"Appendicitis story"

Last November I became unwell with stomach pain and fever. I have previously been an A&E nurse and believed I may have gallstones. I was initially seen at the out of hours GP in Tayside only to be told I had gastroenteritis - despite no vomiting and diarrhoea.

Skip to 2 days later of pain and fever and at midnight I had the most acute pain in my abdomen ever (I’ve given birth naturally)! With a heavy heart I attended A&E with my husband and our 4 yr old daughter. The triage nurse was fab and took me straight to majors and that’s where the good points end.

I was then assessed by a junior doctor that showed the compassion skills of a stone. I appreciate my presentation for appendicitis wasn’t typical and so it wasn’t picked up. Instead what upset me was how judgemental this doctor was. They clearly decided I wasn’t “bad enough” to be in A&E and most likely had caused myself pancreatitis from drinking too much 3 days before at an award ceremony (I had no more than 1.5 bottles of wine). I also asked the doctor to encourage my daughter to go home with her grandad to which they replied they weren't getting involved.

I was offered pain killers only to be given 10 mls of peptac - my knowledge and skills as a nurse of over 10 years were completely ignored. I had tried every over the counter drug and anything else I could find in our house! 

No blood tests were taken and despite having a borderline temperature I was sent home to see my GP if worsens.

I did indeed get worse and a brilliant GP at my surgery took my bloods to find my CRP high and so I was sent to the surgical assessment unit. After a CT scan it transpired I had appendicitis with an abscess. 

Again, I understand a misdiagnosis. My presentation wasn’t typical but what I am disappointed by is the lack of respect for my knowledge, history and the appalling communication skills shown by the junior doctor in A&E.

 However, to end on a positive note the surgical care was fantastic (despite being in a bay with 5 men)! P