Discharged from hospital despite being in agony

[Tofeelupset]

Wanted to start a new thread so as not for things to become confusing, hope that’s okay! So I’m still having trouble after gallbladder surgery.

I had it on Thursday at 9am and woke up in the worst pain ever, they had cut through lots of scar tissue due to previous bowel surgeries (inflammatory bowel disease). I was pretty much out of it on pain relief for the full day but they sent me home with cocodamol.

Pain worsened over the next two days so on Saturday I went to the hospital and I was admitted as my heart rate was 186 and my infection markers were up. I was told by the surgeons I would have a CT scan to look for infection and would have my pain managed. It got to 10pm and no pain relief, I had been in and out of sleep since being admitted; and was told nothing had been prescribed for me, so I was given paracetamol which didn’t touch the sides. In and out of sleep again.

CT scan on Sunday, showed nothing, was given oramorph for the pain. Again slept most of the day, didn’t feel right at all.

Monday comes and they discharge me with no follow up and no prescription of any pain killers, I feel like an idiot for not asking but the doctor was really patronising and made me feel like I was overreacting.

I haven’t slept at all since being home, I’ve been up all night in pain. Even sitting down hurts. It feels like someone has stabbed me in the side repeatedly, the pain isn’t letting up at all.

where do I go from here? Do I just leave it and hope for the best?

Sounds horrendous OP! Could you get in touch with your GP this morning and ask them to prescribe some stronger painkillers?

I think if you’re still in this much pain you need to be seen again. Can you ring the ward where you had the surgery? They may ask you to go in again. Or failing that I’d take yourself to A and E.

There was an article yesterday about how many people are returning to a&e.. this is what you need to do.

Go back to A&E.

Gallbladder surgery was the worst of all - far worse than a caesarean! I found it really bad for recovery.

I've had gallbladder surgery last year, but it went smoothly and though i was a bit sore for a few days it was manageable.

However a few weeks later I broke my shoulder and ended up having surgery for that too. I was in hospital overnight and discharged the next day. I had both general and local anesthesia and once the local wore off I was in agony. It was a Friday so wrong time really.....couldn't get hold of an ooh GP and couldn't face a&e as the accident was a couple of weeks before the surgery and I'd had enough of hospital! I'm on a local FB group where they regularly moan of drug dealers near a particular station, I was at one point considering going there for heroin (not seriously but pain and no sleep does weird things to your brain). I ended up suffering till I could get hold of my GP Monday, who straight away doubled my painkilling meds, which helped. I just wish the hospital had told me I could!

I’ve called the GP again to see what they say. I don’t think I can face A&E again today, I’m exhausted 😴

Yanbu. Just wanted to send a bucket load of sympathy, sounds absolute hell.

I remember when I had my first baby my midwife on the labour ward asked me "what is your pain threshold like?" And I thought it was such an intelligent question, because it asked ME about MY experience of pain and how much I could bear. Too often doctors just say "you don't need more/stronger painkillers" without considering whether EVERY single patient has an identical experience.

I hope you get more help and the GP doesnt just send you back to A&E.

Call the ward you were admitted to.

Agree call the ward you were discharged from. Ask what follow up care is provided and by whom.

I already called the ward, you can only call them up until 8pm on the day of your surgery after that it’s referred back to the GP or A&E unfortunately.

The GP would be a good point of call. But if you feel up to it at some point, I would complain via PALs. Inadequate pain relief post surgery is poor care and a problem, for you and for the NHS - if you had had better pain relief you wouldn’t have to see the GP or go to A and E. I hope you get pain relief sorted and make a quick recovery.

I know you said the CT scan was clear, but did they give you anti-biotics for an infection?

I had a family member who recently had surgery and ended up having to go back as she was in such bad pain. She didn't have a temp or anything, but it turned out she did have an infection. The pain reduced dramatically once she had a few doses of antibiotics.

The GP has sent me back to the hospital but fast tracked straight to the surgical team. Hopefully they can help!

I hope you get some adequate care today. Did they not even prescribe antibiotics for you giving your infection markers are up?

i have another thread on AIBU about a three week long urine infection and I’m at my wits end so I can only imagine how you’re feeling 😖

Good op I hope they give you some decent pain relief. What a thing to happen.

I hope they give you some decent pain relief. For some people recovery from Gall Bladder surgery is very painful and I suspect your previous surgery/issues are not helping and they are ignoring the impact of them.

I hope you get seen soon and the surgeons can help you, gallbladder pain is awful.

Update: still in horrible pain that is now in my back. Been taking new pain relief for two days with zero effect.

What have the doctors said, have you been having any investigation or treatment yet