"patient experience a tale of two days"

I attended the assessment unit as a follow up to a recent hospital admission with elevated CPR with on going acute right side pelvic pain, recurrent urine infections, along with back and right side rectum pain and bleeding between periods.  I was greeted by a friendly receptionist who showed me to a private room.After a few minutes Nurse Tracy arrived she was also very friendly and helped put me at ease. The room was clean and fresh jug of water was available too. The junior doctor arrived around 45 mins after my appointment time and she apologised for the delay and took a history of my symptoms. She was lovely and very professional. She left the room to speak to her senior and around 15 minutes later the doctor arrived with the junior doctor. He was very kind and professional. He explained that my recent CT scan had revealed a large abdominal cyst which would require surgery and although they were not certain they believed the cyst was ovarian. He asked if he could perform a biopsy of my womb, and although this was very uncomfortable both doctors were very kind and empathetic which helped a great deal. The doctor arranged for me to have a transvaginal scan a few days later and I was to return to the Assesment unit to discuss treatment following the scan. I then left the department and returned home. Although I was feeling very fragile emotionally I felt very encouraged that finally my on going pain was finally going to have a resolution. 

Reflecting on my recent 2nd visit to the unit the difference in my treatment is vast. Firstly I attended the ultrasound dept for a transvaginal scan. I found the assistant to the sonographer very brusque and not very empathetic at all. The sonographer was ok. I felt a little upset as I left the dept to go to Assesment unit but when I arrived at the department at the receptionist was lovely and showed me to a side room. I was then attended again by Nurse Tracy  who was again very professional and friendly.  I had to wait some time before a different junior doctor arrived who explained they didn't know anything about my case and asked for my history. I went through everything with them. They said I would be seeing a Doctor who was their senior but they would have a look at notes in the meantime. I still hadn't seen the consultant and I asked the receptionist what the delay was. She explained all 4 doctors had been called away to a complex emergency surgery. She apologised and explained that I should have been informed of this but my name had been rubbed of the board by accident. The junior doctor arrived back around 45 minutes later and apologised for hold up. They then had looked at results of my transvaginal scan but apart from some thickness the scan did not detect much. They said another doctor would be seeing me shortly. Then a registrar came in. They asked me quite fourthrightly what I was expecting today. I told them that I was asked to come back to the dept to discuss a plan with the team. They said they did not think my problem was a gynae issue.  I asked what the cystic mass in my abdomen was but they said they didn't know. I asked about the thickening of my cervix that the junior doctor had mentioned but they said this was normal. I asked about the fibroids that were diagnosed several years ago but they have no response the said they thought perhaps the way forward was to have a biopsy of my womb. It then occurred to me that this doctor had not read my notes or history, if they had, they would surely know I had the biopsy done only a few days ago. They then said they would organise an MRI scan and follow up review and they would call or send letter with details. I left the department feeling like I was an inconvienance and was being rushed out. The receptionist approached me as I left and said you will receive a letter in around 3 months time for a follow up. I also noted during my stay today that there was another patient in the dept with the same christain name as me as well as a clinician with the same name too. I did wonder had there been a mix up and that was why my name had been removed from the board. I'm just perplexed at the 3 month wait for an appointment.

My symptoms exacabate when I have a period and although I'm fine just now I won't be when my period starts again and for a couple weeks afterwards. I have to go through 3 more cycles before I'm seen again.  Perhaps the register could have explained things a little more clearly and been a little less rushed and maybe I would have a clearer view of what was happening with my case. I am dreading the next few months. The only benefit really that I gleaned from today was that I was told my blood markers for cancers are all normal so that was some comfort at least.