"Waiting in pain with gallstones"

10 years ago I started to have pain around my kidney area and was utterly convinced by this. I had three ultrasounds and in the end I was actually told "it's muscular" - but I knew the pain was far more severe and kept asking for help from gps etc.

Finally, last year in August my GP referred me for an upper abdominal ultrasound. At last the diagnosis came that I had gallstones. It was initially a relief and I went on the "choose and book" scheme. I chose the Royal Free Hospital as it seemed the quickest and had good ratings.

I attended my appointment, but they had not received the scan results, so I personally had to convince them. They did believe me and I was placed on the waiting list in Dec 08. Then I waited but at this point I was suffering chronic cholecystitis.

Yesterday I attented an assesment even though the hospital was instead the Garden Hospital in Hendon (though great nurses and other staff). The doctor phoned the patient phone in my room (the room was excellent) to tell me it was being cancelled and it would have been today if one of my gallstones hadn't moved into my liver duct on Sunday causing abnormal liver function blood tests.

They discharged me, and now I have to wait till clinic - so when its at its worst they won't help? All they said is I am a high risk and that high risks can only be addressed at the Royal Free.

So they need to arrange an MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) which could take up to 2 weeks. What if I don't have that time? I need to wait?

I had to also arrange care for my severely disabled son through social services to agree funding. My other 4 children were distraught and now don't really understand why I'm not better.