"Not believed and concerns dismissed"

I can only now put this into words.

I was admitted with an abdominal abscess following a hysterectomy. My concerns are around staff attitude and lack of empathy and warmth.

My pain was acknowledged in another emergency department, and I was given IV Morphine. When I got to Wd 13, despite my level of pain, and asking for Morphine, I was given what I later found out was dihydrocodeine despite having told the staff I have an intolerance to codeine - I was violently sick thereafter, and this was when I realised I had been given the dihydrocodeine.

That morning I begged the doctor for morphine, and instead of morphine I received a lecture. I find this attitude staggering. 

That morning I was sent for a CT scan with no pain relief, in agony ,folded over with pain I had to be helped out of my bra by CT staff - an unnecessary indignity. The radiology staff were compassionate and showed great empathy.

The same doctor who refused me the pain relief declared surprise at the CT finding saying they now understood my level of pain as I had a very large abscess. Surely given my recent history of surgery, abdominal cellulitis, discharging pus from my wound and a pain score of 4/4, this should not have come as a surprise. This was the worst pain I had ever experienced not excluding having my children.

This attitude came was again demonstrated on discharge when I was given dihydrocodeine to take home - as the medication was not discussed with me I only discovered this on arriving home. Obviously the staff are giving out discharge packs with no thought to what's in them.

I was twice scheduled for surgery, and was cancelled on both occasions with no explanation given, and I was informed by the ward hostess who provided my lunch. I saw the consultant in the corridor outside my room, who did not have the courtesy to tell me I was cancelled.

The consultant came the following day and told me I could go home without the surgery as it was draining. The wound continued to drain for four months, with daily district nurse visits, treatment room visits and countless courses of antibiotics necessitating a five month absence from work.

I was given sub standard care. I now understand the gold standard was drainage of the abscess, and I was given a horrible experience.

I felt there was a marked difference in culture between the ED I attended where I was treated with compassion and empathy, and Ward 13 in Wishaw where I was not believed, my concerns dismissed , and not afforded the courtesy of being informed about my care. I felt this culture permeated all levels of clinical staff I came into contact with.