Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel really stupid being in A&E right now?

197 replies

Offandonagain · 30/08/2022 20:39

I’ve had really severe abdominal cramps and sharp pains that have doubled me over and got progressively worse over the past week.

It started near my belly button but the main pain is now in my lower right side. I feel like I’ve got a stitch/labour pains/trapped wind all at once! Intensified every few minutes.

It hurts when I walk, stand mainly. But the pain is agonising when I stand up from sitting. It comes and goes in pain strength but it always there.

I’ve come to A&E as it’s just not going away but I feel like they’re dismissing me and not taking it seriously, which makes me question whether it is serious at all. Triage said it’s probably a uti and why haven’t i been to gp. But I’m worried if it’s something such as appendicitis then it needs looking at straight away surely?

OP posts:
iklboo · 30/08/2022 21:16

i would put money on trapped wind

Good job you're not a doctor then.

LarryTrotter · 30/08/2022 21:16

OP. Do not leave. Do not let them fob you off. You obviously felt ill enough yo decide to go to A&E - don't let them make you feel like you're wasting their time.

Women are frequently dismissed when it comes to abdominal pain (cos it can obviously ONLY be UTI or period related 🙄) and it pisses me right off.

Good luck.

Midpmcoffee · 30/08/2022 21:16

TwitchyJerk · 30/08/2022 21:12

I think triage are just tired and becoming dismissive.

In a&e a few weeks ago when I was triaged I could bearly talk with headache and nausea (was sent to a&e by gp as I deteriorated from being able to talk to him for telephone appointment and "come in this afternoon for me to examine you" And was vomiting "coffee grounds").

Triage asks me if I need any pain killers. I said no and without giving me a chance to explain I'd taken 60mg cocodamol 90 mins ago she said " oh good so you're not in too much pain then!" I managed to correct her.

What was diagnosed?

Drunkencrow · 30/08/2022 21:16

A and E will both check the urine and take bloods.

SixteenGoingOn42 · 30/08/2022 21:17

Stay! If it's appendicitis you could be sorted by this time tomorrow, not wondering whether to go back to A&E.

been and done it. · 30/08/2022 21:17

PonyTime · 30/08/2022 20:50

If it's progressively gotten worse why haven't you sought help from your GP?

You're not going to get prioritised with a bad tummy ache

Time wasters are the worst

She's explained why for heaven sake..She's just off the ruddy boat

Midpmcoffee · 30/08/2022 21:17

iklboo · 30/08/2022 21:16

i would put money on trapped wind

Good job you're not a doctor then.

not a doctor, but no indication I was.

A betting woman? That I am!

Original poster
Offandonagain · 30/08/2022 21:17

Vallmo47 · 30/08/2022 21:01

The staff are run down and over worked OP. Do not allow them to fob you off. Yes it could “just” be a UTI but you have a right to be seen and you’re waiting your turn like everyone else. Given your update about why you couldn’t see a GP in normal hours, surely it’s understandable how you ended up there. Ask yourself if you’re up A&E lots of times for little things or whether you only go when it’s necessary. I’m pretty sure the answer is that no, you avoid A&E unless absolutely necessary, like most others.

Hope you feel better soon!
Don’t feel bad if it’s nothing serious, just be thankful.

This is the 2nd time in my 38 yrs that I’ve been to a&e… as an adult anyway!

The first was because I chopped my finger clean off!!

OP posts:
nodtik · 30/08/2022 21:18

My appendicitis started with pain in the middle and later travelled to the right hand side!

Hold your ground - it sounds to me as though you need support xx

Drunkencrow · 30/08/2022 21:18

Midpmcoffee · 30/08/2022 21:16

Have you had a bowel movement?

i would put money on trapped wind

Her symptoms are typical of appendicitis , but could be a few other things. Only way to safely know is let her be seen in A and E by the doctors.

Irridescantshimmmer · 30/08/2022 21:19

Regardless of how they are making you feel, if and only if you have appendicitus and if its left untreated, it can lead to a very serious condition peritonitus and the apoendix can burst so you are right to stay where you are.

