"30 hour A&E nightmare altnagelvin hospital"

In mid June at approx 3pm I presented at Altnagelvin A&E with pains in my stomach. After checking in I was triaged by a nurse who did not examine me but noted my symptoms and I was put into one of 6 categories for waiting times...which one I was in I am unsure. After 3/4 hours in the waiting room I felt my insides drop and the most excruciating pain I had ever felt. It took 4 medics to move me where I was taken to a cubicle and an iv and iv paracetamol given. Shortly after a doctor came in asked me my symptoms and felt my stomach once and sent me for x-ray. On returning the doctor told me I was basically constipated and one of the nurses would give me an enema. I argued I wasn't constipated as my bowels have been moving regularly. They ignored me and enema was given to no avail. What proceeded after this was the most horrific pain I have endured with no let up.

Thankfully this doctor went off duty and another came around midnight and properly examined me and said they thought it may be more than constipation...again I argued I wasn't constipated but had three small black stools that morning. A senior staff member then examined me in the early hours of the morning and sent me for a CT scan, it took 2 nurses to help get me up onto the bed due to pain. The registrar advised me after it was my appendix and I would be for emergency surgery that day before midday. 

At 9am the next morning I was asked to get out of the bed I was in and sit out on a chair as they needed the bed for assessment. I advised I cant sit but would try. The nurse attempted to get me to walk but the pain was too bad. I was taken to what can only be described as hell. A small corridor with 5 chairs facing each other and people...3 of them elderly sitting and some with drips in as did I. I was extremely upset at this stage saying I cant sit the pain is to bad but was ignored. 

At 11am I was taken to a room with stacked chairs and a trolley bed rolled into it and the consultant examined me and I squealed in pain. They advised my husband I would be taken for emergency surgery that afternoon. 

What ensued after this beggars belief. I was left on a chair crying in pain....my husband had to ask for pain relief and not once was my clinical observations done. At 8pm I was taken to the surgical ward. I don't remember much of this or the following few days. 

I was taken to theatre at 11pm-ish we think that night and what should have been a one hour keyhole surgery ended up lasting 3 hours and me being opened and a drain put in for 4 days. The surgeon would later advise they couldnt find my appendix as my bowel had opened internally and I had a septic hernia. The surgeon said to me I must have one of the highest pain thresholds they have ever met and my response was I tried to tell but no one would listen. They were able to show photos of my insides and my appendix had completely died. My husband was advised I am very lucky to be here. 

What happened in A&E and the treatment myself and other patients received sitting in that corridor was awful. People constantly passing us. An elderly lady had been there from 2pm the previous day, another said they had been there 37 hours. I was made feel like I was a nuisance and shouldn't be there. 

I dont know if the mis diagnosis by the 1st doctor or the long wait for surgery made the situation worse for me but all I know is that since it I keep taking panic attacks and my recovery will be a long haul. I feel that animals would be treated better.