"Admission to surgical ward"

One Saturday at the beginning of August at 1am I was taken to A&E via ambulance with a gallbladder flare up. This was my third A&E attendance with gallbladder pain since giving birth in May. I was diagnosed with gallstones in Jan 2020 when I was 21 weeks pregnant. I had two flare ups requiring admission for analgesia and bloods during my pregnancy. 

After bloods and pain relief I was allowed home. All day Saturday I felt very ill, was still in pain and was vomiting. I phoned ADOC on Saturday night and was advised to eat and take some acid reflux medication. On Sunday morning I was still in significant pain and began vomiting blood. I phoned ADOC again, was told that the bloods from that night before were in fact abnormal, and was therefore advised to attend the surgical ward in Crosshouse for review. Why did A&E allow me to go home with abnormal bloods and no follow up in place? Why did A&E tell me my bloods were Normal? 

I was reviewed in the surgical ward and told I had pancreatitis. Bloods were obtained and I was sent home with a plan of returning the morning for an ultrasound and repeat bloods. During this attendance, I was left to sit in a room with no offer of analgesia or water. Given I was advised to attend due to significant pain and vomiting, this is completely unacceptable. 

I returned to the same ward on the Monday first thing a couple of hours later I could hear a doctor ask if my bloods had been picked up. The nurse replied no, even though they had been ready for collection for around one hour. Again, this is unacceptable.

These were emergency bloods. Why was the porter not paged again to ensure my bloods were collected and processed. I was then told that my ultrasound would be at 15:30. I had my ultrasound, returned to the surgical ward and around 5pm, was told my bloods from 9am had not been processed and that they needed repeated. This could easily have been avoided had they been chased earlier. My attendance at 9am and being away from my 3 month old baby for hours, was therefore pointless. I was then seen by a doctor who advised admission overnight, given my ongoing pain and nausea, with a plan of gallbladder removal within the next 48hours. 

Again, once admitted, I was left in a room for hours with no offer of analgesia or water. I was fasted overnight and given one bag of fluids. I asked the nurse on nightshift to chase my bloods and inform me of the results, this was never done. The following morning, I was reviewed on the ward round. I was told they were hopeful that surgery would go ahead that day, but could be the following day, but to remain fasted in the meantime. I had bloods repeated again. I was reviewed by an anaesthetist and given TED stockings- allowing me to believe the surgery was going ahead. 

Around midday I was informed by a doctor that as a result of my bloods from last night, surgery would not be possible. I was advised I would be seen on the evening ward round with the consultant. By this point I was extremely frustrated. Why were my bloods not reviewed prior to the morning ward round? If they had been chased earlier, medical staff could have seen in the morning that surgery was not possible. Given I did not even receive one complete bag of fluids, I was away from my new baby overnight for no reason. I was advised to wait till the evening ward round to be seen by the consultant. More unnecessary time away from my new baby. 

Hours later, I was reviewed by the consultant, who confirmed that the surgery would not go ahead due a suspected blockage in my bile duct, meaning I require an MRCP before surgery. I was given the choice of: remain as an inpatient in the hope that I could get the MRCP over the next few days, but advised it could take 5 days or more due to me not being an emergency. Or go home and await an outpatient appointment within the next 2 weeks. Given I had a three month old baby at home, an indefinite hospital stay was not an option; therefore chose the latter. I was told that once I had the MRCP, I would receive a date for surgery within a few weeks. 

I had my MRCP at the end of August. I have since phoned for the results but was told to phone back again in two weeks (three weeks after the procedure). 

I completely understand that COVID has had a direct impact on waiting times. But given the fact I had pancreatitis, I feel I should have been given a plan, rather than wait on a date which could be months away. I do not understand how I can be told I require surgery within 48hours, to then being told I will have surgery weeks or months down the line. How ill do I have to be before I will be considered for surgery. On numerous occasions I have asked for stronger pain relief home as I do not want to have to phone an ambulance every time I have a flare up. Not only is it distressing having to be away from my new baby, but I find attending A&E pointless.

Nobody seems to care about the number of flare ups within a short space of time I have had. Overall I am extremely disappointed with my experience with the surgical ward. There was a complete lack of compassion throughout, with the exception of a few members of staff. During my admission nobody seemed to take into consideration that I was away from my new baby and that a clear plan needed to be made in order to limit this separation. I find the lack of communication between staff, and myself, shocking. Nobody took any ownership of reviewing my bloods and adjusting the plan accordingly, despite me specifically asking my bloods to be chased. This has hugely affected my mental health. My body is trying to recover from pregnancy and a traumatic birth, but is unable to do so. I live in fear that I will develop pain when I am alone with my baby. I am losing weight and have no energy due to a restricted diet, in a bid to avoid a flare up. This is completely ruining my maternity leave with my baby.