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?

Comments like this will either cause people who might need serious help to stay away, or might cause people to call for unnecessary ambulances.
I imagine the OP is a genuine person in pain, why would you discourage her from getting treatment, now that she is in hospital and has been kept in, not sent home?
Hope you are ok, OP and it's nothing too serious (despite some of the comments on the thread!)

I’m really pleased they are taking it seriously after all. Hopefully a scan will reveal all and there is a straightforward fix.

I recently had to have a minor procedure and it only happened before it got much worse due to my persistence that I needed to be seen. Unfortunately these days you’re far more likely to be seen at an early stage if you’re properly assertive.

not blaming the NHS btw they are woefully understaffed and generally, doing their best. Never an excuse for being rude and dismissive but I imagine there are a lot of genuine timewasters in a&e

Very pleased it being taken seriously.

I despair at some of these comments - A&E is a service we all pay for - don't be ashamed to use it. If you've been over cautious, so be it, better than the other way around.

Exactly this. It’s terrible. Stop bashing people for going to A&E.

Not sure if some of the posters on here realise but in some areas it is impossible to get a GP appointment. We have a four week waiting list. If it’s an emergency you have to call at 8am and keep calling until you get a response. Then you are triaged and promised a phone call. Any GP speaking to the OP on the phone would tell them to go to A&E. I dont blame the OP for going to A&E - I would have done the same.

I’m actually really glad I waited, even though it was a risk.

It’s much more comforting to know I’m close to home and there’s no language barrier.

I think I have a higher pain tolerance than I give myself credit for. I have birth with no pain relief… mainly because they were quick births but also because I didn’t
like the feeling of G&A. I’m not one to make a fuss… which can be a negative thing sometimes 🙄

They’ve found an inflammation in my bowel, but they’re going to keep me in and obs at the moment.

Thanks everyone for your replies

Glad you’re ok OP. Clearly not a waste of anyone’s time and you’re on the right place.

You've done exactly the right thing up. Glad to hear they are looking after you now. Feel better soon.

Good luck OP. I hope it’s something passing and not IBD.

Good luck @Offandonagain let us know the outcome as your situation is so similar to mine! I have inflammation on my bowel and they mentioned IBD and Crohns. Got to wait for MRI and colonoscopy.

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.

Only if there were appointments available. DH tried to make one yesterday - 14th September is the earliest he can get in. If the OP had described her symptoms to a GP it's in all likelihood they'd have told her to go to hospital. But let's not let that spoil your own narrative, eh?

So glad you stayed @Offandonagain fingers crossed they get to the bottom of it and I hope your pain is being managed.

Today I had to go to our local hospital which has an A&E. I was visiting another section of the hospital. However I had to go to reception As I couldn’t find my way to the specific ward. In front of me a man said to the receptionist that he thought he had broken his finger and could someone look at it. He was walking and looked perfectly fine. The receptionist told him to pop next door to A&E. she did not tell him to go to his GP. She was not rude to him. Not everyone is as rude as some of the posters on this thread.

Take care OP and I hope the scan will lead to positive treatment

@Offandonagain

How are you feeling this morning?

Have you got anyone that can bring you any bits from home that you might need?

Thanks all. I’m at home now on a course of antibiotics. I have a gp appointment on Mon for blood tests again to check the infection.

I still feel really sore, but I’ll bide my time and see in the meds work.

Thanks

no one to pick you up? Who has your child?

No. It’s a long story involving a broken down car/trip to france/hospital being an hour away.

My dh had our children at home.

Did you start a thread under another user name re your car breaking down in France very recently?!

No, but I’ve commented on that one as it happened after that original poster’s. I hadn’t left the country when she had broken down.