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.

Do you have private medical cover through work at all ?

Sorry as it may seem like a really obvious question but I forgot I had it and it was invaluable for getting an endometriosis diagnosis.

I've been to A&E a couple of times in crippling pain. They had more important matters to deal with so referred me back to the doctors after waiting for a few hours. I'd keep ringing your GPs to see if you can get a cancellation. Even stronger pain killers might help a bit.

I had a similar sensation and I had a major kidney issue. It could be anything op, dont self diagnose or tell them its your ovary as it could be any number of things. Go to a&e.

Oh and I'm not sure that a blood sample can detect Endometriosis.
Unless things have moved on enormously in the 10 years since I had my ops, and indeed in the last 6 months since DNiece had hers, endometriosis can only be properly diagnosed through a laparoscopy which is an operation.

If OP works from home then she might have just staggered over to her computer. She's not claiming to have done a 2 hour commute!

You are having abdominal pain that leaves you unable to stand up straight. It might be gynaecological or it might not. I suffered ovulation pain but I had a diagnosis of endometriosis. It got a lot worse when I had an ovarian cyst which eventually needed surgery.

Get it checked out. No doctor or receptionist (or poster) has x ray vision. It might be mittelschmertz but it might not.

Our hospital has a Gynae emergency ward. You turn up and wait to be seen. You could see if your hospital has similar.

Go to a&e but expect a long wait and bring supplies! I agree with pp- don’t mention ovulation just symptoms

No push back. You need to be on the same day urgent list for pain killers and an examination

Is it your right or left?

either way the PP's advise was excellent, don't turn up stating ovulation pain. Go as a blank slate and let them figure out what's wrong.

After all, you haven't had a diagnoses yet.

Sounds awful though you poor bugger.

I'm my view, if you can wait until after work, it's not an emergency.

This.

The receptionists will likely have had an email, as we do periodically from our local hospital, advising that unless it is an absolutely urgent emergency then Drs shouldn’t send people to the hospital as there are a shortage of beds, 14 hour waits in A&E etc etc.

How comfortable would you be standing in A& E or sitting on the floor for half a day waiting to be seen? I had a hysterectomy due to Endo, there were times I was in so much pain it made me vomit and I couldn’t sit or stand. There would be no way I’d be in work and not a chance I could sit in a hard chair in A&E. Phone 111, do an EConsult with the surgery or any other option but I wouldn’t say go to A&E.

I work in an office role but today is luckily one of my WFH days. I'm sat at my desk at home, but thankfully I can get up and go into the kitchen to make hot water bottles etc (not without crippling pain)

I've just been called back by GP - they're seeing me at 5 this eve

I definitely wouldn't rely on health advice from my GP surgery.
If you're in that much pain, you should definitely see someone.
Going to A&E is certainly less disruptive than calling for an ambulance. I'd hope that the triage system there would fast-track you.
Don't suffer in silence.

Glad you are being seen. But I don’t think A&E is appropriate. This being neither an accident or emergency.

Good. Hopefully they'll give you some pain relief. Hope it goes OK. If you are able to wfh ask for a fit note that says you would benefit from wfh more.

Someone else has mentioned ovarian cysts. That was my first thought too so push for a referral for an ultra sound of your ovaries at the very least.

Yes I had cysts and it sounds like this

Be the squeaky wheel. Do not allow yourself to be fobbed off.
Best of luck

If you are able to be in work then it's not an emergency.
Call 111.

Ringing 111 is a waste of time.

You either need your GP to give you an urgent appointment or you go to A&E.

As for the people who say ''if you managed to get to work you don't need A&E'', I was having problems with pain and bleeding (which turned out to be endometriosis and adenomyosis) for a while. I made it to work one day during my period because I was expecting to manage, two hours later I was hemorrhaging in the loos, nobody heard me call for help so I had to drag myself out of the bathroom and into the nearest corridor where a receptionist finally heard/saw me lying on the floor. I left work in an ambulance. In the end I needed an hysterectomy.

Your health is more important than your job and your GP is a fool to expect you to wait that long.

That's good news that the GP is seeing you.

In the short term i.e. today I'd ask them to prescribe you the strongest and most suitable concoction of pain killers they have.

Longer term you need to get on the list for an investigative laparoscopy as soon as possible. Unfortunately as Endo isn't life threatening, the waiting list - if you can get on to it - can be long.

I don't know what age you are , and I'm so sorry because I know you are TTC, but if you're struggling so badly with the pain going on a birth control pill like Cerazette may help.

I feel so badly for you as I was in the same situation about 12 years ago, but was so much more fortunate as already had DS and had private medical cover through work.

Forget being expert in your own pain. You don't have to live in pain. Think about it, you are being expected to do so because it could just be 'normal for a woman with endo'.

Make sure your GP is fully aware of just how crippling this pain is. 9 out of 10, bang your head against a brick wall to distract yourself levels of pain.

Best of luck getting a better solution.

If it can wait till your shift finishes then it’s neither an accident nor an emergency.

A&E aren’t going to investigate Mittelschmerz.

Perhaps the solution is to go home and rest?

Sorry yes an ultrasound is a good first thing to ask for. However if it's clear you may well still have Endometriosis.

OP you have my full sympathy. I have fibroids and suspected endo. I FINALLY got my referral to gynae in Feb, after lots of misogynistic 'this is just normal woman pains' BS from male GPs. I am in agony every month, even cocodamol doesn't cut it anymore. Had an online appointment sent through for October. I thought 'what the f is the point in that?', but apparently it was a 'touching base' appointment. Then the consultant didn't turn up. I waited for 2 hours in an online waiting room and turns out he'd gone home. So, had the appointment rearranged to a face to face appointment, but had to wait until end of Nov. Well, yesterday, 2 hours before the appointment I got a voicemail saying that the consultant couldn't make the clinic today and they'd send me another appointment when they had one.

All this to say, I agree with other pps who said don't mention anything gynae or female related if you go to a +e. Whilst I've been waiting a year for crippling pain to be looked into, my husband has been into the GP with mild acid reflux and a request for a referral for a minor surgery for something that's mildly irritating to him. He's been treated with so much seriousness, had his referrals through straight away and then heard pretty much instantly from each referral with an appointment.