"Appendix? Or not appendix?"

Presented with my adolescent child to FSH Children’s A&E with lower right quadrant abdominal pain. After triage and inspection, was told that they didn’t present as having appendicitis as my child had no other obvious symptoms or extra pain. My child is quite a stoic person and will not complain of pain around other people.

Pain relief

We were informed that an ultrasound would be carried out the following morning and to go home (with no pain relief). Ultrasound the next morning apparently showed multiple ovarian cysts. We were told that this isn’t something that Emergency Medicine can deal with, so we were advised to see a gynaecologist. My adolescent child was still in pain, but nothing else was offered. (Note: We have since seen an adolescent gynaecologist that said that there should be multiple follicles present due to her age).

Staff attitude

We presented to a different hospital about a week later due to my child’s ongoing pain. They were admitted for two nights for investigation, another ultrasound was done and no ovarian 'cysts' were found. My child was scheduled for a laparoscopic biopsy and Appendectomy. My child began to feel better almost immediately regarding that particular pain and was discharged the next morning. We received the biopsy results from the surgeon a few weeks later, and the appendix was found to be necrotic (surgeon’s words).

Treatment

I did receive a follow-up call regarding this feedback that I submitted to the FSH Complaints webpage. I recall a staff member stated that the issue was going to be escalated to the heads of the FSH Children's A&E. I have not heard anything further and would like to know what action is going to be taken or what measures are going to be reviewed. I don't have any form of contact information for this.

Keeping in touch

I’m glad we went to another hospital that actually listened to what we were saying and agreed that any form of unexplainable consistent abdominal pain needs to be investigated. The staff at the other hospital don’t understand why the original ultrasound report showed cysts when there are obviously none there according to their ultrasound technician. My main concern is what would have happened if we didn’t go to another hospital to seek treatment? I think that you need to consider that if someone is in pain, that it needs to be investigated further- not fobbed off, in my opinion.