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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How can she be left like this? Take her back to A&E?

703 replies

Fearsheisdying · 23/01/2023 17:51

Posting for traffic has honestly I'm terrified something is seriously wrong with my Mum and don't know what to do so please be nice.

Last week she started with some pain that she says feels like it's right at the very bottom of her ribs and radiating round the sides. She was in agony, basically screaming with pain so I took her to A&E on the advice of 111. All obs and ECG were normal but the blood tests were abnormal. They were going to do a CT scan but then decided as her obs were ok and they didn't think there was a bleed as no fall/injury, they were not going to do a CT scan there but would refer it to the GP to arrange BUT because of the blood test results and recent weightloss, they wanted it done urgently under the "2 week rule" and from his grave tone, I highly suspect he thinks it's cancer and serious. They couldn't/wouldn't give her anymore painkillers because of the painkillers she's on for severe arthritis but these are not touching the pain.

Fast forward to today, she has been in absolute agony since Thursday and seems worse today and can barely move. She's exhausted and crying/screaming in pain. My sister called 999 today but they said as not life threatening they won't send an ambulance but had to speak to GP within an hour. GP receptionist tried to say no appointments so we couldn't speak to GP but after I explained the issue (and she could hear my Mum crying out in pain) she finally agreed to pass a message to the GP so currently waiting to see if GP will call back today or not. Mum says if I take her back to A&E we'll be sat for hours again and nothing will be done but I can't just sit here and watch her in so much pain and do nothing.

What do I do?! Do I make her let me take her to A&E? Do we wait to see if the GP will call? Just feel so helpless

OP posts:
ButterCrackers · 23/01/2023 21:15

AttentionAll · 23/01/2023 21:12

A potential head injury and an injury that needs stitched needs immediate treatment which you had.

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As does terrible pain for which the cause needs to be identified and appropriate pain medication given. Depending on the cause being life threatening or not life threatening further action can be taken.

DamnThatHitsHome · 23/01/2023 21:16

IneedanewTV · 23/01/2023 21:08

i broke two bones went to A&E. they gave me two X-rays and an MRI scan as I had banged my head. I was treated, stitched up and left hospital with pain relief and antibiotics and told the fracture clinic would contact me in a few days. I say that was the full treatment.

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So they checked you wouldn’t drop dead, patched you up and referred you to specialists for follow up.

Exactly their role.

Their role isn’t to hold a load of scanners in the department to scan non-emergency patients and diagnose a myriad of possible problems- they patch up and refer.

It’s truly shit to be unwell and I have the utmost sympathy with the OP’s mum, but a lot of the advice here is wildly wrong and likely to cause further stress.

Wombatbum · 23/01/2023 21:17

DamnThatHitsHome · 23/01/2023 21:16

So they checked you wouldn’t drop dead, patched you up and referred you to specialists for follow up.

Exactly their role.

Their role isn’t to hold a load of scanners in the department to scan non-emergency patients and diagnose a myriad of possible problems- they patch up and refer.

It’s truly shit to be unwell and I have the utmost sympathy with the OP’s mum, but a lot of the advice here is wildly wrong and likely to cause further stress.

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She’s crying and screaming in pain!

slowquickstep · 23/01/2023 21:17

Thereisnolight · 23/01/2023 20:21

I don’t know. I never said it was or wasn’t. It would be very strange if I could tell over the internet.

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I think you need to read the second sentence that you typed, the part where you state "OP's Mum is not having a life threatening emergency"

AttentionAll · 23/01/2023 21:18

@ButterCrackers Which is happening. The referral was made last week on the two week referrals. The scan will happen soon.
If the morphine is not helping OP needs to get back to A and E or 111 or the GP.

YoBeaches · 23/01/2023 21:20

Pancreatitis radiates pain centrally and round the back. It's excruciating and can be caused by a gall stone blockage or an infection.This can also cause the Liver to go into over ride as toxins flow through the blood stream making you feel very poorly.

If she's unable to sleep on the Oramorph, get her back to A&E. Nil by mouth except dips of water, Just incase.

AttentionAll · 23/01/2023 21:20

@Wombatbum She has been prescribed morphine. If that is not helping she needs to seek further medical help for her mum.

been and done it. · 23/01/2023 21:20

Choconut · 23/01/2023 18:38

My elderly aunt unknowingly had this and was in agony, she was sent home and not taken seriously and then died from it.

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An elderly relative had similar pain a few days ago...rolling about in agony..bringing his knees up to his chest..an ambulance was called they arrived in 20 minutes. It was diverticulitis and he's currently in hospital on anti biotics and oramorph and suchlike..just waiting to see if surgery is necessary. If I were you I'd wrap her up stick her in a wheelchair with blankets and pillows when you get there and wait it out. At least if she deteriorates she's in the right place for immediate help. Diverticulitis not treated can lead to sepsis.

ButterCrackers · 23/01/2023 21:22

AttentionAll · 23/01/2023 21:18

@ButterCrackers Which is happening. The referral was made last week on the two week referrals. The scan will happen soon.
If the morphine is not helping OP needs to get back to A and E or 111 or the GP.

It sounds like the pain has got worse so the scan needs to be done right away.

Dymaxion · 23/01/2023 21:22

The referral was made last week on the two week referrals. The scan will happen soon.

