"I am told you’re on a large waiting list"

In March 2020 I had an internal examination, under general anaesthetic, of my uterus and ovaries. All came back clear but I was told I would have a review and my CA125 level checked in 6 months, with the same consultant. I understand that due to coronavirus this would have changed things and I would have to wait longer for this appointment but when I contact the consultants secretary 2 years later (march 22) to be told I had fallen off the list. I then contacted my GP who sent another urgent referral as it had been 2 years since I had seen anyone, the GP also tested my CA125 in the surgery and it was still raised. 

Between March 2020 and March 2022 I had contacted my GP numerous times regarding pain in my right hand side, I have found the attitude of reception staff at my GP practice very off putting and I did not feel comfortable phoning to speak to the GP at times where I should have. When I did speak to a GP the pain was noted as IBS and I was given medication for this issue that did not ease my symptoms. Due to coronavirus, and the afore mentioned feeling I had about the reception staff, I did not feel comfortable contacting the GP and instead used home remedies and suffered the pain. 

In April 2022 I contacted the GP again due to the pain in my right hand side, I explained that nothing I had been prescribed had eased my symptoms and that I was experiencing the symptoms every other month, this was again put down as an IBS flare up and I was prescribed nothing and told to continue with home remedies. 

In June 2022 I contacted NHS24, as the GP was closed, I had spent the day in pain and could no longer tolerate it. I was seen at OOH by a GP who sent me to the main hospital (RAH) with suspected appendicitis. I had various tests done that suggested there was no appendicitis but instead there was something wrong with my right ovary. 

I spent a few days in hospital where I was induced into menopause and started on HRT. I was discharged home with no further advice, and told my GP would be written to. I contacted the GP to ask about my continued treatment as I was unsure what to do but aware that I would need another injection in 4 weeks time. An appointment was made with a practice nurse for my injection and a prescription was written for me to collect. 

After 4 weeks I went to my appointment and was given my injection, a couple of weeks later I noticed a large -roughly 10pence sized- round lump under the injection site. When I mentioned this at my following injection appointment, with a different nurse, it was brushed off as trauma from the injection and the nurse said, I don’t know why you’re coming here for this you should be having this done at the hospital. You need to contact the hospital about this treatment. I then asked who should I contact, it was my understanding I was to have this here.

I was then given a contact number that was not recognised. I then contacted the main switchboard at the RAH and spoke to someone about my record. I was told that further treatment for my menopause induction was to happen with my GP surgery. I continued to visit my GP every 4 weeks until my 6th injection (November) where I mentioned that I had started to have a number of symptoms: back ache, head aches, nausea and still I had the lump and pain at the injection site. The nurse at the appointment contacted the GP as this was now my 6th dose and the treatment should only last for 6 doses before being reviewed, which to this day no one has done, and I have not had another dose since but I have continued to take HRT.

I contacted the GP in December 2022 to make an appointment regarding pain in my left hip the receptionist then said a nurse would contact me later that day. I was then given a prescription for pain relief without being assessed by anyone. The pain relief hadn’t relieved any of my symptoms so I contacted the GP again to be told by reception staff there’s no appointments available until after Christmas, I responded by saying I cannot tolerate the pain I’m in until after Christmas as the prescribed medication is not easing my symptoms.

I was then told that I would be triaged and the nurse would contact me in 4 days time. After speaking to the nurse I was told I needed a GP appointment, which was made for that afternoon. When I walked into the GP’s office they said oh you really are hobbling which made me feel like I had been making it up and that I was wasting their time. I was then examined and told it’s like a bag of marbles at the bottom of your back and diagnosed with sciatica, I asked if this was anything to do with having my injection this was at the injection site - this was dismissed by the GP and I was prescribed more medication and told that I could be referred for physiotherapy but it was at least years wait and that I should consider paying privately. 

I have continued to take my prescribed medication but am still in a great deal of pain. 

I have also found that my GYN consultant has retired and there has been no follow up advice or appointment with regards to this. The GP dismisses me when I ask and when I contact the hospital I am told you’re on a large waiting list and there are others who’ve been waiting for over a year. It doesn’t seem to matter than I’ve been waiting for almost 3.