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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
Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 05/02/2023 09:53

Can you get to Birmingham Eye Hospital? They have an A&E department.

Intrepidescape · 05/02/2023 09:55

I don’t understand why you haven’t seen a doctor privately if you’ve waited all this time.

It sounds like a cyst but you dropping so much weight is very concerning. Go to hospital right now!! It’s an emergency!!

SallyWD · 05/02/2023 09:56

Good luck. This sounds absolutely awful. I can't believe it's got to this stage

Sugarfree23 · 05/02/2023 09:58

Intrepidescape · 05/02/2023 09:55

I don’t understand why you haven’t seen a doctor privately if you’ve waited all this time.

It sounds like a cyst but you dropping so much weight is very concerning. Go to hospital right now!! It’s an emergency!!

I don't understand what makes you think everyone has the money to see a Doctor privately?

JustDanceAddict · 05/02/2023 10:04

Hope you’re on way to a&e now.
eyes are usually taken v seriously - I had a granuloma (a type of cyst) a few years ago and GP said to see an ophthalmologist straight away as couldn’t guarantee it wasn’t cancerous. It wasn’t - but I was lucky and had means to go private so it was taken out quickly.
you’ve been unlucky with your gp, but I think if they think something is benign then referral takes ages. Your symptoms have escalated though so a&e (eye a&e preferably) is the right call.
Has the weight loss come from not eating cos of anxiety?

ArcaneWireless · 05/02/2023 10:04

Watching my sibling getting fobbed off for years before their diagnosis, I can well believe this.

I hope you manage to see someone today 💐

Qwertyfudge · 05/02/2023 10:08

You seem very apathetic about your health. Are you actually going to do anything proactive about this? Like ask someone for a lift to the hospital, call 101 or any of the other suggestions you’ve been given.

BankOfDave · 05/02/2023 10:22

twitterexile · 05/02/2023 08:53

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?

I DID NOT say this wasn’t a genuine poster. You asked why someone would question it and I gave you the reason.

Original poster
Laurawharton · 05/02/2023 10:43

Some people wanted a picture for proof so here's the last one I sent to the doctor and it's only getting worse by the day unfortunately. I'm getting ready to go to a and e now as I thought I'd at least wait for partner to wake up before disappearing 😆he thinks I should phone 111 before though just incase I'm wasting my time going to a and e

Doctors ignoring me for a year and now it's come to this
OP posts:
Tistheseason17 · 05/02/2023 10:43

If the GP asked for more photos to send off, the issue is NOT your GP practice.
GP has clearly referred you but the Hospital has reviewed your photo and decided it's not clinically urgent. You have now had more photos sent off with an updated situation so the hospital may now prioritise you. They may not. Best thing to do us contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital and ask them to escalate the referral for you - it is hospital (not GP) who are deciding your appointment wait length. I am sorry you are waiting so long. Send mire photos to GP to submit if needed - They will gladly forward for you. Your GP does care or you would not have been referred - watch and wait initially is very normal, but they have referred which was correct action. GPs are not in charge of wait times at hospitals.

Destiny123 · 05/02/2023 10:46

Google your nearest eye casualty they'll be able to do far more than a normal a&e who will prob just refer you to eye casualty

PreVerbalGerbil · 05/02/2023 10:51

To all those saying eye casualty, this isn’t an eye emergency- it’s periocular not eye related. Not saying you shouldn’t be seen somewhere but as it’s a skin lump either a walk in centre or to push for a dermatology/plastics referral would be more appropriate

Original poster
Laurawharton · 05/02/2023 10:52

Oh some people asked where I lived to its Telford I live in. I've been referred to a dermatology by my GP but they are taking there time getting back to me so far just over a month through traqs. As they have marked it as not serious. Gp sent some photos Wednesday to chase them up but he said it could still be a couple of weeks as they are backed up aswell it's clased as a non emergency. Meanwhile my parents are trying to make me laugh saying I should move to Paris to start ringing the church bell 😅

OP posts:
Newchat · 05/02/2023 10:55

why? Sounds like the GP has done an appropriate referral and then done yet another one to secondary care trying to expedite her appointment sending on updated photos. It is secondary care waiting lists that are the issue here, what do you want the GP to do open up their tool box and magiccaclly perform surgery in their consulting room??

