Been told not to attend A&E by gp receptionist..

[shallwego]

Hello,

Following from another thread of mine, regarding painful ovulation (will summarise below)

• Been TTC for almost 3 years

• Had bloods taken by GP (day 21 bloods) and was advised at the time that this would show endometriosis or PCOS issues

• Had a GP appt yesterday to get the ball rolling with fertility help, mentioned that I get very painful ovulation, and she advised that endo / PCOS wouldn't in fact show in bloods, only a physical examination would determine this.

When I'm in / around ovulation, I get EXTREME crippling cramps in one side of my ovaries / lower abdomen, radiating across my pelvis. They're so awful I often feel like I'm going to split in half. When I sit and then stand again, I can barely stand up straight. It's crippling and lasts a LOT longer than the seconds / sometimes hours that others explain and experience during this time of the month. We're talking days. Sometimes 2/3.. and the pain is MUCH worse than my period pain.

I phoned the GP reception today, as I'm having a really hard time with the pain today. They've advised that nobody can see me there until 2nd week of January; and so I must get on with it until then. Fine, but pain killers are literally not touching the pain and I don't know what to do with myself. I'm at work and can't even stand straight. It's like someone's sawing me in half from hip-hip..

So I asked the receptionist if she would recommend I attend A&E for guidance in the meantime.
She almost screamed 'NO' at me. That they're under pressure (which I'm fully aware of and understand completely) but I honestly don't know what to do with myself 😞

So my question is.. would I be unreasonable to attend A&E after work? I just want help and answers. I'm so scared and in so much pain.

Definitely. I was seen, had tests, scans and was diagnosed within a few weeks by using private healthcare. They can prescribe pain medication but you have to pay the private prescription charge which varies or they can write to your NHS GP snd ask them to prescribe. Get onto your private healthcare tomorrow. Good luck.

I'm just absolutely GUTTED - as I have been on the list for fertility help for 2 years now. I finally got a call after reaching top of the list from the hospital a month or so back offering me an appointment to come in and get the ball rolling with some help.

I sat in the gynaecology department waiting for almost 2 hours for my appointment, went in finally, and was told straight away I had been referred to the wrong department all along the dr who took notes down during the time I was referred onto the hospitals waiting list, had got me by the sounds of it, VERY mixed up with a different patient. She claimed on my notes that I was having recurring miscarriages at between 7-15 weeks pregnant. I've never been able to get pregnant in the 3 years DH and I have been trying, so this was untrue.

I left that appointment at the hospital, having waited 2 years for it, with no further plan or help! whatsoever. This was 2 weeks ago now and I'm still raw with emotion about it. Hence why I've been referred back to my GP and we have filed out the required forms to get onto the correct waiting list; for the fertility assistance.

So it's super frustrating to think that typically I may now need the gynaecology department after all 😑🫠😞

All in all I'm just feeling so worn down and apologise for some of my snappier replies. It's just frustrating feeling so lost and not knowing what's going on with my own body. I long for a family of our own and each day that goes past it feels more & more unlikely. I don't know why, I'm just loosing hope.

Is this the NHS? If so, I would call PALS and explain what happened with the mix up, you shouldn’t be now left without a plan after waiting so long. They should be able to look into what happened and rectify.

And make use of that private healthcare.

I really feel for you. I’m sure you feel stressed enough already without feeling like you have to fight to see the right people, when you’re in so much pain and don’t really know where to start.

💐

Good grief, that’s shocking. Don’t lose hope OP. There’s a LOT of avenues to explore yet. And a lot of support available. I’ve mentioned it in another post but not sure if you saw - do reach out to Endometriosis UK as they can help support you. www.endometriosis-uk.org

Plus as silly as I'm sure this will sound, I honestly have no clue where to begin with private health care. Do you pay and then claim the cost back..? I'm not sure I could afford the fees upfront at this time of year 😔

Thank you both. Sorry I didn't want to drip feed but inevitably I've ended up doing so without intending to!!

It's been a rough few years to say the least. I just want help me a solid plan as to what to do now.

What is PALS? Sorry to be so ignorant. I haven't heard of it before.

I just feel like this is a funfair ride going way too fast, spinning out of control and I don't know how to get off! 😞

This was the notes written up by my GP surgery. Seeing another dr now who's been great so far.. but honestly I'm shattered by what's happened and the fact I feel back to square one! 😞

It depends on the type of policy, I wouldn’t think you’d have to front up with the cash yourself as that’s not usually how they work. You’d need to speak to the insurers.

And I don’t think you drip-fed at all by the way!

Maybe worth adding at this stage that perhaps I'm less experienced in many things when it comes to these issues, health and fertility! I feel I'm still so young. I'm 25. All my friends around me who haven't been planning a family are falling pregnant, I'm so happy for them but finding it increasingly tough the more it happens. Why isn't it happening for us 😞

I'm so sorry as I say, for my ignorance when it comes to some things. I'm so new to all of this and just trying to stumble my way through.

In terms of a plan, 1. Ring insurers and find out the term of the policy 2. Contact GP and request a referral to a private endometriosis specialist. When you get the referral I believe you then go back to your insurers and they authorise your claim, then provide you with a list of consultants you can choose from. It’s been a while since I’ve used private healthcare but I’m pretty sure this is the process.

