"No explanation and still in pain"

In the early hours I was taken to Monklands A&E with yet another experience of severe vomiting and excruciating abdominal pain, dehydration and fluctuating fever. This was the 4th time in 6 weeks I had been admitted with the same symptoms. The previous 3 times I had to be treated with Triple Therapy IV antibiotics, IV Morphine, anti-nausea and IV fluids. Previously I received CT and MRI scans which showed that there was infection and that I had a bowel blockage of some sort. Both issues were treated but the symptoms kept returning.

I had been told various different things from various different doctors - to begin with it was a distended gallbladder and an enlarged bile duct, then it was gastrointestinal problems, then it was gallstones, then it was enlarged liver. Every doctor is saw had a different opinion.

Initially I was under surgical (ward 4), then I was under medical (ward 14), my 3rd A&E visit I never got out of A&E. I was told I had gallstones and the gallbladder was causing the pain and after morphine, anti-nausea and Buscopan I was sent home with co-cosmo and Buscapan and told to return when I had a flare-up and that they would let the surgical team know, as I was on a list for an Endoscopy, but had no date. At that point I was told I needed my gallbladder out and that the waiting list was 6-9 months.

I struggled home once I was released as I was still in severe pain and by early that afternoon the consistent and violent vomiting had started again. I was in severe pain with constant vomiting, hadn’t eaten or drank for over 6 days and had to return.

This time the A&A Doctor was incredible and got me pain relief and anti- nausea medication straight away. Eventually  got to see the overnight surgical doctor who said I’d need to be re-admitted as they had clearly read my notes and could see how much discomfort and pain I was in. The doctor quickly wrote me up for more morphine and antiemetic medication until I could get a bed in the surgical ward.

The pain and sickness continued through the night and I was given more medication just before the surgical team did their rounds. This is when the issues started. The consultant who seemed to be in charge didn’t speak to me, they spoke at me. They spoke 3 words whilst looking at paperwork - Point out your pain. I physically pointed out the area of where all my pain was coming from and they never once looked me in the face, between the consultant and a doctor, they exchanged some words with each other and then as I tried to explain that this was my 4th occasion in A&E, the consultant muttered something about the overnight doctor had ordered an ultrasound, so I suppose we better do that….closed up their paperwork and was about to leave and I asked a simple question, I asked if I was still to fast as I was told at 7am to fast before the scan, and they replied yes in a very rude tone.

I lay in A&E all morning and afternoon and eventually was moved to ward 4 about 4 pm. I was checked in by a lovely nurse and by this time I was in severe pain and thirsty. I could see the Surgical Doctors having a meeting or handover with the nursing staff and then the consultant left with another doctor. No other doctor or nurse came near me, only for obvs at some point and I asked them for pain relief and if I would get my ultrasound that day, as I had been fasting since 7am when I was told by the surgical doctor in A&E.  I waited and waited and no one came.

The dinner was distributed and I asked again if I would get ultrasound and mentioned I needed to drink and was in pain. Visiting had then begun and eventually the staff nurse in charge can into my room to give me and another patient an injection to stop blood clots. I said to them about ultrasound and fasting, nothing had crossed my lips for 13 hours and no pain relief anti sickness for over 8 hours and they said to me -  you're not going to get nothing done at this time on a Friday, so if I were you I would eat and drink as normal and fast from midnight…..I was shocked! I asked about meds and they said -  No one has written you up for anything (not even my normal everyday med).

By this time I was very frustrated so I explained I was in a lot of pain and to find someone to write me up for pain relief. After nearly 9 hours of no pain relieve, I was handed 2 co-codamol and an anti-nausea pill. Luckily I managed to keep it down but was still in severe pain. Luckily by chance I had brought one of my anti-anxiety medication with me so took that and took my own pain relief I had in my bag that night. 

I didn’t sleep a wink, nor was given antibiotics and fluids by the night time staff nurse and remained in severe pain. Next day I had an ultrasound, nobody told me the results. Early on the Tuesday, they abruptly took me for an endoscopy. Although I was in severe pain, I was overly anxious and panicking and the nurses looking after me in theatre could see this. I was given something to relax, but never worked. Had a panic attack during procedure and the consultant did nothing. They said the results were fine and sent me home in pain & without explanations still in pain.