Desperate for diagnosis

Hi, I  am 70 years old grandmother. Something is very very wrong but I can't get appointment with GP.

In December I was having awful wind and constipation.  By January changed to no wind and diarrhoea.  Low abdominal pain just before pooing.

I put myself on Immodium on advice of daughter who has Ulcerative colitis. She also recommended eating eggs.

This helped somewhat. Not entirely.  Then a few days ago my oesophagus problem flared up. I have had GERD for years. I have omeprazole for it. I also have difficulty swallowing  at times.

The flare up was awful. I had a bowl of tomato soup for tea. Something I've eaten all my life. On this occasion it was like I had eaten  fire.  I can't  describe the pain in my whole oesophagus,  which continued for about 5 hours.  I tried to ease it with cold water.

I feel like my whole digestive system has gone mad.

Then I read that Ovarian Cancer can cause nearly all my symptoms!  Still can't get a dr in the flesh or on phone!   I don't want to go to A & E but I need help.

I stopped the immodium for one day, now the diarrhoea is back.  What shall I do?

  • Hi if it was me who couldn't get an appointment and I was suffering as you are I would ring NHS 111 and ask  their advice ,I have rang them many times and they will ask a few questions and then arranged for me to be seen by a Doctor /Nurse ,don't delay anymore you need to be seen ,let us know how you get on ..

  • hi Jenny, thankyou so much for your kind reply. I have tried 111 several times, they either say see your GP or they promise an out of hours Dr will call me back, who never does....but guess what? Hooray, at long last I got through to our surgery and actually have an appointment today at 4.15...I  can't  believe it...now I just have to hope he will listen and do something!!

  • Hi Mama I'm so glad to hear you have an appointment at last , hopefully they will start the ball rolling and you'll have some tests to rule things out firstly ,hopefully its nothing sinister but its always best to know ...

  • How did you get in with gp today? 

  • As someone who works in general practice, keep pushing, ask to speak to a manager or someone higher. I know it can feel very wrong to be a 'karen', but with the healthxare crisis you've got to do what you've got to do. Maybe it would be benifical to transfer surgeries if you still can't be seen? Thinking of youxx

  • Hi I hope everything went ok today and that you were able to tell the  Doc exactly what's been going on and that they have eased your worries somewhat .

  • hi Cloudy, thanks for enquiry.

    The GP I saw was amazing, he was kind and listened, and thorough but I suspect  I will get bad news....after asking lots of questions, he felt my low abdomen,  which was sore when pressed.

    Then he had me sit down again, he looked straight at me and said, "what do you think it is?"

    I said I  was more worried about ovarian cancer, but obviously  I  was  concerned about my whole digestive system.

    He looked me right in the eyes and said, "I'm  thinking cancer" just like that.    I  have to do 3 poo samples, he said one was specifically for ovarian cancer.

    I'm booked for a blood test 6th March, and on that day an appointment to see him again will be made.

    Silly thing is I feel quite well apart from tiredness,  which I expect at age 70.

    He said keep taking the immodium.I have to, I wouldn't risk leaving the flat otherwise.

    So it's a waiting game now for results.

    I feel unreal. I don't see myself as someone who would get cancer and I know that's stupid to say.

    Anyway I'm cheerful, hoping he is wrong, etc

    None of my family will know anything, untill there is something to tell. No need, and 3 family members are unwell themselves.

    I have one loyal friend here, and I've confided in him. we are just neighbours and friends. He drove me to the appt today and sat in the car for over an hour waiting very patiently.

  • Thankyou for advice, but I'm now on the way forward.. Such a lovely GP.

  • GP was wonderful. He is beginning various tests, for Ovarian cancer and any other cancer...

  • It's good to hear they are doing all the tests ,no more delays ,well done in getting this checked out its better to know where you stand ,here's hoping he's wrong ,I got told I could have ovarian cancer turned out they were wrong but it was a very scary time .