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.

How do you know? When I had pain it was an ovarian torsion caused by a cyst. Righted itself while I was hospital, if it hadn't it would have meant emergency surgery (ended up waiting best part of a year for urgent surgery...).

OP doesn't actually know what is causing the pain - the pain I had with the cyst was greater at a particular point in my cycle and both my trips to A&E were at that time.

To all those pooh poohing OP saying she can't possibly be having a medical emergency because she is at work I'd say absolutely nobody can actually tell.
From a personal viewpoint I had very similar symptoms back in June. 111 dismissed it the first time I rang them because I was able to continue with normal life. Two days later when I rang again they told me to go to minor injuries. Minor injuries sent me straight to hospital where a CT scan showed I had a pelvic abscess which needed emergency surgery and an 8 day stay in hospital. It is possible that had I gone to a and e as soon as the pain started AV antibiotics would have sorted out the infection...thus saving the NHS a lot of money and myself the experience.
I think you should get yourself to A and E.

@RitaSueandBobtwo

Ooops, and I just saw yours. Apologies!

MN goes into a weird timeslip sometimes.

I could be wrong but if a man called in with these pains, I'm pretty sure A&E would want to see him. Could be PCOS but what if it's something else?

Also endo is not diagnosed by a physical exam. It’s diagnosed by a laparoscopy

I work for a gp. Ring 111. They will either say a&e or get you a doctors app

This was what I was going to say.

You may be able to get an OOH GP apt through them for better pain relief.

Ask about mefenamic acid. I know it's used for period pain but it also is good for ovulation pain - however - I've no idea if I was meant to use it for that reason 🤣

Also buscopan is brilliant. I was prescribed that and the GP told me originally it was designed as a period pain drug.

I use to get exactly the same pain constantly but I had adenomyosis And I had a hysterectomy a few months ago. I still get the ovulation pain as I kept my ovaries and buscopan is helping that as I also get the pain so low down it feels like I've been punched in the fanny!

Personally I wouldn't go to a&e. I'd call 111 tonight when you're home and they may give you an out of hours Appt, or recommend you go to a&e. However, only you know how bad the pain is and can judge.

Talking from experience with gallstones it could be that causing it and not ovulation pain - my pains didn't always match the 'usual symptoms' but caused excruciating pain when I had the attacks. I suffered for over a year and ended up In a&e once at 2am which is how I found out it was gallstones. Then had it removed and no issues since.

I'm so glad you are getting seen by GP. Makes sense to have a physical examination to see if it could be a cause other than ovulation pain. If you feel this pain is much worse or different than last month and potentially life threatening in nature then absolutely access A&E. I'm not sure you are going to get the answers you are looking for by attending A&E, most likely some bloods and an X Ray, and potentially an US tomorrow and some analgesia. You will not kick-start fertility or endometriosis investigations by attending ED. I know you had a wait this morning at 111 but its likely shorter than any wait than you'll have at ED and you should be prepared to be kept in overnight if they want you to have a CT or an US scan.

I would personally take nurofen plus and then paracetamol 2 h later and keep a hot water bottle on and see if the pain reduced with that. I would try a bath and see if I got any relief. I would take a pregnancy test to rule out an ectopic. And I would take my temperature to see if there was any signs of infection causing the pain. If I wasn't getting any relief from codeine, ibuprofen and paracetamol I would go to A&E. If I had a positive pregnancy test with severe abdo pain I would go to A&E or if I had a temperature and abdo pain I would go to A&E. Are you passing urine OK? Are your bowels moving OK or is there any chance you could be constipated?

I'm so sorry you are going through all this, it must be so frustrating not getting anywhere with your tests and having to deal with this awful pain.

Go to the a&e. You are in terrible pain and need checking and to get given medication.

As others have said GO to A&E, yes you will have a horrendous wait.

Apologies if TMI - I had similar experiences of ovulation pains: Suddenly in my 30s I got recurring constipation, thought it was tummy trouble then early menopause when I turned 40 (no family history). Doctors would not listen. I begged them to find out why it was happening early they just said 'It's your age'. I even said to the GP 'Have I got a cyst?' - she laughed and said I would 'have a moustache' if I had cysts. And she was the best GP in the practice! Was put on HRT and within 6 weeks crippling overnight pains. Ended up having an internal scan (not my first I might add) which showed I had a massive dermoid cyst - the size of a tennis ball. They grow 2mm per year so had spent the best part of 20 years growing.

Had it out, constipation disappeared overnight along with my fertility 😡. Don't give up and don't let a damn receptionist tell you what to do. They think they are God. These people are the reason why patients end up living with cancer months before diagnosis.

Good luck OP. I.woukd definitely make a complaint.

I'm glad you got through the receptionist barricade and that you're being seen OP.

I was going to pass on a tip that a pharmacist had given me in that if you're not able to get a GP appointment, wait until they're closed for the day and then call 111. They'll make an appointment for you.

DH got an appointment with his GP this way and it was made clear to him by the doctor that they aren't happy about doing it that way as the appointments are forced upon them and they have to deal with them as well as the usual appointments, but when you're in desperate need for help, but it doesn't warrant an A&E visit, and you can't get a GP appointment, then what else are you supposed to do??

Hope it goes OK OP.

Good luck for your afternoon appointment, hope you get some answers & pain relief

Sorry but it sounds like endometriosis, I struggled for seven years with it- so yes do what you need to do to get treatment.

I have read the update but I just wanted to echo a poster back on page 2 and say that we have a gynae emergency department too. I had no idea but it seems some hospitals do have them and definitely worth checking out in advance for anyone really.

I'd go for a walk in clinic. Yes it'll be a lot of waiting but they'll send you to a&e if they think it's warranted and could prescribe you better painkillers potentially

I had excruciating pain with an ovarian cyst too
as people say, OP, don’t self diagnose…go to A&E Just tell your symptoms, don’t refer to pain as ovarian or uterus or anything, just it’s position and type of pain…let them investigate and find cause. Don’t give them information that could send them down a blinkered path.

Of course you should go to A&E.

What does a receptionist know?

Hope your gp appointment goes ok 🤞🏻 xx

Don't they have emergency appointments at the gp surgery? They must have, give them a ring first thing and get one of their same day appts. I'm almost positive they have to have some same day ones by law

Call gp tomorrow for emergency appointment if they won't give you one ring 111 and they will get you one If you can't wait until tomorrow ring 111 and they will get you an ooh appointment no point in sitting in a&e for 18 hrs

I used to have this, was told by GP that I was basically laying an egg and had to put up with it! Not very useful but no other problems ever found (had 3 children) I would be doubled up on the floor sweating and crying with the pain. Hot water bottle and paracetamol/ibuprofen helped me.

My self-diagnosis story:

Always had terrible period pain. For a few months it had been worse - projectile vomiting because of the pain. I 'managed' it with max amounts of otc codeine, paracetamol, ibuprofin.

One day (on day 1 of period) I had to fly to London. The flight exacerbated the pain and I ended up being taken off the plane in an ambulance. Turned out I'd had a grumbling appendix. And then full blown appendicitis.

Let the doctors make the diagnosis.

(post script) Interestingly, a male doctor was stunned that I could confuse acute pain from appendicitis with period pain - Yes, that is how it is sometimes, for some of us - but all around him other female medics were nodding in understanding.

The 'people without uteruses' just don't really know how it can be, or what we are dealing with month to month.

good luck I’m glad you are being seen