Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Doctors ignoring me for a year and now it's come to this

380 replies

Laurawharton · 05/02/2023 03:46

Aibu to think I should go to a and e tomorrow (really don't want to as I know they are busy) or just face the fact that no one cares
Had a lump appear by my eye last Christmas. I thought it was a spot until it didn't move for 3 months so phoned the doctors who wouldn't see me face to face but told me that it would need to be off in a strict 6 month time scale if it's not gone by then. 6 months later I phoned to say it's still there and now larger. I had a different doctor who basically said 'and why are you telling us that go private it's cosmetic'. Phoned again to get a face to face as everyone was screaming cancer at me, finally got a face to face and told they don't know what it is but yeah go private to have it off or join a over 2 year waiting list.
Anyway about a month ago it grew big again so phoned them as I was concerned as it's so close to my eye and was starting to mess with my vision and give me headache and that side of my face kept going numb. They said they referred me but still heard nothing. Now it's the size of a golf ball red and angry closing up half my eye. Swollen both my eye lid and my under eye. Painful as hell I Carnt sleep don't want to eat, put it this way I was a size 16 now even size ten is a bit big on me. I Carnt sleep properly, people keep staring at me when I go out so I no longer want to leave the house. I saw the doctor again and all he said was he will send fresh pictures along to my referral.
I don't know what to do I'm scared I'm going to blind in one eye due to the pressure and I'm not sure how my face will now look after it's gone if they ever get round to it. How long can they leave me in this much pain.
Is it worth just going down a and e and seeing if they will do anything? my partner has already stopped me twice from taking matters into my own hands aka self removal. My thinking was if I mess up they will have to something, I know it's not the right thing to do but I'm so scared and in so much pain.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
TrainedByCats · 05/02/2023 15:45

Go to your nearest eye dept A&E first thing Monday morning (they don’t tend to be available out of hours/weekend. If they triage you and they don’t think it’s serious you might be waiting until late into the day but they will look at it.

bmec.swbh.nhs.uk/services/a-and-e/

YouWithoutEnd · 05/02/2023 15:52

Mabelface · 05/02/2023 12:44

That looks like an infected cyst that needs draining ASAP. Hope you get sorted at the hospital.

It isn’t ready to be drained as it’s not fluctuant (coming to a head).

crazycatladyof6 · 05/02/2023 16:02

Bless you. That looks incredibly sore

Wiluli · 05/02/2023 16:34

I’m sorry but you need to go to a&E , if you went from a size 16 to 10 and you have any lump then that’s 2 red flags

Adviceneeded200 · 05/02/2023 16:51

I had to take my dad to a and e this morning as his catheter stopped.flowing last night and was still blocked at 5 this morning and he was in pain.

They wait was shown as 4-5 hours but we were in and out in 90m with a failed flush and a new catheter fitting. Obviously there's ambulances as well and they say they are short staffed but there were only 5 people in the waiting room and it's felt under control, if you know what I mean.

If you can choose, I'd go for early morning too.

GreenBiscuitr · 05/02/2023 16:52

I don't think this is a lipoma OP as I've had a few. Mine were fatty deposits that were squishy and slightly moveable under the skin. Mine also had no effect on the skin, the skin was perfectly clear and normal. Yours looks red and angry. I wonder if it's a cyst. Do whatever you need to to get it seen.

Adviceneeded200 · 05/02/2023 16:53

I see you were going in. Hopefully you've been able to get some satisfactory treatment

Oblomov23 · 05/02/2023 16:57

At least chase GP, who can themselves chase the referral.

RedHead33 · 05/02/2023 17:07

I hope you're ok OP and managed to get treatment?
I would of called 111 and explained the pain you're in. It looks infected and you shouldn't of been neglected for this long. I really feel for you, it looks so sore 😩💐💐❤️

WingingItSince1973 · 05/02/2023 17:08

Hope you went in OP and are now getting it sorted xxx

whatadoodledo · 05/02/2023 17:11

@Sidge Ok Sidge you can live your life that way but frankly if I had a huge lump on my face I'd be more forceful in getting it addressed. Waiting years for shit like this is unacceptable. I'd absolutely be pushing for it to be seen to properly and yes I'd go to A&E if no one else helps me even if it's not infected. I think it's a fairly basic right to not walk around with a lump like this on your face let alone concerns about cancer.

