"Ectopic pregnancy"

I attended ED late July with acute right hand side ovary pain. I went through to majors and waited approx 2 hours to be seen by a staff member. In this time, they took bloods, cannula inserted, observations monitored, analgesia given, oromorph. The pain had subsided by the time the they came to assess me, when they pressed on my stomach, it didn't hurt. The pain had gone. They requested I provide a urine sample to rule out ectopic pregnancy, this was dipped and came back as negative. My CRP was raised, I also had respiratory symptoms. The staff member said I had a chest infection and prescribed antibiotics. Said the acute ovary pain sounded more like muscle strain. I had also been menstruating everyday for 14 days at this point which is very unusual for me. They said I should see my GP about this.

3 days later I visited GP who agreed to refer me for outpatient appointment for a scan.

Early August I went to work.

2 days later more pain in right hand side ovary, 7/10, resolved after 20 mins.

The next day more pain in right hand side ovary, 2/10, resolved with ibuprofen.

Then 2 days after that I went for a run in the morning. In evening I returned to ED approx midnight with acute 10/10 right hand side ovary pain. I was given oromorph and made to wait in waiting room in sheer agony whilst pain relief kicked in. Bloods taken. Approx 2am, I was taken through to gynae ward to see specialist Doctor. Ward nurse took urine sample again, this time there was a faint positive for pregnancy, so they tested my blood for pregnancy. This came as positive, approx 7 weeks pregnant. I was booked in for an emergency scan the next day. From then, I was rushed into emergency surgery to remove a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, my fallopian tube could not be saved.

My ectopic pregnancy was missed at my first visit to ED in late July which threatened my life. Possibly my fallopian tube could have been saved and maybe we could have avoiding the rupturing. Possibly I could have been saved a lot of agonising pain.

I am of child bearing age, I am not taking contraception but I am sexually active. The staff member I originally saw did not ask me any of this. I feel if my bloods had been checked for pregnancy at this point, the ectopic pregnancy would have been found. Apparently early pregnancies don't always show up on urine dips.

I would like for staff to learn from this experience, and reconsider whether a urine dip is reliable enough Especially when other symptoms are present and suggesting a possible ectopic. If bloods have been taken anyway, why not check for pregnancy? Especially if the patient is A. child bearing age, B. not on contraception, C. sexually active. I think this is an avoidable error.

I am fine now thankfully and am very grateful to staff at RDUH for caring for me and saving my life.