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

[Laurawharton]

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.

Go to an eye clinic they can fast track an emergency if they need to with a letter

Go to A&E. it’s not your fault that the NHS is going to shit. No one should have to wait this long for treatment. They will not turn you away and they will advise. It’s just not good enough and the longer we all stay passive the longer this shit situation in the nhs is going to continue.

It isn't an opthalmic problem it's near her eye but is not a problem an opthalmologist would be interested in. It's dermatology/ plastic surgery

ophthalmologist

I'm sorry, OP. It's a misery trying to get medical help for so many now. And it's only getting worse, not better.

So@Laurawharton - did you got to A & E

I probably would have changed GP surgeries weeks ago. My friend had similar. They referred her to a consultant straight away who arranged for her to have it removed a couple of weeks later. It sounds like getting past your GP is the real problem here.

I wouldn't be so sure. Took one of my kids to A&E with something similar, they called a doctor down from the ward that dealt with eye conditions. He had a look and arranged an appointment with the Consultant the following morning. I think the surgery was about a week later.

I think you should go to a&e. My dh had a raised red spot start growing just below his eye, gp said just to stick optrex infected eye on it🙄. Very luckily 3 months later dh was sent to a consultant ophthalmologist for something entirely different - he very calmly said to dh ‘I think we should remove that now, I have space in my schedule this afternoon’ and did indeed remove it a few hours later. When histology came back we could all agree it was bloody lucky he did. A&e will at least triage, assess and get you referred on asap if required. You have been failed by your gp but now must do what you can to be assessed - it is not a waste of time.

I really hope you went to A and E if you are in a lot of pain and your eye sight is being affected I would definitely go to the hospital. I can’t believe people were telling you not to go. They don’t know you or your body. I really hope you went.

I would go to A&E, preferably at a quiet time. If they think you shouldn't be there they can tell you. I went with something like that on my back, they drained it of pus, it did not take long. An infection could become serious.

I don't know why people are blaming the GP. The GP has referred and has passed on extras photos (presumably to try to push the OP up the waiting list). It was not an emergency prior to looking infected, hence the long wait. It's entirely possible that the GP wasn't even allowed to refer earlier, when the lump was smaller - most parts of the country won't offer surgery for cosmetic problems (which is probably how it was considered when it was small) now on the NHS. That's not the fault of the doctors.

The GP has NO influence whatsoever on hospital waiting lists and GPs are themselves pretty p'd off with the whole NHS situation. Putting in a formal complaint and threating the GP with the GMC is going to achieve what, exactly? The GP can't MAKE the dermatology dept do anything! (And you'll probably find that the docs who work in the derm department are also in despair over waiting lists ---)

I very much doubt that eye clinic would do anything as this isn't an eye problem; it's a skin problem near the eye.

It needs seeing urgently now because it looks infected and so treatment is needed for that. That will almost certainly have to be done at a hospital -- the GP may not actually have professional indemnity insurance to start cutting into people's faces!

OP, hope you've managed to get some help now. I think A+E would be completely appropriate now that you've got what looks like an acute infection that may well need draining.

(Ex GP here, with dermatology qualifications, and I've also worked in AED).

Gosh I hope you have seen @mauvish 's comment above. Painful and affecting your vision would make me go, plus a GP qualified person saying it looks like acute infection. Please go to A&E and tell us how you get on.

@Laurawharton
If it is impacting your vision I would go to the nearest eye hospital. If you are Telford it's Birmingham Eye Hospital. I was sent there for an ulcer on my Eye, I don't live in Birmingham, but it was the closet Eye Hodpital that have an A+E. I will be honest it was busy, I waited ages and not the nicest hospital aesthetic wise, the doctors though were fantastic despite the wait. I know the issue is likely not originating from your Eye, perhaps a cyst, but its impairing your vision and you may get some support for a quicker referra to the department you need to be seen by. They were lovely to me when I was seen, and help me get my follow up appointments at a local hospital to me (that did not have Eye triage/A+E). Sorry you feel so down, I had a period of cystic acne as a teen, thankfully all cleared but it destroyed my confidence and I felt so self conscious out.

I've had a subaceous cyst before.....have you tried a really really hot flannel on it several times over a few hours and then a really good squeeze......

I think that looks like A&E rather than an eye hospital but I would get it seen given it’s size and the impact it is having on you.

fwiw I was recently bitten and was told (by A@E) to go back to A&E, not the GP if I thought it was becoming infected and my son has had some awful throat infections requiring A&E (& hospital admission) recently. So you can reasonably go to A&E for infections.

My son has something similar since before covid. GP said it was nothing to worry about. Took 3.5 yrs to be seen at the hospital. Recently removed and consultant was cross it had taken so long to get drs to refer us

That really doesn’t look great, especially coupled with the weight loss (but I’m not a doctor). If it were me, I would raise hell and not let up until I had been properly seen, diagnosed and treated.

If it's impacting your vision, I'd get a train to London and go to Moorfields.

One of the best eye hospitals around, NHS, and if you go to Moorfields A&E, they'll see you.

Wow OP I’m so sorry that looks very full on. Please go to a&e. It is absolutely not your fault that the NHS is on its knees. They will triage you in order of priority so if they don’t think it’s urgent you’ll have to wait. That is not draining resources. It is not your responsibility to save the NHS. Look after yourself please.

You poor thing.

Maybe invest in a taxi to take you there early in the morning, then go back home by public transport?

Take care of yourself. xxx

Hope you managed to get seen by a doctor today op!

Hope you have managed to see someone today. If it has grown in size since that photo you posted was taken and is causing issues with your vision and sensation in that area of your face, I think you would be sensible to get it checked out.
At least they might be able to reduce it somewhat to reduce the pressure on your eye and/or give you antibiotics if they think they are needed.

OP just to say it's absolutely grotesque that you've been sent from pillar to post like this and with your vision affected I don't understand how anyone can suggest that you put up with more of the same.

If GPs, 111 and urgent care centres were working properly one could say don't bother a+e with this. But things being what they are, I think you have no choice but to go to a+e and insist on getting treatment, antibiotics at least.

Oh, and don't let your dh or anyone else stop you. There is too much moralising about ppl seeking treatment.

OMG my dog had a cyst on his head the vet took it more seriously the NHS is a bloody disgrace.