To go to A and E with pelvic pain?

[Sunflowermoonbeam]

I'm prepared to be flamed but really in a quandary. I've had bad pelvic pain since June, seen gynaecologist and no prolapse. Been referred to pelvic physiotherapist. My pain escalated 6 weeks ago and centred on my urethra and bladder area. Extremely swollen and a constant unbearable pain and pressure. Issues with urinating and test revealed blood in urine. I saw an amazing GP last week who finally took me seriously and she made an urgent referral to a urology department. Of course urgent by NHS standards isn't same level of urgency so a week on and I've heard nothing yet. It has got significantly worse...can't sit, can't sleep etc. My pain is permanently at a level 8 or 9, no respite, painkillers do nothing which i think is because the pain arises from the swelling pushing on things it shouldn't. I barely slept last night and can't sit to work my husband wants to take me to A and E but despite the pain I just don't know if it is reasonable. I'm always paranoid I'm not a serious enough case. However, I'm getting quite concerned now! I'm waiting for the GP to call me back. Would you go to A and E if the GP doesn't escalate it?

Completely understand. I also do the thing by asking in A&E if the doctor felt I should have come (suspected broken ankle for X-ray etc) and it has always been an emphatic yes. I always feel a bit vindicated 😂 for going.

Good luck!

I think with severe pain and swelling, it wouldn't be unreasonable to go to a&e. You could ring 111 first for advice. Have you got a temperature? If it's a severe infection you might need i/v antibiotics

Yes I think you should go. Women get fobbed off with anything in that region and there's such a lot that can go wrong there. A test has shown blood in urine, you have increading constant pain and swelling and no diagnosis or relief. It soinds like it needs checking out much more thoroughly and without delaying.

I think unbearable pain does count as an emergency.

I went to A&E with serious pelvic pain. GP couldn’t do anything, told me to go to a community health clinic, and the health clinic gave me medication that didn’t work and the pain became extreme. Couldn’t eat, walk or sleep. A&E admitted me, gave me IV abs and a pelvic scan. It turned out to be pelvic inflammatory disease of unknown cause.

Appreciate everyone’s pain threshold varies but if it’s really a 8-9, I’m surprised you’ve been able to type these messages. My DH had renal colic which was a 10 and even as it began to onset, he would not have been able to type. He was on the floor in agony and needed morphine. I think a GP visit is needed. Best of luck.

I would ask myself what I want to achieve after the visit. A prescription to help with the pain, antibiotics or a shortcut to hospital admission. You sound sensible enough to know the third option is not viable. Unless you have another outcome in mind I would phone111. Unbearable pain making you unable to work is one of their criteria.

I'd have the same thought as you around misuse of a&e but also think op should go

This is an example of why women struggle to be heard when they are in pain: minimising and telling her she can’t possibly be that sore. It’s no wonder we struggle to access help.

I would go A and E, it’s not right to be experiencing this pain. You are your own advocate for your health.

Yes, go to A and E.
It sounds miserable OP.
I hope they sort you out.

I also needed morphine and had 10/10 pain for a herniated disc leading to cauda equina
Pacing and playing candy crush was the only way I coped

What’s your age OP?

Just to add to these messages - people go to A&E with migraines when the pain is too severe and are given morphine. Very severe acute pain in itself is enough of a reason to go - you need to be in hospital to get access to the strongest pain killers. Hopefully they'll also investigate the cause

Blood in the urine is a worry. I would go to A &E for sure in your shoes.
It can be something or nothing, that's the thing. But you don't want to 'sit and wait' for obvious reasons.
I'm in a similar position but I am not in a massive amount of pain and the blood in my urine has cleared. So I'm ok with waiting until my next appointment. In your shoes, waiting isn't a great option. I wouldn't. You could pay out of pocket for a private pelvic ultrasound if you don't want to go to A&E.

Go to A&E or at the very least call 111 for their advice

You sound like my daughter a few months ago and she was eventually diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease. This resulted in a strong course of antibiotics.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid/diagnosis/

I have been through some of the most agonising physical pains - chikdbirth, root canal, subacute bowel obstruction and I have passed out from pain on the last one. I could have still typed a message if needed as also pain can come and go (except obviously when I passed out). The last one can lead to death and I waited 12 hours until my husband came home so I could go to urgent care (who were cross with me I had left it so long and made me aware of the potential outcomes!).

Men can also have lower pain thresholds and your pain isn’t her pain.

Can you compare pain, or grief or heartbreak? No.

You can’t judge her pain and you aren’t her. If it’s a 8/9 the. It’s painful. Geez.

Have you had an X ray? Only ask because I went to a GP 4 times with pelvic pain and was told it would get better by itself. 6 months of pain (during COVID) and they referred me to hospital for an x-ray. It was broken. Split right through the middle.

Another one saying A&E @Sunflowermoonbeam and I never say that. This needs looked at today

Did your GP give you any advice on in what circumstances you should go to A&E? Significant, worsening pain is usually one!
If you can't get an urgent GP phone appointment or good advice from 111, I'd go straight to A&E. They may be able to help with string pain relief even if they can't investigate whatevers causing it

Go to A&E, pain like that needs urgent investigation they may be able to give stronger pain killers as well. Continuous severe pain could be something very serious, don't take chances.

What did you hope to achieve with this post?

I think the problem is that it's relative, people compare to their own experiences. My '10' was a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, so everything painful since seems like a 6, at a push 7 at most compared to that, even breaking my big toe. But that feeds into the idea of women struggling to be heard. I think generally we are mosre likely to endure pain.

Relevant to this post perhaps, I once phoned out of hours in similar pain to that you describe Sunflowermoonbeam. I'd had weeks of UTIs for which I'd consulted a GP, and the usual treatments hadn't worked. One morning I woke up in agony and was peeing what looked like pure blood. I phoned out of hours (it was early) and was seen very quickly. A couple of rounds of antibiotics sorted it, but I was off work for a couple of days.
Incidentally, when I was in the waiting area, a male patient was on the phone describing similar symptoms, but you'd honestly have thought he was at death's door. His pain was definitely a 10, whereas I would not have said mine was based on my previous pain experience. I even drove myself there (probably shouldnt have), while he was saying he could barely walk (evidently he could).
I too suspect you may have a severe UTI, but whatever it is advocate for yourself. Lay it on thick if need be, you shouldn't be suffering while you wait indefinitely for a referral appointment.

Do you have an urgent care near you rather than A&E? They may be a better bet. But I wouldn't leave it, you can't stay in that amount of pain and if you are swelling up in that area I'd be worried about a blockage of some kind

I think you should go.