"My treatment by an A&E Doctor"

Having been referred by my GP back in March to a Gastro consultant, I had only received two missed calls during that time with no message/number/contact of what to do. I was now in considerable discomfort, passing blood a lot, in pain, struggling to eat and sleep etc.

I had been sent a referral letter which had the wrong reference on it.  On a Monday in June 2021 I decided to go to the hospital to try to get some answers (N&N in norwich). I went to A&E and explained my situation and the people at the door felt I should go in and be seen.  

The first Doctor on duty who saw me, made me feel like a complete hypochondriac and had me in tears. Even the nurse commented that they were in the wrong profession. I battled on and was seen. I then got my colonoscopy appointment through for July as a result of my going in that day.  

By the following Wednesday I was so bloated, looked about 6 months pregnant, had back pain, my knees were starting to give way intermittently and I called my doctor on the Thursday saying that I could not go on as I was. my movements of blood and mucus were about 20 plus times a day. Thankfully he saw me and sent me straight into the AMU to go straight to the gastro ward for my camera and x-ray.  I went in good faith and was so grateful to now be in the system and feel I was getting somewhere.  I had the camera on my left hand side on the Friday morning.. with no pain relief or sedation whatsoever.. my sister in law who is a gastro consultant was absolutely horrified.

I was screaming and crying in SO much distress and pain (childbirth was way easier with no pain relief).. I eventually got some gas and air but they couldn't carry on and said they’d seen the big inflammation so knew they could treat me on steroids. And wait for full colonoscopy in July.  I was absolutely traumatised by this and then went on to have failed cannulas which couldn’t go into my vein (still very bruised days later).. used my same vein for all the many bloods taken (still incredibly bruised to the point i asked if perhaps they could find another vein or arm!?) they put a cannula in the top of my hand which is fine but so painful and then proceeded to take my blood pressure all from this same left arm, my veins were stinging and throbbing.. it really is basic common sense and I had to keep asking/reminding for it to be taken in my other arm.

The steroids were pushed into my cannula so quickly and stung me so badly (depending on which nurse I had)….. it was just all so awful, I spent most of my four nights sobbing, feeling harrowed, triggered from a past abuse I’d had .. bruised inside out and mentally.  Some of the staff were so lovely and I honestly feel that they just don’t have the time to care .. it’s so sad.  

I was very lucky to have my own room which was a saving grace. I really hope others do not have to go through this. And both the consultants I saw were just so sad that I had had to suffer for so long and got lost in the covid system.  The discharging consultant was so sorry about my experience in A&E and congratulated me so much on getting myself there and to this point. They think it is suspected crohn’s or ulcerative colitis but I am still waiting over 10 days after my biopsies which I was told would be a week for the results.  I didn’t get to see a doctor for the whole weekend I was there despite being told on the Saturday that they were coming back to see me and at a 10 pm when I couldn’t stay awake I asked are they coming and they said, no I’m sorry they aren't……

I could go on but that’s some of it.. and one nurse wouldn’t even look up and get me my water, I needed it as blood pressure was reading low.. so I went back and asked them where the tap was so I could do it myself.. they eventually got up and was so grumpy and unpleasant in their nature and attitude.

Thank you and I hope you can prevent others from having an experience like this and I am lucky that despite feeling so weak and broken that I engineered being seen. My GP is really sorry too.  I had only come off anti depressants in april after 11yrs and am amazed not to be on them but determined not to be too!.

thank you and best wishes