Don't eat anything just in case you end up nill by mouth.

badgerybadgerboo · 30/08/2022 21:19

OP when you're done and you're better. Get onto Careopinion and leave a review. Explain how the triage nurse made you feel.

Her manager or the hospital will respond. God forbid the triage nurse has to treat someone with learning difficulties who can't speak up for themselves as they're processing so much pain and discomfort.

missymarrk · 30/08/2022 21:19

Please stay and get it seen too! I had a uti but my pee test was clear, 3 weeks later I honestly thought I was dying and ended up going to the hospital too. Kidney infection. I was in absolute agony. You poor thing. Take care and get some antibiotics and loads of rest. X

Astounding · 30/08/2022 21:19

I’m sorry if you’ve been made to feel like a time waster OP. Yes I guess it could be a UTI but it could just as easily be appendicitis and if it felt painful enough to put yourself what you knew would probably be a really long wait in A&E, then it needs checking out. From the people I’ve known with appendicitis your symptoms sound similar to theirs. DD described it as starting like bad trapped wind, pain that seemed to move from around belly button up almost towards gallbladder, feeling genuinely unwell. She had her appendix out next day. Don’t feel like you should go home unless you genuinely feel much better. Good luck. I hope they work out what’s going on and get you sorted

ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor · 30/08/2022 21:19

It could be a few things including trapped wind which honestly can be excruciating pain. Your there now so you might aswell wait it out

It is extremely annoying though when a&e is stowed and people come in having the worst pain for ‘days’ but haven’t tried anything like a GP or pharmacist.

Howdoidothisanymore · 30/08/2022 21:20

Badger1970 · 30/08/2022 20:53

Good luck OP. My Dad was admitted on Friday for suspected liver failure, but not before having sat on a chair in A & E for nearly 22 hours. He was treated like shit, he was in agony from rheumatoid arthritis, they wouldn't administer insulin (he's diabetic) before talking to his GP next day, and when he asked for a blanket (he was frozen) the nurse erupted at him in fury and told him it wasn't a hotel.

It was horrendous. They literally couldn't have cared less.

Good god you need to complain about this! I’m so sorry your dad was treated this way 😞😞

Agadoodoododont · 30/08/2022 21:20

susususu · 30/08/2022 20:59

Could it be a cyst on your ovary. I had one and it was queried as appendicitis. It was incredibly painful on moving

I had same, again queried as poss appendicitis.
OP, stay put. If it’s a cyst or poss appendicitis your GP will send you back to hospital.

frangipani13 · 30/08/2022 21:21

I had something similar a year or so ago - awful excruciating pain, could barely sleep, lie down, painkillers did nothing etc - my gp sent me for urgent bloods and an ultrasound. I took from that there can be some sinister and serious conditions linked to this type of pain, so it’s best to get it checked out. Good luck!

Witsend08 · 30/08/2022 21:22

What the hell is wrong with some people on here. The op is in an extreme amount of pain and you're telling her to leave A&E, what an idiot.

OP please stay where you are, you're in the right place.

When you're eventually seen by a doctor do tell them you're concerned it might be appendicitis.

Peggy28 · 30/08/2022 21:23

Stay! You have every right to stay I hope you get answers soon

Lindy2 · 30/08/2022 21:23

My appendicitis pain started above my belly button and moved during the day to lower right hand side. That's a text book appendicitis pattern.

Stay put OP. You do need to be in hospital so you can ve checked. Unexplained severe abdominal pain can't be ignored.

I hope they are able to sort out what is going on soon.

PonyTime · 30/08/2022 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

badgerybadgerboo · 30/08/2022 21:23

Omg @Badger1970, I feel so sad for your Dad!! What a horrible experience :(

LadyWithLapdog · 30/08/2022 21:24

OP, just don’t say you couldn’t get through to the GP. The GPs always get the eye roll from A&E even when not involved in any way. I think you should stay and get it sorted tonight.

Original poster
Offandonagain · 30/08/2022 21:24

Midpmcoffee · 30/08/2022 21:16

Have you had a bowel movement?

i would put money on trapped wind

I’ve been pooing and farting as normal. Initially this is what I thought it was. Again, which is why I feel stupid being here

OP posts: