Why I can’t present at A&E, and why you shouldn’t follow my lead

Apologies for the irresponsible post

I did something stupid and careless last week. I posted on social media about my bowel obstruction without adding a disclaimer that IF you’re able to get the support and treatment you need in hospital, then ideally, you’d do that.

I did not, and do not, do that, for reasons I’ll get into shortly. That’s not because I don’t understand the severity of the situation. For years, I’ve admitted that my experiences have made me a hypocritical “Do as I say, not as I do” kind of person. The later PTSD diagnosis helped me understand this a little better. Still, the post was irresponsible, particularly for someone who has been a patient advocate, posting in this space, since 2014.

Surgical history

For those who don’t know me, I just quickly want to tell you about my bowel surgery history; this is why I personally suffer from these blockages.

2007 – Ulcerative colitis diagnosis. Removal of my colon & loop ileostomy. Post-op sepsis requiring further resection (removal of some small intestine).
2008 – Jpouch creation (replacement rectum, made from loops of my small intestine).
2009 – Ileostomy reversal – Jpouch connection.
2014 – Bowel resection, Jpouch revision & loop ileostomy (due to twisted intestine and an abscess).
2014 – Ileostomy reversal – Jpouch connection.
2018 – Jpouch removed/proctectomy & end ileostomy.

Why the post went public, unedited

As I mentioned, there are many reasons the post went out like it did, including:

I wanted to post in real time, because those raw “me too” posts often help people feel seen.
My head was far too fuzzy because of the blockage and subsequent dehydration etc. to actually think properly, which is why the post read like it did.
I was more focused on ensuring it went out than filling in a whole backstory of why I didn’t go to the hospital (which you can find below).
I assume most people who see my posts know me and my history. Sometimes, they end up in front of people who don’t.
I have medical PTSD. The chances of me presenting at A&E are highly unlikely. I worked with a therapist for a year to get past this. I’m not past it.

Common problems when visiting the hospital with an intestinal blockage

It’s also worth noting that in the UK, there’s a total postcode lottery. I went to A&E once. They didn’t understand that it wasn’t just constipation and totally invalidated my experience. I sat in a plastic chair in A&E for 5 hours before passing what was stuck and going home… Unfortunately, I see this experience far too often from others in the community, too. It’s not an isolated incident. People go to A&E and either get sent home or are left sitting around for hours because the hospital doesn’t realise the gravity of the situation. During a blockage, when you can barely even breathe, never mind speak, it’s usually not possible to advocate for yourself!

That said, if you can go to A&E, be seen, get whatever diagnostics you need, pain relief, muscle relaxants etc. then that is fantastic, and that is 100% what you should do! If I could receive the care I know I need, I’d turn up to A&E straight away, knowing I am going to be cared for, respected, and validated. Unfortunately, that’s never been my experience.

Fighting to have my intestinal obstructions acknowledged by healthcare professionals

I’ve been dealing with and constantly trying to get my blockages acknowledged by healthcare professionals for years now. I had a period of time in the past where they were a problem, but a bowel surgery followed that removed those issues. Of course, with every new surgery, comes the risk of further scar tissue and adhesions building up, leading to strictures (narrowed areas of the intestine). I can only conclude that this is the situation again. My last surgeon commented on the mass of adhesions in my abdomen and that all of my organs are stuck together.

I’ve even been discharged from a gastroenterologist I’d been under for 17 years, despite my mentioning the increased frequency and severity of blockages multiple times. I then had to fight the GP for a referral back to gastroenterology, only to be met by a registrar who suggested that my medications may simply be causing constipation, because he didn’t understand that my output can’t be solid due to the amount of intestine I’ve had removed. More about these things features in the articles below.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. If you’re not following me on social media already, please give me a follow for topics such as IBD, ostomy life, chronic pain, and mental health.

Previous obstruction and PTSD related articles, posts and videos

I’ve written a multitude of posts in the past that cover dealing with bowel obstructions, my personal experience, why I struggle to go to A&E, and some of the experiences I’ve had as an inpatient. I’ve also included below my discharge from my IBD team and my fight to get seen again, because I was discharged despite the repeated reports from me about the increased frequency and severity of blockages.

HealthCARE anxiety, January 2022.

Before I was diagnosed with PTSD, I was trying to make sense of my inability to help myself at times. Trigger warning: Traumatic inpatient experiences involving negligence and near-death experiences.

Dealing with intestinal blockages, October 2022.

An article about the causes, prevention, symptoms, and strategies for managing bowel obstructions at home, etc.

Preparing to present at A&E, February 2023.

Why I don’t want to be admitted to the hospital and how can I make presenting at A&E easier in the future?

Bowel obstruction experience and fears, March 2024.

My first presentation at A&E due to a bowel obstruction and booking a follow-up with my Gastroenterologist.

The Gastro appointment following my A&E visit, April 24th, 2024.

Booking a small bowel barium meal and discharging me if everything looks fine, despite me still being concerned about the increased frequency and severity of blockages.

The day I was diagnosed with PTSD, April 2025.

Facebook post.

Fighting for a referral back to Gastroenterology after being discharged, May 2025

Facebook post.

Referral received and accepted to Gastroenterology, May 2025

Facebook post.

In-patient traumatic experience: Sepsis in 2007, March 2026.

Facebook reel.

In-patient traumatic experience: Morphine overdose, March 2026.

Facebook reel.

My recent appointment and the reality of medical trauma, April 29th, 2026.

The appointment I had to fight for after being discharged. Seen by a registrar who had no idea what I was talking about. Spent the appointment feeling like I was fighting to make him believe me about the intestinal blockages.