Feeling dismissed by maternity triage

[Spongebobmilkman]

Hey everyone. 18+4
So I woke up at 3am with pain in my right side and into my back. It’s like a pulsing pain. I’ve tried to go back to sleep but I can’t because of the pain. I’ve had a warm shower and taken paracetamol, with no relief. Looked online and it says to call the maternity triage for this kind of symptom. So I did. And I just feel really dismissed… I was told “to take paracetamol and a renny because this early it’s probably indigestion or constipation” I’ve had constant heartburn for the past 2 months so I know what that feels like and this isn’t the same thing! - I also read about swelling so was sure to mention that I had to take off my wedding rings today because it was digging into my finger. I just put it down to my body running hot… I feel really dismissed so now I’m just worried, upset and in pain! I’m just not sure how I feel about being diagnosed on the phone… has anyone else experienced this kind of pain at this stage? It’s my first pregnancy and I don’t know what’s normal and what’s not but I’ve just been made to feel like I’ve wasted their time. 😫

No i haven't had this kind of pain, but I would call triage again. I think this is their standard first answer to queries like this, but if the pain is not going away with paracetamol, just call again. And mention the swelling again, although that might be something unrelated. I had a little bit of swelling on and off from around that time. Good luck, hope it is nothing serious.

Did the paracetamol ease the pain?
Did you lie in your right side to see if it was wind you can dislodge?
How are your bowels?

You do get aches and pains in pregnancy, when everything is stretching and growing, and some of it is surprisingly painful but normal.
If you are still concerned, and feel like you are being dismissed, try the GP

It's very hard to say as we all have different pain thresholds and describe things differently but I definitely had aches and pains around the same stage, very sharp round ligament pain and back ache.
I'm 25 weeks now and have had swelling to fingers and ankles for a while now (can't remember exactly when it started). I've had pre-eclampsia in my last pregnancy and I'm confident it's not that at the moment, it's just normal pregnancy swelling.
If your symptoms are severe and you're still worried, call again

You know your body, if it doesn't feel right, call again and ask to be checked.

I would try your doctors too if you get no where with triage. Can you contact your midwife?

Triage told me my pain and concerns were invalid because I wasn't contracting every 20 minutes or bleeding. The lady on the phone told me they don't worry about anyone's pain if you're not 24 weeks or beyond and that it was just my anxiety playing up. She told me not to worry about it, and that it was nothing.

I lost my son two weeks later because it turns out I'd been in very early labour. I didn't have pain like yours, it wasn't pulsing or anything, so I'm certain it's not the same situation. But if you feel like you need their help, honestly just go. Who are they to tell you whether your pain is important?

The person on the phone is now facing a PALS complaint and the staff are being retrained not to turn people in pain away. If I'd been able to go in, they'd seen I was having Braxton Hicks and had investigated the cause, more could have been done and my son might not be dead. If I ever get pregnant again, I'll be walking straight in there whether they think I need to be seen or not. We tell them when something is wrong, not just the other way around. I hope all goes well for you x

Where’s the pain on your right hand side? I had excruciating pain under my right breast, turned out to be gallstones and is now being managed with meds until baby is born. Think I was about 23 weeks at the time. Just ring back and explain its not going away and you want to be assessed