Untitledsquatboulder · 05/02/2023 17:28

@whatadoodledo well said! If only most people in the UK knew what good, first world healthcare could be like they'd not tolerate this warmed-over mess that we're being offered.

whatadoodledo · 05/02/2023 17:32

Untitledsquatboulder · 05/02/2023 17:28

@whatadoodledo well said! If only most people in the UK knew what good, first world healthcare could be like they'd not tolerate this warmed-over mess that we're being offered.

Funnily enough I didn't grow up in the UK but have been here for 2 decades now. In my head it's not right for anyone to wait years (years!) for medical help.

Bluekerfuffle · 05/02/2023 17:45

Opticians do emergency appointments if you have an urgent issue and then might be able to do an urgent referral if needed. If yours doesn’t have any, maybe try other opticians.

Bluekerfuffle · 05/02/2023 17:47

whatadoodledo · 05/02/2023 17:32

Funnily enough I didn't grow up in the UK but have been here for 2 decades now. In my head it's not right for anyone to wait years (years!) for medical help.

Show quote history

Same and agree with what you have said. It’s ridiculous what people have to put up with and try and defend.

DrStrawberry · 05/02/2023 17:59

Go to the eye casualty, often you can self refer. Google your nearest one. A&E doesnt have eye specialists, the doctors in A&E would have to refer you.

QOD · 05/02/2023 18:00

Oh gosh hope you’re ok

poobaloo · 05/02/2023 18:03

For those saying that the weight loss is a red flag; the OP is saying that she isn't eating (either due to pain or stress?) so she's lost weight. It doesn't mean the weight loss isn't distressing but it's not a red flag for cancer as there's a reason she's lost weight - less calories in = weight loss.
OP I'm sorry you're going through this but I don't think it's an A&E issue. I'm sure you did go but what could they do? I hope you got some answers and relief today.

Sidge · 05/02/2023 18:06

@whatadoodledo oh give over, I didn’t say it was acceptable I said you’re lambasting the wrong people. The NHS is going to shit - I fully accept that.

She had what looks like a sebaceous cyst, it’s got bigger and it needs treatment. Unlike the OP I wouldn’t be fannying about on Mumsnet about it I’d be calling 111 to get OOH treatment.

2Rebecca · 05/02/2023 18:13

It looks like a sebaceous cyst (which isn't an emergency and which many dermatology depts have decided they won't excise on the NHS as they are busy with skin cancers and sebaceous cysts are extremely common) which has now got big and red due to infection. Oral antibiotics from OOH GP usually reduce the size if not it will need incised and drained at A&E although that won't remove the cyst.

007DoubleOSeven · 05/02/2023 18:13

poobaloo · 05/02/2023 18:03

For those saying that the weight loss is a red flag; the OP is saying that she isn't eating (either due to pain or stress?) so she's lost weight. It doesn't mean the weight loss isn't distressing but it's not a red flag for cancer as there's a reason she's lost weight - less calories in = weight loss.
OP I'm sorry you're going through this but I don't think it's an A&E issue. I'm sure you did go but what could they do? I hope you got some answers and relief today.

That's a patently misleading reading of the situation. Lots of serious illnesses cause weight loss and lack of appetite and its potentially dangerous for some person on the Internet to make the judgement that its nothing to worry about.

Really hope the op has gone to a&e rather than listen to some of these replies

whatadoodledo · 05/02/2023 18:14

Sidge · 05/02/2023 18:06

@whatadoodledo oh give over, I didn’t say it was acceptable I said you’re lambasting the wrong people. The NHS is going to shit - I fully accept that.

She had what looks like a sebaceous cyst, it’s got bigger and it needs treatment. Unlike the OP I wouldn’t be fannying about on Mumsnet about it I’d be calling 111 to get OOH treatment.

She has come here for advice so she's not 'fannying around'. Some people are unsure of how to receive help and mumsnet can provide useful support.

I hope the OP is ok.

LemonSwan · 05/02/2023 18:16

I hope you are in a and e now and not having to wait too long 🥰

Tilllly · 05/02/2023 18:24

Any update @Laurawharton ?
Hope you're ok

twitterexile · 05/02/2023 18:30

whatadoodledo · 05/02/2023 17:32

Funnily enough I didn't grow up in the UK but have been here for 2 decades now. In my head it's not right for anyone to wait years (years!) for medical help.

Show quote history

Completely agree.