In November last year I experienced swelling and pain in my leg so went to A&E at Hull Royal Informary. The doctor took a look at my leg and told me he was certain it was DVT, but sent me home and asked me to go to my GP the following day to get a referral to the DVT clinic in Westbourne Avenue. I did this, the clinic carried out a scan but found nothing and informed me that it was muscle damage, to take pain killers and try to walk on it. I said that the hospital was certain it was DVT but I accepted their diagnosis.
About a month later I started to experience difficulty breathing so returned to the DVT clinic following their comment about being the experts. They agreed to see me despite it being late but informed me that I shouldn't worry because they didn't find DVT but should attend A&E at Hull Royal if I was concerned.
To cut a long story short I did attend A&E at Hull Royal and they found that I had multiple bilateral Pulmonary embolisms. Whilst in hospital I expressed concern about pain in my leg but I was still informed that it did not mean that I had DVT as there was several reasons I may have PE's, and If there was a DVT I was on warfarin so a scan was not necessary. Whilst in hospital there was a girl the same age as me but pregnant who had a similar problem, on her discharge from hospital she was informed that she would be discharged into the safe capable hands of the experts at the clinic as they know a lot more about DVT than some of the consultants in the hospital. I presumed the same would be said for me, however due to the fact that I had recently moved house and now live in Hessle and not Hull I was informed that the same could not be said for me and I would have to find a new GP in my area the day I was discharged who would be prepared to take my INR each day and I was not permitted to attend the clinic but a GP.
The sister at Castle Hill hospital was really helpful and she called my old surgery at Princes Avenue Medical Centre and the DVT clinic on Westbourne Avenue who both confirmed I was not allowed to attend there for treatement, even in the short term until I found a GP but had to find one asap in East Riding.
I did find a GP who agreed to do my INR but it wouldn't be for a weeks time, which was agreed by Castle Hill. During this time I returned to A&E due to severe pain in my leg but did not tell them about my PE's as I felt this was the only way I could get a scan. After spending from 8am in the morning until 6pm in a wheelchair in a corridor in Hull Royal they carried out a scan and they not only found the DVT but had to admit me to hospital because my INR was so low.
After 6 months, despite being on a dose of 10mg of warfarin and the doctors unable to acheive the desired INR or 2-3 I was taken off the warfarin without being seen my anyone at a hospital, clinic or specialist and now off work again due to pain in my leg and difficulties breathing.
I suppose I just want to know why, despite having the same symptoms as someone who lives in Hull and being diagnosed with a serious llness that I was informed could kill me can I not have the specialist medical attention I require and instead have to visit a GP who has admitted is unsure how to treat me due to the fact that I am only 25 and in good health despite this.
I am still suffering despite not being on medication and want to know who it is I can go to that may be able to help or just answer some of my queries because at the moment i am relying on other peoples blogs and experiences online and not actual medical advice.
Thanks.
"Who is it that is able to help me?"
About: Castle Hill Hospital Castle Hill Hospital Cottingham HU16 5JQ City Health Care Partnership CIC / DVT clinic City Health Care Partnership CIC DVT clinic Hull Hull Royal Infirmary Hull Royal Infirmary Hull HU3 2JZ
Posted by Bobs (as ),
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Update posted by Bobs (the patient) 13 years ago
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