"Not listened to in A&E"

I was admitted to St. John's A&E late on a Friday night for horrific abdominal pain and other unpleasant symptoms. I was triaged by an absolutely fabulous nurse, given a trolley and was later seen by a lovely and thorough clinical fellow - thank you and the nurses for helping me control the terrible pain and nausea I had overnight. 

Unfortunately I didn't have the best experience on the Saturday with the medical staff. The nursing staff were absolutely brilliant and helped me where possible. One doctor I saw, on the other hand, I found abrupt and did not listen to me or the symptoms I was displaying at all. 

The particular doctor came and briefly spoke to me - I was in a lot of pain and they did not acknowledge it. They disagreed with the prior diagnosis from the Friday night, and explained that I had 'constipation with overflow' despite having acute diarrhoea. They  did not request the appropriate tests given the symptoms I was having, such as a stool sample or a PR exam. They took blood despite me refusing the particular spot they picked as it was a difficult area, I requested they tried another area - they refused and was then unable to retrieve blood, so only half a tube was filled. The rest of the blood tests were not completed. They dismissed my pain and symptoms completely.

Eventually another doctor came to see me who was kind and told me they would follow me up via telephone in the coming weeks, however they sent me home very quickly, with laxatives, despite having diarrhoea. I also did not get a discharge letter, which I was told was the norm in A&E? 

I ended up back at my GP a week later due to worsening symptoms and was told that the two summaries that were written by two doctors were conflicting and they were unsure why I was sent home with the medication I was given, despite my symptoms. The GP disagreed with the final diagnosis for a number of reasons. It turns out I do have inflammation in my bowel. 

I'm aware how busy they are and I'm grateful to have been seen in a hectic department, however I feel let down by the lack of appropriate testing and care I received from the medical team. I'm glad I am now being referred to gastroenterology by my GP, but I feel if I had been listened to and heard whilst an inpatient, my symptoms may of been resolved or managed better in the acute stage.