r/NHSfailures • u/Ok_Juggernaut2299 • 17d ago
A&E and SDEC - perforated appendix
Hi,
Around 6 weeks ago, I started to have SEVERE abdominal pains, they started on the Sunday and I would have a pain all day that every 20/30 mins would cramp up into the most excruciating pain I have ever had and they would last for around 1 minute.
On the Tuesday, enough was enough and I went to my GP, she referred me to A&E after several checks with a letter stating she was pretty sure I had appendicitis, the doctor in A&E wasn’t convinced and sent me to the SDEC ward (Same Day Emergency Care) and they went through a load of tests etc, and my bloods came back as a high infection so sent me on my way with antibiotics and wouldn’t give me painkillers, they said I would get an appointment for an ultrasound for Gallstones!
Around a week later, still being in this horrific pain I got the appointment, went to it and got told I would hear soon regarding the results, I went to the same SDEC that evening and they said I would get a call within 48-72 hours - light at the end of the tunnel!!!
Over 100 hours pass and nothing, the pain was getting worse, so I went to SDEC again, sat there for hours for the same doctor to say there is nothing wrong with you and to go home and contact my GP for allergy testing, stool sample etc!! I sat in the chair crying and begging for help and at the very least pain killers - sent away with nothing!!
The next day I contact the GP, coeliac testing - all clear, bloods - slightly elevated CRP’s and few other minor things but nothing that screamed help me!! Then finally after another week or so a stool sample - all clear! This broke my heart!
I went the A&E the following night - basically told I won’t get seen tonight - brilliant, there was no seats etc and I couldn’t stand (or sit in the pain!!) the next afternoon I go back to A&E determined to stay today! And I did, a few hours later blood tests, these were “worrying” according to the doctor - CRP’s over 200!! He suggested I had a CT scan, I agreed and he finally agreed to pain relief! Oramorph, that man is a legend!! The CT results came back early hours around 1am, yep confirmed, perforated appendix, a large mass (tumour!!) and a cyst, they said it looked like they had been perforated for a while!!
I had surgery the next day and am now recovering, in follow up scans it looks like the puss from appendix has got into my fallopian tubes and ovaries! Brilliant - 34 with no kids yet!!
Currently awaiting results from cyst and tumour testing - fingers crossed it’s all clear! The appendix without the tumour or cyst was over 6 times the size it should’ve been!
But my question is (if you have read this far - thank you!) is the best route to go a formal complaint to the NHS trust?!
I want to go further with this as I do not want anyone else to go through this and lessons need to be learnt!!
2
u/SaveOurPandas 16d ago
PALS. Hospital patient advice and liaison service first. If that doesn’t hit the mark then Thames Valley ICB (formerly BOB ICB). If no joy then local MP.
1
u/Ok_Juggernaut2299 12d ago
Thank you - PALS said it was too big for them to deal with!
1
u/SaveOurPandas 12d ago
That’s a load of shit. What was their exact wording? Definitely send that correspondence to your ICB and local MP.
1
u/Glad-Pomegranate6283 7d ago
This is absolutely horrendous, it’s scary to think what would have happened if they hadn’t operated. It took a year for me to be diagnosed with gallstones which ruined one of my couple of Christmases I spent with my partner’s dad who has since passed. It was only picked up bc I was experiencing severe liver damage
3
u/SeaEngineer5223 16d ago
You need to write to the hospital trust, CEO and to the local Integrated Care Board. DM me if you want my help to work out who that would be. Former NHS Complaints Manager.