How can I get someone to fix me?

[NastyOldBag]

I’ve had severe stomach pain for a week, lost a stone in the last fortnight. I can’t eat any food, am constantly exhausted (slept for 20 hours yesterday) and am absolutely necking omeprazole.

I’ve had stomach ulcers in the past but no pain ever like this. I’ve also been waking up in the night vomiting black specks (which GP tells me is likely to be blood).

I spoke to GP yesterday. He offered me painkillers or more omeprazole but said he’s not allowed to refer me to anyone unless it’s life threatening. If I still feel ill on Friday he said to call back and he’ll get me seen at hospital that day.

I’m genuinely concerned that something really awful will happen before Friday. I can’t even stand up long enough to clean my teeth without feeling like I’m going to faint and then I spend about 5 minutes catching my breath because I’m so pathetic. I’m 35, normally fit and healthy apart from occasional stomach ulcers.

Any advice? Anything I can do to stop feeling like I’m going to die before Friday?

Call the GP back and tell them what you’ve said here. Tell them you can’t wait till Friday and you feel you need to be referred to the hospital now, even with the current pandemic.

If you have no joy there I think you might have to present to A&E yourself.

cornetto I told the GP exactly that yesterday and he didn’t seem concerned. I know google isn’t a reliable diagnostic but everything I read about vomiting black spots says that it needs urgent attention

Do you think you have the virus OP? If you don't think so, then hospital isn't a safe place to be going right now. What caused your stomach ulcers? Aren't they unusual for a 35 year old? So maybe you have an undiagnosed underlying condition. Why not post here in more detail about the onset, what exactly you are taking, eating, drinking etc and hopefully someone medical can help. Do you normally suffer from anxiety?

Black spots aren’t a great symptom no but I’d be very concerned about your level of pain and weight loss.

I’m not a medical professional by the way, but I do know that other health issues don’t stop happening and you sound urgent enough to need assessing properly.

How are you feeling @NastyOldBag? I’m a bit worried about you

I don’t think I have the virus. No diagnosis for why I occasionally get stomach ulcers, last thing suggested was Crohn’s that’s manifesting itself in my stomach rather than intestine but it’s impossible to properly test for.

I don’t normally suffer from anxiety at all, I’m normally very chilled out. But I’ve never genuinely felt pain and weakness like this before. That combined with me vomiting blood, shaking every time I try and stand up, being responsible for 2 young dc and not being able to access medical care is really worrying me though.

I don’t really feel any better this morning, but no worse either.

Did you bring up the crohns suspicion when you spoke to the GP?

If the GP isn’t prepared to try and medications Without a diagnosis then you need to go to the hospital. You can’t be left in this much pain losing so much weight.

The GP that I spoke to is the one who normally treats me and knows about the suspected Crohn’s.

Dh is here but is a key worker and shut in his office for at least 12 hours a day. Luckily he’s being allowed to work from home while I’m ill but he’s expected back on Monday.

The dramatic weight loss and inability to eat are surely enough to get you seen? The GP can see you in person and shouldn't be dismissing your symptoms like this over the phone.

Wowfudge they wouldn’t see me in person, they’re doing all their appointments over the phone unless absolutely necessary. I told him about my weight loss, I’ve had sudden, dramatic weight loss before from stomach ulcers that he’s measured so no reason to think I’m exaggerating (I hope).

I realise your GP is being cautious but stomach ulcers can become an emergency as can Crohns.

I really hope he sends you to the hospital.

I'd be more worried about the breathlessness and make that very clear too, to any pro you speak to x

It sounds to me like your symptoms are more serious than CV would likely be for you (and of course there’s no guarantee you’d get it if you went to hospital, in fact I’m sure it’s more unlikely than likely). I think it’s really important that we are mindful of what medical care we need at the moment - to protect both ourselves and the NHS. That said, I’m worried that some people are going to get very ill through not going to hospital when they should do due to CV. It’s a difficult balance but you sound like you need medical care now. I’d call the GP, tell him again how ill you are and that if he can’t refer you now then you’ll have to present to A&E. I really hope that you feel better soon

Your symptoms warrant an urgent face to face appointment with a doctor.
You need to speak to your GP today, repeat all your symptoms and if they refuse to see you have the option of A&E today or 111/OOH GP tonight.

Thanks. I’m waiting for a call back from GP again now. I don’t think the breathlessness is anything to do with lung problems or CV, it feels much more like I’m very anaemic, it’s only when I try and do anything that I get massively breathless.

I do hope you’re seen today, if nothing else you need to be more comfortable than you are