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.

Have you tried asking for IV paracetamol next time rather than jumping straight to asking for Morphine? It’s supposed to be better at relief than tablet form.

But yes I find it disgusting how they ration pain relief in general on the NHS. Relative was shipped home & told to take para & ibu after wisdom tooth extraction which required jawbone drilling. They were beside themselves in agony. The surgeon said it would be enough…

I had diclofenac suppositories so yes, these are still part of the treatment protocol.

I was thinking the same. I remember being in so much pain that I was eyeing up the kitchen knives and thinking diy was an option.

When i had gallstones i was able to prevent attacks by eating a very low fat diet . The pain happens because in a normal diet , thr gallbladder releases bile to break fat down . If there are stones in the gallbladder they stop bile being released and csuses pain.
you need to follow s low fat diet . Read the packaging on all food . Only eat stuff less than 5per cent fat . It works and i lost lots of weight too . Good luck .

I just looked up the NICE guidance for pain relief in gallstones and it specifically says to avoid opioids:

Avoid opioid-based painkillers like morphine as some opioids can cause sphincter of Oddi spasms in the bile duct.

Paracetamol is massively underrated because it doesn’t work immediately and needs to be taken every 4 hours to build up. After 3-4 doses it really does kick in. Buscopan is also a really good shout. A&E doctors follow nice guidance and that does change over the years as new evidence and research comes about.

Sorry you’re feeling awful.

I have this rare IBS symptom where my anus starts to feel incredibly swollen and blocked but also like something is trying to exit. It is excruciating pain and comes on a bit like labour where there are waves of pain and that very distinct feeling of something coming out. Sorry to be graphic but my anus will be actually dilated and all sorts. It feels like something is wrenching it open. It's like the last bit of labour but going on for hours. Ring of fire and everything.

The first time it happened, of course I went to A+E thinking at worst, it's a tumour or something and at best, it's a prolapse or perhaps some sort of severe constipation that needs manual removal. After several investigations, they saw nothing is there and sent me home with buscopan. It passes after around 10hrs but I stay sore for longer because of the stretch.

I went to my GP and they Reorganised all of the investigations I had and other than some signs of IBS, they couldn't see anything. So we know whatever it is won't kill me and painkillers are of limited use. It's ultimately about living with and controlling my IBS.

I’m a hospital doctor, though this is not my area at all. I think it is appalling to keep somebody in such acute pain for so long without adequate treatment. Some of the comments here are ridiculous. Ofc the OP was right to seek help when in such acute pain.

I have looked up the NICE guidelines for managing acute gallstones, revised in February 26. It sounds like there are pain options that should be considered other than paracetamol.

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/gallstones/management/symptomatic-gallstones/

This is simply not true.

Stop talking with such certainty about something you know nothing about.

from the NICE guidelines re symptomatic gallstones:

• If pain cannot be managed in primary care refer to hospital as an emergency.

opioids are part of the nice recommendations. NICE guidelines are just that - they're guidelines - they do not cover every conceivable scenario and they're not laws... but either way, opioids do feature in managing gall stone disease.

Thanks for calling a postpartum mum a whiner for being in severe pain and asking for help. What a lovely person you are

The NHS left mine until my gallbladder was septic luckily I was able to go private and get it out. You have my sympathies the pain is horrendous- push for stronger pain killers via the GP and eat as little fat as possible

Generally to be avoided but used in specific circumstances. I would assume that was behind the A&E dept decision making rather than them being evil and liking to see op in pain.

I had gallstones and like you was taken to hospital twice and both times was given morphine. I had to wait 7 months then had my gall bladder removed.
It made no difference at all, even though they had seen stones on the scan it appears they are still around and they now say I have IBS. Its the same pain I always got but Buscopan is amazing. Takes about 15-20 mins to take effect but it completely removes the pain.

Ignore the fools on here. They just like sniping at the OP. For whatever reason, only they know. They are making themselves look very ignorant on this thread.

Your pain control was poorly managed. Try and use the preventative advice that some have shared here, otherwise if there is a next time, go armed with the NICE guidelines and ask for a suitable pain protocol to be followed.

Yeah, you haven't had a gallstone attack, have you?

OP in addition to all the advice about diet and regular paracetamol, I also found that gaviscon, the liquid stuff in a bottle, helped a lot. I used to keep it in my bag and take a swig when I needed it. The GP may be able to prescribe larger sized bottles. Also interesting someone said fizzy drinks helped, I used to swear by Refreshers sweets which I suppose have the same effect.

Id take a loan out for this, it sounds hellish

I’m really considering it! x

Because it can be life threatening. My Dad was diagnosed with possible gall stones on the Friday,Sunday evening my mum took him to out of hours as the pain was unmanageable and he was dead by 9.15 am on monday morning !
Back to the op ,she should have been given adequate pain relief in A&E plus all those saying she shouldn't be prescribed opiates have obviously never been in such severe pain

@TeenLifeMum ,

I looked up the protocol on AI and it seemed to agree with the two hospital doctors who have posted and the NICE guidelines.

They all say that, if first line pain relief isn’t sufficient, you need to use opioids (and maybe anti spasmodics).

Why do you find it impossible to believe that, in a busy A&E department, the OP wasn’t neglected and left in unnecessary pain? This seems quite common given the current state of the NHS.

You seem determined to not believe the OP. Why?

I agree but they could prescribe morphine to use when the pain becomes unbearable during an attack...its inhumane to withhold adequate pain relief

Paracetamol only for me. I treated myself to some ibuprofen when I got home

Im amazed at this our a&e give out morphine like its tic tacs

Very very low far diet will help until you are seen.
I had 3 c sections and each time just given paracetamol by the hospital. It was my GP who gave me something stronger.
Given you are having attacks rather than pain for months on end I don't see why you can't have something stronger to take. My husband suffers from prostatitis flare ups, he can go months between attacks but the GP gives him naxproxen to take. You aren't going to be taking them every day just as and when.
Hope you get sorted soon xx