hours? Ours is based at the hospital. So you go there and if needed they admit you to A&E