"Lack of initial care"

Presented to the emergency department in need of help.

Explained to the doctor that I have been experiencing abdominal pain and excessive diarrhoea for the past two months. Have lost control of my bowel movements recently and have soiled myself three times the last several days. As soon as I eat or drink within twenty minutes I experience stomach cramping and soon after a lose bowel movement. I explained that my stomach pain was severe in this meeting and that I don’t know what to do but I need help. I am a young adult and believe this is serious as it’s affective my daily life, ability to work and mental state being in constant discomfort. I have coeliacs disease so have experienced stomach discomfort in my life but this is next level pain. 

I felt the doctors response was dismissive, rude and made me feel horrible. I was told that emergency departments are for life threatening illnesses and broken bones not a tummy problem and that I should see a GP. I would like to mention that I have a GP appointment booked but the soonest I can see anyone is a few weeks away and needed help asap. I recall the doctor repeatedly snapped and said well what do you want me to do, what do you want from us, my reply being just help, I’m not a doctor I’m not sure what needs to be done. The doctor recommended that I go to the pharmacy and get some gastro stop and see a GP.

I have been putting this issue off for two months because I’d hate to waste anyone’s time and precious recourses for more serious cases. It took breaking point for me to come in and ask for help. I simply said to the doctor that it’s okay no worries I’ll just leave if I’m wasting peoples time and room. One of the nurses on duty stopped me in the hall when I believe they could see that I was upset and called me back into the room and organised another doctor. This second doctor came in and, I felt, was fantastic. They organised a stool sample, IV fluids, a rectal exam and a referral to be sent to the surgeon for a colonoscopy. Within the hour I spent with the second doctor, they offered more than any of my GP appointments or the initial doctor offered in months.

I understand that people have bad days, stresses, their own problems etc. I do not think that people should be dismissed without seemingly properly listening to their issues or reading their chart. I was overly upset and felt like a waste of space, resources and time for the rest of my stay at the hospital from the initial doctor’s, I felt, poor behaviour and words. I would hate for any other patients to feel this way.