A&E refusing to give more than paracetamol when I’m in horrific pain

[Wonderingmummy]

I found out I’ve got gallstones, I need it out but I’ve been put on a waiting list. I’ve also just had a baby which can apparently trigger the attacks.

I had an attack 4 days ago, called 999. The worst pain I’ve ever been in, rolling around the floor at hospital. They refused to give me any more than paracetamol and I was just left to it. 6 hours later, it passed and I was told to go home.

I’m still thinking about it, and it’s annoyed me that more wasn’t done. Do you think I’m unreasonable to expect more? When the inevitable happens and I have another one, I already know my A&E will refuse to help and I want to advocate for myself better.

Well he did, it’s common practice now to allow them to eat which prevents infection, you can look it up if you don’t believe it but it happened 4 weeks ago

I was admitted with gallbladder pain and was offered morphine instantly, I refused it was was given codrydomol and discharged with cocodomols, there’s no reason people should be in absolute agony

Just to reiterate, GPs can and do prescribe Oramorph for home use for this. I was prescribed it in January this year by the ANP at our GP practice while I awaited gallbladder removal. They gave me a large stash of 30mg Codeine (useless unfortunately) and a full bottle of Oramorph for managing flare-ups at home. I did use it several times while awaiting surgery. Thankfully gallbladder is gone now.

So for those confidently saying OP can’t get this at all, she absolutely can. Speak to your GP practice about pain management, OP.

Can but absolutely awful medicine and unsafe and very much against guidelines. No way would I be giving a "huge bottle of oromorph". But some GPs are people pleasers and continue to cause harm.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2016/08/cd-newsletter.pdf

I had gallstones for years that were misdiagnosed by different doctors. Finally my GP did a blood test and then sent me for a scan which revealed gallstones. Later that week I had the worst attack I had ever had. 111 just fobbed me off and told me not to go to A&E. I managed to get an emergency appointment with my GP who sent me straight to hospital as a gallstone had got stuck and I had life-threatening pancreatitis. Please don't tell people not to call 999 and not to go to A&E. I presume that you aren't a doctor.

I said full bottle, not huge bottle. The bottle was just the standard size

Both the GP practice and my very experienced consultant for my gallbladder were happy with it - the latter even checked if I had some left at home post-discharge in case it was needed. I didn’t as it happened.

But I’m just glad someone was taking my pain seriously. When I had kidney stones and was rolling around the floor, moaning and vomiting, my husband who dialled 999 was told it was probably menstrual pain and to see my GP after the weekend. My dad on the other hand got rushed into hospital and medicated within minutes of being there. I wonder what the difference was

Interesting responses here, I happened to be in our a&e when I read this with a relatively minor out of hours GP type issue (directed there by 111) and after mentioning a slight pain the GP there offered to add an opiate based painkiller (I forgot the name) onto the prescription! I declined but I do think it may depend heavily on which hospital you attend and who you see.

I’ve been suffering with gallstones and gallbladder attacks for 6 years now and awaiting surgery.
Buscopan for cramping is good at helping and I find ibuprofen better than paracetamol, I also get omeprazole as I find it can give me really bad heartburn. I’ve also used diclophenic and naproxen for pain, when it’s bad for a week or so at a time. Also, try and sleep on your left side, as sleeping on your right can sometimes cause cramping. Using a hot water bottle can also relieve some of the pain.
i was told not to bother contacting A&E as they don’t remove in an emergency now and the GP can prescribe stronger pain killers for you to have handy at home. I’d definitely discuss with the GP how it will be managed and if you need surgery to remove.

I also have gallstones waiting for removal and the pain is horrendous. I’m actually surprised they haven’t taken your pain more seriously. I was given oramorph both times I was in A&E, followed by co-codamol or tramadol. The second time I also was given diclofenac which is an anti inflammatory. I find that cocodamol combined with one diclofenac gives me the best pain relief. I can understand GP reluctance to prescribe such song drugs long term, but you can buy cocodamol over the counter. Ask them to prescribe an antiinflammatory. Nuromol is also pretty good as its painkiller combined with anti inflammatory. Do take the latter with food though or it will damage your stomach. Hope you get the OP soon! I doubt there are many others pains like it.

I was always given morphine when an ambulance was called during extremely bad attacks.

On the list to have it removed for 18 months, had it taken out but a stone was missed and ended up with the worst attack yet the night of my op. Nothing since thankfully.

What's the reyfor not giving it you?

Yeah go see your GP and get medication on stand by. They prescribed dihydrocodeine for gallstone attacks, but it didn’t help that much with pain. They then prescribed tramodol, but I never had another attack before I had surgery to get it out so not sure if that was better.