Sorry - meant to add on the end there - I'm not sure if the fact I'm younger is what's leading the GP's to be less helpful / willing to help. They may believe I have age in my side? I'm not sure, just speculating.. I just want to be taken seriously! I wouldn't ever fabricate the truth in order to push to be seen or go to A&E if I didn't feel it absolutely necessary.

I'm thankful I got an appointment today and have been given pain relief. It's helped this evening and I'm now tucked up in bed hoping to get a better night sleep than I have the last 2 nights.. fingers crossed.

Thanks all for your help this evening.

Sorry, it’s the patient advice liaison service. They deal with any issues you might have whilst using the nhs, do when there’s anh sort of problem.

Here is some info

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/

Who is your private healthcare with? We have AXA. We call them and tell them the issue. They send a list of doctors, in your case a gynaecologist, by email to us that we can see at our local hospital. Some need a GP referral, ring the private hospital and ask. If they don’t you just book an appointment. If they do need one, call your GP receptionist and ask them to do referral. Then book appointment with private hospital. You can email the private hospital the referral or take paper copy with you. You give them your insurance details. We’ve never paid ourselves, the private hospital claims it from AXA. Other private insurance may have a slight different process. Start by calling your insurance provider and they’ll talk you through it, I’ve always found them really helpful.

I'm not sure why some people are acting like the OP going to A and E would be the crime of the century

My friend has endo and has been sent to A and E twice by her GP when the symptoms have been very bad to get quick access to scans to make sure they aren't missing something serious (intestinal blockage due to endo is a concern, rare but a concern, and can be very serious for example)

On both occasions the friend has been in work in the morning and the hospital by the afternoon. Once she needed emergency surgery the other time they were able to provide her with liquid morphine because of her pain levels after checking her out on scans.

Don’t be sorry. When you deal with things for the first time, no one knows what to do. I’m just sorry you’re struggling.

But, you are young. That’s a positive. And you have private healthcare which can really help. You sound really overwhelmed , just try to do one step at a time. I’d start with your private healthcare. Get an appointment with a gynaecologist. They take down all your history, arrange tests and scans and go from there.

It's not accident and emergency if you are able to go to work and then call in afterwards?May be try 111.

That's brilliant that you have private medical cover.

A word of warning most of them don't cover for fertility issues, but they absolutely do cover you for gynae issues.

I'd check the details of your cover - there is probably an excess of £200 or so - and let the doctors surgery know because they can then refer you privately for your scan.

NB make sure you get a pre authorisation code for every appointment,otherwise you will have to pay for it.

I say I am working or at work when I WFH because I am at work.

I have also struggled through a day at work and gone to A&E on my way home because I just couldn’t cope with the pain anymore.
I have another colleague who keeled over from the pain of endo on her way to work- she ended up in A&E too. Do you think I could have taken a week off a month and kept my job?

Perhaps if women’s gynae issues weren’t trivialised and ignored women wouldn’t be struggling through the day then ending up at A&E (which the OP didn’t do).

111 is a total joke, you will just waste 30 minutes of your life for nothing, just go to A&E.

I would get a copy of your policy from your employer and have a careful read of it. If your endo diagnosis predates you taking out the policy then you might not be covered.

The suspected cyst is new so it might be better to have your GP refer you for that and the private consultant can order scans etc. Going private is often a means to being fast tracked on NHS in that if your private consultant diagnoses you they can refer you onto NHS more quickly than GP (if that makes sense!)

Best of luck, OP.

My partner works from home every day, he’s says ‘I’m at work’ as do my friends that work from home.

If she wants to go to A&E, she can. She doesn’t need yours or a GP receptionists permission.

Theres some right arseholes on here.

I hope you’re ok this morning OP.

@niugboo you're still referring to the work thing. I don't understand why?

I also don't understand why you think I'd lie? It's very strange.

Being at home, working, is being at work. I'm working.

It really isn't! You do realise they deal with all sorts of things that aren't life threatening, like broken bones, dislocations. I went with a Bartholins cyst, it wasn't going to kill me but I was in agony so I went as I couldn't see my GP.

@shallwego, I get access to a private GP app with my health insurance. I've used it a couple of times and it's brilliant. I had pelvic pain and they did a referral and I just needed to call BUPA for the authorisation. It might be worth checking if you have anything like that.

It's like you're punishing me, @niugboo - for something I've not even done. If you read through my posts you'll see that I've not gone to A&E. I was seen by my doctor yesterday at 5pm and he's found the suspected issue. I'm now awaiting a confirmation scan.

Please be a little kinder? You never know how much people are dealing with behind closed doors. I really don't need to have to keep explaining myself (I'm not lying and don't have anything to hide here) I don't have the time or energy to even begin to make up or fabricate things for a post on here, and have no reason to 'back pedal'

Everything I say you've been here trying to combat and 'catch me out' when there's really nothing to find.

OP I’m so glad you got seen by the doctor and that the ball is rolling on getting you some help.

I had sharp, stabbing pains in my abdomen a few years ago which were alarming but don’t sound anything like as painful as yours. I rang 111 and they sent me straight to A&E where they did some tests but couldn’t find anything, and the pain just ended up going away soon after (their best guess was a very small kidney stone that passed by itself). I walked myself there and back and wasn’t doubled over in pain or anything like that.

All the people saying A&E isn’t for things like this are wrong, any A&E doctor I’ve known would always say they’d rather see you and it be nothing, than have you delay it and end up coming to them in a much, much worse state later.