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.

I’d go to BMEC - much more likely you’ll get satisfactory care there than going to a standard A&E.
For smaller things you might have MECS - minor eye conditions service close to you which may be better than nothing tomorrow if transport to BMEC is difficult, but I suspect you’ll need to be seen in the hospital at some point.
Not much point following up further with the GP if they’ve already referred you and expedited the appointment.

You only need to be on MN a week to see the number of threads that are deleted when concerns are raised to MNHQ, so whilst you don’t agree and think this is genuine (could well well be) I’ve been on 100’s of threads that aren’t genuine.

Haven’t you been to an optician?

Local hospital eye dept had me on iv antibiotics for 4 days for infection around my eye. Please seek treatment today and let us know how you get on.

I’ve worked in the NHS for 25 years. I don’t think anyone is going to refuse to see a visible lump tbh esp of obstructing vision for months . If true would suggest going to the media.

So OP may not be genuine in your opinion Dave but what if she is? What's to gain by making someone feel even lower when she is clearly struggling?

If you rock up at a&e they will wonder why you are there for a long-standing issue.
You need to state clearly, the new symptoms of numbness in your face & any other neurological type symptoms, mention them first, it then becomes an emergency.

This^
If you want the get seen at a & e you need to focus on the new symptoms. If they see this as long standing with referrals already been done by GP they won't do anything

Please phone 111 OP if you can't afford the (used to be a while back) £60 to see a private GP.

Well I can see where @Chippy1234 is coming from.

The OP is in pain, has something very visible to show to A&E, is scared she has cancer and says she’s twice had to be stopped by her boyfriend from hacking at her own face. She’s so bothered by it, she’s lost what sounds like several stone.

And yet is posting on MN that maybe she won’t got to A&E because it’s busy.

The exact timeline of the “thing” is a little unclear to me. It was small enough that OP thought it was a spot for months. She then refers to it getting big again, so it hasn’t just been growing and growing. It sounds like the golf ball size is pretty new.

Now there’s all these people googling eye A&E in the vague area where she lives - which is more active than her approach herself.

Not everyone has friends, family, a partner, someone to watch their child, access to a car, money for a taxi. But she has a partner. So she could go to A&E. Yet instead thinks she might not because it’s busy. Odd.

@Laurawharton get your boyfriend round to look after your child, and get on the bus today.

Phone 111 immediately, tell them background and new symptoms, emphasise pain and weight loss. They will refer you to A&E so when you get there, there will already be notes on your file. Don't delay - good luck..

The GP has already referred

OP needs to get to A&E today, make it the priority now before doing anything else, including going to work tomorrow. This has to be dealt with now.

And so did my friend who has been dead for a year because they didn’t take her pain or huge stomach seriously and it turned out to be a tumour. She looked full term at the time of her death. She had previously had a hysterectomy and chemo yet she was still ignored and told it was just constipation. Oh her widow still works in the NHS too but I guess as that’s not your experience his can’t possibly be true or the OP’s. 🙄

Could you put up a photo OP? Some very experienced and knowledgeable folk on this site

Pop yourself off when you can, OP, but make sure you go somewhere that’s got ophthalmology a&e

@Laurawharton what has the GP told you it is? A Chalazion?

Op I think you should got to A&E too, especially as its affecting the nerves.

I'm also worried about your weight loss, were you trying to lose weight?

Go to the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital NOW!! They have an A&E department. (I have just googled this, I’m personally nowhere near the midlands). It should be relatively quiet on a Sunday morning. You really need to get this sorted. If you have a lump the size of a golf ball and it’s affecting your vision, this needs sorting now.

Go to A&E but for info for anyone else in this situation you can call the optician and ask for an emergency appointment. I'm with Specsavers and the receptionist told me they keep a few appointments back each day for emergency appointments and if they run out they would always try to fit someone in anyway.

A&E because they will have to see you if you’re physically there. Don’t be fobbed off any longer

I hope they can sort it for you

I would absolutely go to A&E, whenever you can get there. It’s disgusting how you’ve been treated by your GP practice,

I find it difficult to believe that you work for the NHS.

Contact an emergency opticians (Specsavers etc.) They can then reer you directly to an eye doctor at the hospital.

This.
If you have a specific eye A&E go there. I have a couple of eye problems and am seen twice a year. A nurse at one of the check ups to,d me never ignore an eye problem, so much going on behind your eyes and they’re close to the brain.
Your GP was negligent ( and ignorant)

I work in the NHS and I don’t find it difficult to believe. What a ridiculous comment.