To be fair we have no idea if the referral has been made or not, the GP know's nothing about it and the Doctor in A&E said the GP would do it. So chances are it wasn't made last week and depending on how busy the GP is, might not be done until the end of this week !

RosesAndHellebores · 23/01/2023 21:22

I am old enough to remember when it would have been wholly appropriate to call out the GP in these circumstances. The GP would either have administered pain relief or with a Dr's authority called an ambulance. It all went to hell in a handcart between 1997 and 2010 in my opinion.

And in those days the average family Dr had enough respect for elderly patients to address then with title they expect to be afforded.

It's utterly disgraceful but still we shoukd be grateful for the race to the bottom

AttentionAll · 23/01/2023 21:23

Then the first thing to do is phone GP and check when the referral was made,

Dontslipontheice · 23/01/2023 21:25

EllaPaella · 23/01/2023 21:09

A&E can admit her if they think necessary. And to me this could be 'acute abdomen' so any number of potentially life threatening things. Acute abdominal pain that is not resolving and the person is doubled up in pain and requiring morphine IS an emergency. The cause of the pain needs to be identified. Even if it is cancer it doesn't mean it's not an emergency, it could be a bowel obstruction, perforation, any number of things.
OP - back to A&E, advocate for your Mum. Ask specifically how they can rule out a surgical emergency without a CT scan. As a pp said you are going to need to be firm and state the case for your Mum calmly and clearly.

Of all the posts on this thread, this is the one to take notice of OP. Please take her back, she needs urgent investigations. No-one (especially not people on a MN thread) can tell what's going on in her abdomen unless/until these are done.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 23/01/2023 21:26

Bundle up your mum and go back to A&E.....

Insist on them recording reasons why they are not scanning your kum mjm when she is in such acute agonising pain.

Other question to ask medics:

Have you excluded bowel blockage /diverticulitis?

If theu don't act, say- 'it is unethical to leave my mum univestigated and in such pain.'

Good luck

AppropriateAdult · 23/01/2023 21:27

GP here, OP. I'm glad you've been able to get the Oramorph. If it's not relieving her pain, though, I would absolutely bring her back to A&E. To be clear, this is not chronic pain - this is severe acute pain and if she's screaming in agony it is a medical emergency. She may not get the scan immediately, but she should be able to get adequate pain relief which is one of the basic duties of doctors.

Whiskeypowers · 23/01/2023 21:27

Dontslipontheice · 23/01/2023 21:25

Of all the posts on this thread, this is the one to take notice of OP. Please take her back, she needs urgent investigations. No-one (especially not people on a MN thread) can tell what's going on in her abdomen unless/until these are done.

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agree
how dreadful @Fearsheisdying so sorry your poor Mum is in so much pain and you are being left hanging like this

Dymaxion · 23/01/2023 21:30

Then the first thing to do is phone GP and check when the referral was made,

The GP couldn't see anything on the system about it, which they should be able to, if anyone at the practice had done one, its very quick and simple to check. The Doctor in A&E last week said that the GP would do the referral under the 2WW, so I am going to assume they didn't do it either.

ButterCrackers · 23/01/2023 21:31

AttentionAll · 23/01/2023 21:23

Then the first thing to do is phone GP and check when the referral was made,

The first action is to get the pain under control and this is an immediate action. Next are ideas on what’s happening so that appropriate medical treatment can be given. This means tests, scans and other necessary checks. Someone in such pain can’t wait. The pain relief could also cover up the condition getting worse so the cause needs to be known so that the person is safe.

RosesAndHellebores · 23/01/2023 21:31

@AppropriateAdult as indeed is dealing with fellow humans with respect and affording them dignity. Rather sadly missing at present don't you think? Do you have any idea why this poor woman's GP could do no more than write a prescription without seeing the patient.

ButterBastardBeans · 23/01/2023 21:32

They can't tell if it is or is not life threatening without a diagnosis.

Take her to A & E and refuse to leave until a diagnosis is come to.

Zanatdy · 23/01/2023 21:33

Definitely A&E, could be gallstones or pancreatitis. I’ve had both, both very painful, don’t leave her suffering at home as A&E can get her pain under control at least

Zanatdy · 23/01/2023 21:35

If she’s crying in pain she needs to go to hospital.

Icecreamandapplepie · 23/01/2023 21:35

What @EllaPaella said.

Zanatdy · 23/01/2023 21:38

YoBeaches · 23/01/2023 21:20

Pancreatitis radiates pain centrally and round the back. It's excruciating and can be caused by a gall stone blockage or an infection.This can also cause the Liver to go into over ride as toxins flow through the blood stream making you feel very poorly.

If she's unable to sleep on the Oramorph, get her back to A&E. Nil by mouth except dips of water, Just incase.

Yes I’ve had 4 attacks of it and the pain radiates to the back, it’s not something for ignore as can be fatal. Trust me I’ve ignored pain and now live in permanent pain after a gallstone caused permanent damage to pancreatic duct, leading eventually to half my pancreas being removed and living off very strong pain meds.

Titsywoo · 23/01/2023 21:40

If the GP hasn't received anything can you not just make an appt to see them, explain what has happened and get them to refer to gastroenterologist under the 2ww? It certainly sounds like a gastro issue.

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