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

[Offandonagain]

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?

Hang in there OP.

A&E didn't want to admit DB as he was vomiting which they said was not a symptom of appendicitis. Fortunately his GP insisted he was seen. He was operated on that night and the surgeon who removed his appendix said it wasn't a moment too soon. DB had symptoms but thought he'd strained himself moving heavy equipment.

I hope you get some answers soon. Your pain is only better because of the painkillers so don't be fobbed off.

Thank you.

The pain has subsided loads now and my stomach doesn’t feel so tight anymore. It’s typical!… I obviously don’t want it to be anything serious, but I also don’t want to know that I have wasted their time

Stop worrying about wasting their time!

some twats go for a broken fingernail.

going for your symptoms is NOT a waste of time, even if it turns out not to be appendicitis. As I said, by the time I was in hospital I wasn't really in any pain, but as it turns out my appendix was about to burst with a lot of septic shite, the surgeon said I was incredibly lucky to have had the op when I did (even though it stopped him going home on time!! It was after midnight).

just STAY! Stop worrying about 'wasting time' theirs or yours !

The pain has subsided loads now and my stomach doesn’t feel so tight anymore.

That's probably the painkillers. Stay.

Could it be gallstones?

Before my gallbladder was removed, I ended up in a&e a few times. They always throught it was appendix but then the pain would go I'll be ok. The pain is right sided. You had a lot of fatty foods recently?

Hope you're ok

With appendicitis the pain does stop when it bursts. It’s not necessarily a good sign. Stay, you’re not wasting anyones time, that’s what A&E is for.

I was at A&E recently and the lady on the door didn’t want to let me in as it was a weekday morning and I could have gone to GP. I had untreated overactive thyroid though and had been waiting two weeks for them to prescribe me tablets. My heart rate was 210, I passed out at the entrance and spent 4hrs in resus with thyroid storm. Triage / reception won’t know or care what’s wrong with you, wait and see the doctor.

I hope you are seen by the Doctor soon and not waiting too long.

I posted pretty much the same a few days ago! I had intense pain starting above my belly button that ended up being in my lower right side. I went to my GP, they ruled out UTI but I had a temp and the pain was in my appendix area, so I was sent to the surgical assessment unit.

My pain had largely subsided and I felt embarrassed being there. Luckily they did a CT scan and they found issues with my womb and small bowel, so I have to have more tests. So I'm glad that I did get seen or if never have known.

Good luck.

It could be diverticulitis. I have it and had to go to A&E too. Sounds similar - pain in side hurt to go from sitting to standing etc
not much they can do but painkillers but you need to know for sure!
hope they get to you soon

This is how I feel right now. I’m still sitting here, waiting in much less pain than I have been in the past 3 days

Hope all is ok.
A friend had similar experience, awful pain dismissed by GP and paramedic who said it must be period pains. Turns out it was a ruptured appendix and if she hadn't gone to a&e when she did she would have died that night.
So yes sometimes it may seem like time wasting but it's absolutely better to be safe than sorry (or dead!)

Least you could get there yourself and go home if you like.

My dad (79) was in agony with pain in his stomach on Monday and we called an ambulance. It arrived 10 hrs after the call. He was then on a trolley in a corridor for another 9 hrs before seen!

Probably your feeling better from the painkillers. Doesn’t mean you should feel you shouldn’t be seen. Sounds like you’re in for a long night but getting checked out is important. Sod’s law if you did leave, once the pain relief wears off, you’d be feeling as sore and have to go back for a whole new wait.

That’s terrible for your father!

I’m stuck here now… I’ve missed the last train home.

Fuck me you're a ray of sunshine aren't you! Too right op you didn't get yourself seen by a french GP in a timely manner, therefore you must suffer 🙄

I hope you get seen and sorted soon. You know yourself and your body, you don't come across as someone who is at a&e on a regular basis so for it to be bad enough for you to go there it is bad enough for you to wait it out and get treated

If you can take a train and a tram by yourself to go to hospital you could have just booked yourself in to go to see the doctor op. They are probably cross with you for the same reason.

They’ve found an infection in my blood sample so are keeping me in for a scan in the morning.

Thanks all for making me stick with it x

A&E nurse here OP. please ignore this unhelpful comment. Just last week I had a patient who self presented at triage with “a bit of back pain” who ended up being rushed to theatre from the CT scanner with an aortic dissection.

Everyone has a different tolerance for pain and how they deal with feeling unwell and just because someone is able to function at or near their baseline doesn’t mean they’re not severely unwell.

Best wishes OP, hope you get your scan early in the morning and they can figure out where the infection is/ get it treated asap 💐

Are you in a bed, OP, still in A&E or in a ward? Hope you feel better soon. Keep us updated.

Stop talking bollocks.

I took myself to hospital after a chat with 111 and ended up admitted with Sepsis.

Pleased they are keeping you in and hope the scan goes ok. It sounds very much like appendicitis from what you've described (pain at belly button moving to right side, more pain when walking) - I didn't realise these symptoms until last year when my daughter needed her appendix out. When I took her to a&e I was being cautious - she wasn't doubled over with pain sat in the car like I thought she would be so had convinced myself it probably wasn't appendicitis 🤦‍♀️ so pleased we got her there when we did.

Helpful

Morning @Offandonagain well done for going to a & e, I hope you get sorted soon. I'm sorry that some posters have been really unkind, totally unnecessary.

Let us know how you get on today, take care.

I agree with PP who say pain is very variable depending on the person. I presented to my GP thinking I was constipated. He examined my abdomen and I nearly went through the roof when he touched a certain spot. Sent straight to A&E and appendix removed within the hour!

Take care OP, I hope you are sorted soon.

What is your medical qualification again?
What makes you think they are cross with the OP?

OP you have done the right thing and are in the right place.

Why so keen on OP going to a French hospital but not one in the UK?