BlueWhiteHat · 05/02/2023 10:56

Agree with @Tistheseason17 whatever the delay is, it’s not your GP. They have taken the information and photos and referred you and the hospital have decided on the wait list and time for you, and they Gp has updated and it’s still the hospital deciding, not the GP. If your vision is affected today then phone 111 and they’ll be able to direct you to being seen today, but if you don’t get seen then you can phone any optician and ask for an emergency appointment with them tomorrow.

AnnaMagnani · 05/02/2023 10:56

You don't need an eye A+E for that as it's not actually your eye, it's an infected sebaceous cyst on your forehead.

GP for antibiotics at the moment, it would usually be plastics to remove them especially as it's on your face.

Newchat · 05/02/2023 10:58

Newchat · 05/02/2023 10:55

why? Sounds like the GP has done an appropriate referral and then done yet another one to secondary care trying to expedite her appointment sending on updated photos. It is secondary care waiting lists that are the issue here, what do you want the GP to do open up their tool box and magiccaclly perform surgery in their consulting room??

sorry my response was to the person saying complain to the practice manager.
As this looks acutely worse I would attend A&E/ eye casualty. Sadly thats the reality of long waiting lists at the moment that people end up much sicker and having to attend A&E with worsening symptoms. Complain to your MPs about it. i sincerely hope the OP feels better soon and gets some medical care.

Sugarfree23 · 05/02/2023 10:58

Op I doesn't look as bad as I imagined, I'm not sure I'd go to A&E with it. Call 111.

Coffeetree · 05/02/2023 10:58

100% PALS.

For today, definitely dial 111 before you go anywhere. You sound like the kind of person who makes light of things with humour, but don't do that now. Dont apologise, don't make jokes. Tell them it's grown quickly, it's unremittingly painful, and you can't see.

Unsure33 · 05/02/2023 10:59

Have they said they think it is a cyst ?

Cocobutt · 05/02/2023 11:00

Tistheseason17 · 05/02/2023 10:43

If the GP asked for more photos to send off, the issue is NOT your GP practice.
GP has clearly referred you but the Hospital has reviewed your photo and decided it's not clinically urgent. You have now had more photos sent off with an updated situation so the hospital may now prioritise you. They may not. Best thing to do us contact Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at the hospital and ask them to escalate the referral for you - it is hospital (not GP) who are deciding your appointment wait length. I am sorry you are waiting so long. Send mire photos to GP to submit if needed - They will gladly forward for you. Your GP does care or you would not have been referred - watch and wait initially is very normal, but they have referred which was correct action. GPs are not in charge of wait times at hospitals.

I agree with this.

It sounds like your gp is doing all that they can but it’s the next stage that’s taking their time.

I would have thought A&E would do the exact same thing as the gp but you’d just have a 9 hour wait first.

Original poster
Laurawharton · 05/02/2023 11:03

When the lump first came on my face it was small enough to be removed at the doctors I was told by the first one that said will have it removed in 6 months as it would be just consider minor op they had some one who does this type of thing think she was leaning towards it being a limpomas I think it's spelt. Unfortunately the male doctor didn't see the need for this and now it's the size and place it's gone to the doctors are having to refer me on.
By reactions since I've sent the photo means people now think it's not an emergency and I should sit and wait for my referral to come though even if it takes weeks or months. I just thought being in this much pain and it putting pressure on my eye and swollen around my eye that maybe the doctors wasn't taking it seriously.

OP posts:
Musicaltheatremum · 05/02/2023 11:04

AnnaMagnani · 05/02/2023 10:56

You don't need an eye A+E for that as it's not actually your eye, it's an infected sebaceous cyst on your forehead.

GP for antibiotics at the moment, it would usually be plastics to remove them especially as it's on your face.

I second that.

Crumpetdisappointment · 05/02/2023 11:05

just have to wait for dermatology, looking at that picture

Greensleevevssnotnose · 05/02/2023 11:06

I imagined it way worse than that. I imagine it's embarrassing more than anything. I paid to have one smaller than that removed but it looks like a cyst so you could lance it yourself and use a hot compress or drawing ointment. Not a doctor 💊 just speaking from experience. I would go to the chemist and see what they say. It doesn't look like something for a and e