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.

Yes you are completely unreasonable.

It’s not a drop in. If you’re well enough to be at work you have absolutely no right to be using a valuable A&E service.

They aren’t a diagnostic service. They will examine you for anything life threatening and discharge.

So glad you have been seen and given pain relief x

If you can work you probably don't need A&E , to wait until January is not acceptable for long standing pain. I would ring 111 and emphasise you have severe stomach pain don't say it's ovulation pain .

I have really severe ovulation pain, similar to what you're describing. Some months slightly better than others but have been known to pass out. Had surgery a few months ago - ovary was stuck to my intestine. Have ovulated once since and was nowhere near as painful.

I personally wouldn't go to A&E because they won't do anything (been there, done that, once they decide it isn't appendicitis they will send you home), but I would insist on a gynae referral for a hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. I got this by saying to my GP that they needed to document that they were refusing to refer me if they fobbed me off again. Saw a gynae doc a month later and had surgery a month after that.

Feel free to message if more details would be helpful.

Not sure why you’d take any notice of someone paid to answer a phone.

If you can't be arsed to read the thread, probably best not to comment.

Glad you've been seen and I hope you get sorted out soon x

I've not been to A&E.

I've been working from home today, and therefore able to take things much slower than I could at work. Not working is just not an option for me at the moment. With the company making cuts and redundancies left right and centre, and my department already being at huge risk, I can't afford to give the company a reason to put me on their list for next round.. even if it is discriminatory.

I'm sick of seeing posts like this on MN. They are stupid and irresponsible. If someone is in excruciating pain of course they can go to A&E FFS. No one knows whether someone has something life threatening without medical advice. This is the second post recently where an OP is told they're wrong for daring to use the NHS.

Years ago DH was sent to the local walk in clinic for a blood thinning injection. When we got there they didn't have the right strength so I said to the receptionist should we got to A&E. She told me if we did we'd be time wasters. We went to hospital anyway and DH was triaged and sent straight to the A&E section. It's a good job we went as he had a blood clot. I made a written complaint about the receptionist as what she did was dangerous, much like some posters on MN.

Thank goodness you were persistent about needing an appointment with your gp. It sounds as if you are starting to get somewhere and feel listened to, which is equally important. What a state of affairs that a receptionist decides whether or not you need an appointment. Another time, if you have the NHS app, you can bypass the receptionists and make an appointment with a doctor far more quickly, or at least you can at our practice.

Just in case the co-codamol doesn’t help enough…. I’d look at Feminax Ultra, which uses naproxen. I was given naproxen in A&E once for very similar pains, though I’d previously had a kidney stone so was subsequently always diagnosed with renal colic. In the end, I was diagnosed with endometriosis as the pain always occurred during my period but the pain could be debilitating and naproxen helped where nothing else touched it. I had it prescribed but it can be bought over the counter as above.

OP, I get really bad ovulation pains to the point I sometimes can leave the house for 2 days, it is awful. I am pretty sure I have endo but getting a diagnosis isn’t easy, I have recently been sterilised and that seems to have made it worse. I have been to hospital (A&E) before but all they do is refer me to gyne or tell me to talk to my GP. I know how frustrating it is and how painful it is. First time I got this pain a really thought my ovary was about to burst 😖. My gp has prescribed me strong pain killers and I just look forward to the day my ovaries stop working.

A&E are unlikely to be able to help. You need to speak to your gp, I know how hard it is to speak to a gp these days but you need a referral for a scan and further investigation.

Hear hear!

I'd definitely go if I were you.

Go to A&E and demand a physical exam and ultrasound ASAP. Women are always being dismissed and medically gaslit. I hope you get help very soon.

Ladies it's not normal to been in agony because you have ovaries and a uterus. Men wouldn't put up with it.

This is very bad advice.
the medical staff will ask about your period.
Doctors need the right information to make a diagnosis otherwise you risk the wrong diagnosis and treatment plan.
Best wishes OP - it’s awful to be in pain and unable to get help.

I wouldn't go to a&e as that's for life threatening emergencies!! Complete waste of resources at the moment.

I've been where you are and totally get that gynae pain is well painful. Just keep ringing your GP they have a duty of care to their patients to see you if you can't wait until January.

Why don’t people read threads from the beginning! Inside of half way through

OP, has NOT gone to A&E she went to GP tonight @ 5pm

I'm glad you were seen, OP and are being sent for scans. What a worry for you.

For all those spouting A & E, if it's anything like our local one, getting past reception is something that only occurs if a limb is hanging off or you're unconscious. They boot most people back out of the door with a sharp word about what GP's are for. My uncle had a heart attack in September (his 4th) and needed his stents replaced. He sat in A & E for nearly 15 hours before he was seen.....

I really wish that posters wouldn't attempt triage on MN, and I really wish that @MNHQ wouldn't allow it.

I am in the same situation as you and the only things that even takes the edge off slightly is codeine which I got prescribed.

I'm a nurse and I would recommend that you go to A&E with the symptoms you are describing. You are assuming it's gynae issues, but it may not be. Alternately, it may be something gynae that needs urgent treatment, either surgical or medical. Plus, you need satisfactory pain relief.

Go, and don't feel guilty.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat did you read the actual post or my comment? She rang the receptionist asking if she should go after work. Ergo she’s literally sat at work. That is not a person in excruciating pain or someone who needs A&E.

A&E is not designed for people merrily posting on mumsnet. Your GP was the appropriate route.