"Feeling very upset with this outcome"

I attended an appointment recently with the Gastroenterology Rapid Access Clinic following an urgent referral from my GP. I assumed I would be discussing having a 2nd ultrasound scan and any other investigations thought to be necessary, as this is what my GP had said they were making the referral for. Prior to the appointment, I had felt quite hopeful that I may finally establish the root cause of my problems.

However, upon giving the consultant I was seeing a very clear and concise history of the symptoms and the level of pain that I was continuing to frequently experience in my stomach/abdomen region, it became fairly clear that my earlier hopes were not going to be fulfilled.

This was because it was suggested to me that all of the symptoms and pain that I am experiencing was due to receptors in my brain telling my gut that I was in pain, when in fact the pain was not actually real (although it may feel real to me).

Just to be absolutely crystal clear so there is no misunderstanding, the symptoms and pain that I experience is not some kind of mild tummy upset that I get every now and again, which is what was inferred by this consultant, nor is this pain some figment of my own imagination caused by receptors in my brain, particularly when I am bent over double at the time in complete agony.

When you regularly suffer with excruciating and agonising pain and cannot physically move due to the pain, which can last from just a few minutes to several hours or sometimes running into days, recommending that I just take Buscopan as the only solution to solving this problem after suffering in pain for so many years, was not only disappointing to hear, but I feel was also very dismissive and frankly verging on being insulting.

It also became fairly evident to me during my appointment that this consultant was getting highly irritated at my persistence in wanting to know what was causing these symptoms and the level of pain I was continuing to experience. Whilst I can only apologise for my persistence, is it not a reasonable expectation for a person who has been suffering in severe pain for at least 5 years, probably more, to want to know what is actually causing this pain, instead of being completely dismissed and viewed as some kind of habitual complainer who is just wasting NHS time?

Perhaps what would have been more conducive is if this consultant had actually discussed some of the things they do know about as potential causes, such as the gall stones that I am known to have. For instance, exploring if these have got any worse since they were first identified via an ultrasound scan nearly 4 years ago and should they now be removed? Or perhaps even removing my gallbladder completely given the level of discomfort and pain I am living with. Regrettably, neither of these were even raised as points of concern, let alone as potential solutions to the problem.

Although I was offered a colonoscopy referral during my appointment, I believe this was only really done as way to somehow appease me. The consultant made it very clear they did not want to do this, but if it was going to make me feel happier, they would authorise a referral, although this would be done as a routine referral only, meaning it could potentially take months or even years, considering the current NHS waiting list times.

After feeling really quite hopeful prior to this appointment, I am now obviously feeling very upset with this outcome. This is all I've been able to think about since attending my appointment. I just cannot get the dismissive attitude I was shown out of my head and have rapidly descended into a complete mental meltdown and now feel very unstable. This entire episode has whittled me down to such a low point that I no longer even care enough to want to pursue this matter any more, as this would clearly be a complete waste of my time.

In light of the above, I have spoken with my GP and asked them to:-

1) Contact the Gastroenterology Dept and advise them that I no longer wish to have a colonoscopy and to cancel the referral. On reflection, I cannot go through a medical procedure on the basis that a consultant feels it's somehow going to appease me and I might then feel happier with the situation. Personally, I do not think that NHS treatment should ever be handed out as some form of sweetener to patients, particularly when the organisation is already under so much financial strain. Additionally, I am not convinced that a full and comprehensive investigation would have actually taken place, due to the dismissive attitude already shown during my appointment.

2) Since being told in no uncertain terms that there is nothing wrong with my stomach/abdomen region, I can only conclude that the only other variable that is causing these symptoms and pain must be the daily medication I am taking, which is a lot. I have therefore requested my GP to immediately cease prescribing all of my current medication. Whilst there will be clear health implications with taking such action, there is little other choice I can make, given the continued absence of any physical problem being identified and the fact that I was categorically told by this consultant that under no circumstances would any further investigations or tests ever be conducted again to try and establish the actual root cause of these symptoms.

I have also informed my GP that it is my absolute intention to never to raise the issue of any future pain in my stomach/abdomen region or continued weight loss with them ever again, irrespective of how bad things become, as clearly nothing would ever get done.

Overall, an appalling experience!